Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1916 — WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' HOME [ARTICLE]

WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' HOME

Will of “Uncle” Ben Harris Donates Land and Money BOARD OF TRUSTEES NAMED To CaiTy Out Provisions of Will —Former Kurg Spitler Property and $15,000 for Use Soon. I The will of the late Benjamin Harris of Rensselaer, executed fcarch 11, 1916, and witnessed by John O’Connor and Judson J. iHiunt, was filed for probate Monday in the Jasper circuit court. The instrument covers several pages of typewritten manuscript and contains eight items.

Item one provides for the payment of all just debts, funeral expenses, etc., of decedent and that all contracts, leases, etc., executed in writing during the life-time of decedent which have not been fully performed and in which there still exists any duty or liability on the part of testator at time of his death shall be performed and carried out by executresses, the widow, Emily Jane Harris, and daughter, Flora Ellen Prior, who are named as such in item eight and who are to serve without bond.

All personal property is equally divided between the wife and daughter above named, or that part remaining after the bequests enumerated have been paid and satisfied. Wife and daughter are also given the rents and profits of all real estate owned by testator at the time of his death during their natural life and the survivors-of them during their natural life, except the tract of ground north of the Monon depot, known as the John Martindale or Kurg Spitler property, containing some five acres of ground, and which is fully described. Should the wife and daughter die before testator’s son-in-law, C. E. Prior, the latter is to have full use and benefit of the Harris home property in Rensselaer during his natural life.

The former Martindale or Spitler property, as it is generally known, is given for a home for deserving widows and orphans who shall have been residents of Jasper county for at least one year prior to their admission as inmates of said home, Which shall be known and designated as “The Benjamin Harris Home for Widows and Orphans.” To A. Halleck, E. J. Randle, R. A. Parkinson, Flora Ellen Prior and Ida Jane Burton, who are named as trustees of said home, is left in trust $5,000 to be paid in cash out of the first money available for the purpose from the estate of testator, and SIO,OOO in /cash to paid from time to time as the money is paid in to estate in payment of a certain note of $9,. 750 given by James W. Rains on March 2, 1916, and payable in five years from date. Said money is to be used by said trustees or their successors in carrying out the provisions of said will in the support' and maintenance of said home. Said Trustees are also given title in fee simple, subject to life estate ✓of wife, daughter and son-in-law, as elsewhere provided in said will, to all real estate owned by testator at time of his death, said real estate to be sold at the expiration of the life estates named and proceeds applied and invested for the support and maintenance of said home. The will states that the object of the bequests for said home is to establish, construct and maintain an institution for the relief and care of deserving widows and orphans; that it is the intention that said widows and orphans shall be self-supporting so far as they the able to so do, and that this home shall be as assistance rather than full support wherein they are able to partly support themselves, and that the work shall go on as the funds are available for the purpose; that buildings of said institution shall he separate and detached cottages, (there is already a house on this ground) well constructed and ‘comfortable and of such design as the" trustees deem best suited for the purpose and have means to provide out of such

funds as shall from time to time come into their hands under the provisions of the will; also that all money derived from the sale of real estate be applied and expended for the establishment and maintenance of said home; that the money not needed for maintenance be invested in real estate security and that not more than ten per cent of principal and- the interest be expended for the institution in any one year until such time as the tMal principal shall be less than ? 1,000. After which the balance shall be expended; that the board of trustees shall consist of five members and that should any of those named herein decline to act the remaining members may fill such vacancy or any vacancy that may occur out of some qualified citizen of Jasper county; that should the board decline br cease to exist, then the county board of commissioners may appoint a board of trustees 'for said home; said trustees may receive, if they desire, pay for their expenses and services, but said amount shall not exceed five per cent of the amount of money expended. In item four it is provided that Everett, Chester, William, Micah

Rankin, Orpheus, David and Sanford Halstead, nephews of testator, shall be given the "proceeds of a certain note for $8,624.34, executed December 7, 1911, due in six months, and given by Everett Halstead as principal and O. C. and Virginia Halstead as sureties. Chester Halstead is directed to collect said note and to divide the proceeds equally between said nephews.

Item seven provides that should the wife of testator elect to take under the law instead of the provisions of will, then provisions of life estate of daughter, Flora Ellen Prior, shall, operate and apply to real estate consigned in item two. ."

The bequest of Mr. Harris for this home is a most commendable act, and forms the nucleus for a home in Rensselaer that will no doubt grow in time to be one of the best institutions of its kind in the state. It was a move on the part of- the deceased that should immortalize . his name before ‘the people of Rensselaer and Jasper county. His act might well be emulated by others who are desirous of rendering some permanent and beneficient sendee to their fellow-

men. in years to come when this home shall have become a haven of rest and refuge for dependent widows and orphans the name of Benjamin Harris shall stand out before them 4n all glory and rev'erenee, and his memory shall be to them as only the memory can be of one who has rendered an inestimable good to suffering humanity.