Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1912 — SERVANT SHARES IX ESTATE. [ARTICLE]

SERVANT SHARES IX ESTATE.

Rich Farmer Also Remembers Lain >rers and Neighbors. Lafayette, Indiana. April 27. Churches, hospitals, orphan asylums and other public institutions will share generously in the estate of Jasper Stidham, a wealthy farmer, who died Tuesday of this week, and whose will was probated today. Ifr. Stridham left an estate worth about $250,000. To his housekeeper be left $20,000 in cash, the will stating that she had been a faithful servant, who made many sacrifices for his comfort and welfare. To more than one hundred relatives and friends he leaves sums ranging from SSOO to $5,000. Many to whom he left money are farm laborers in his employ, neighbors, or people who at some time in his life rendered service to him. The sum of $5,000 is given the Home hospital of Lafayette, and $3.000 is given St. Elizabeth’s hospital, the Catholic institution, and $2,000 is given the St. Joseph Orphan asylum, another Catholic institution. The Lafayette Y. M. C. A., which is badly in need of money to maintain it, gets $2,000; tbe Jackson Club, the Democratic organization of the county, SI,OOO. Mr. Stidham was a prominent Democrat, and at one time was a candidate for county treasurer. For building a Methodist Episcopal church at Taylors Station, near which Mr. Stidham's 1,500-acre farm is located, he leaves SII.OOO. He also leaves SIO,OOO to build a Presbyterian church at Elston, a hamlet two miles south of Lafayette. After the payment of the specific bequests, tbe residue is given to the two last named churches, share and share alike, to be used as a maintenance fund. The wijl provides that the extensive interests shall be sold and converted into cash. John Emsiqg was appointed executor and gave a bond of $250,000! In a codicil Mr. Stidham leaves an additional $4,000 to the Methodist church at Taylors, Station, and an additional $5,000 to the Presbyterian church at Elston. Mr. Stidham ~ was seventy-five years old and had never been married. He was a native of Sweden, but had lived in this country childhood. He began life as a poor boy.