Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Wills: A
William C. Adkins, 1916
In the Name of God, Amen. I, William C. Adkins, of the County of Muhlenberg, and State of Kentucky, being of sound mind and disposing memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, that is to say:
First,- After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, I give and bequeath to my son, William A., one third of the money, stock and tools, that I may have at the time of my death, and the following real property:- one tract of land of about 71 acres known as the Scott Bridges tract, and all of that part of the Welty and Savage tract lying south of the railroad and containing about 67 acres.
Second,- To my son, Odie O., I give one third of the money, stock and tools, and the following real property: one tract of about 71 acres known as the George Oates tract, one tract of about 55 acres known as the Mason Oates tract, and one tract of about 30 acres known as the Calvin Oates tract.
Third,- To my wife, Mary A. Adkins, I give and bequeath, in lieu of her dower interests in my estate, a life estate in the residue of my property, both personal and real, including one third of the money, stock and tools, and all the household goods to have and to hold during her natural life, in case she survives me, and upon her death to my son, Frank W., in fee simple. In case my said wife does not survive me, I give to the said son, Frank W., the said balance of my estate.
Fourth,- Having made provision for my children, Rufus F., Highland H., Elmer E., and Lillie May, by gifts which I have intended as advancements, I give them only said advancements made heretofore, and my wishes for their continued happiness and welfare.
Fifth,- I make, constitute and appoint my son, Highland H. Adkins to be the executor of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me make.
In witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name on the 4th of May, in the year of our Lord One Thousand nine hundred.
W.C. Adkins
The above written instrument was subscribed by the said William C. Adkins, in our presence, and by him acknowledged to each of us; and he at the same time declared the above instrument, so subscribed, to be his last Will and Testament; and we, at his request, have signed our names as witnesses hereto, in his presence and in the presence of each other, and written opposite our names our respective places of residence.
J.L. Rogers, Greenville, Kentucky
T.J. Sparks, Greenville, Ky.
Newton Belcher, Greenville, Ky.
Whereas, I, William C. Adkins, did on the 4th day of May, 1900 make my last Will and Testament, I do now, being of sound mind and memory, add this codicil to my said Will and to be taken as part thereof:
First,- I hereby ratify and confirm my said Last Will and Testament in every respect, save so far as any part of it is inconsistent with or expressly revoked by this Codicil.
Second,- Sections first, second and third of my said will are changed in so far as it refers to the money and stock given and bequeathed to my son William A. and to my son Odie O. and I hereby give and bequeath to my wife, Mary A. Adkins, in addition to the property already given and bequeathed to her, all of the stock and money which I may have at my death to have and to hold the same during her natural life in case she survives me, and upon her death to my son Frank W., in fee simple. I have since the making of my said will made gifts to my sons, William A. and Odie O. in lieu of their part of the stock and money hereby given to my said wife, and I desire the said gifts to be taken as advancements to my said sons.
Third,- to my son, William A., I give and bequeath the 25 acres of land known as the Lillie Larkin tract, being a part off the west end of the 82 acre tract bought by me from S.B. Larkin.
Fourth,- To my son, Odie O., I give and bequeath one half of the remainder of said tract, supposed to be 28½ acres, lying next to the aforesaid 25 acres bequeathed to my son, William A.
Fifth,- To my son, Frank W., I give and bequeath the remaining one half of said remainder of the said S.B. Larkin land, lying on the east end of said tract and supposed to contain 28½ acres.
In witness whereof, I hereto affix my signature this 26th day of March, 1903, and declare this to be a codicil to my said will and Amendatory thereof.
W.C. Adkins
The above written instrument was subscribed by the said William C. Adkins in our presence, and acknowledged by him to each of us; and he at the same time declared the above instrument, so subscribed, to be a codicil to his Last Will and Testament; and we at his request, have signed our names as witnesses hereto, in his presence and in the presence of each other, and written opposite our names our respective places of residence.
Newton Belcher, Greenville, Ky.
W. Orville Belcher
Whereas, I, William C. Adkins, did on the 4th day of May, 1900, made my last will and testament, and on the 26th day of March, 1903, I appended thereto a codicil, now, being of sound mind and memory, add this codicil to my said will and to be taken as part thereof.
First, I hereby ratify and confirm my said last will and testament with the first codicil thereto in every respect save to far as no part of it is inconsistent with or expressly revoked by this codicil. I hereby revoke the third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of said codicil. The reason I do this is that I have purchased and conveyed to Frank W. Adkins a tract of land in lieu of the bequest made in the fifth paragraph of said codicil. I therefore bequeath to my sons, William A. Adkins and Odie O. Adkins, a one half interest each in the tract of land known as the Lillie Larkin tract, and a tract of land conveyed to me by S.B. Larkin. Said tracts of land devised herein consist of 82 acres, and is all known as the S.B. Larkin land.
In witness whereof I hereby affix my signature this 26th day of August, 1908, and declare this to be a second codicil to my said will and amendatory thereto.
W.C. Adkins
The above written instrument was subscribed by the said William C. Adkins in our presence and acknowledged by him to each of us; and he at the same time declared the above instrument so subscribed, to be a Codicil to his last will and testament; and we at his request have signed our name as witnesses hereto, in his presence and in the presence of each other, and written opposite our names our respective places of residence.
Newton Blecher, Greenville, Ky.
T.J. Sparks
State of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County, Sct.
I, J. Leo Fentress, Clerk of the Muhlenberg County Court, do certify that the foregoing Instrument of Writing and the Codicils thereto was, at the regular February, 1916, term of this court admitted to probate as the Last Will and Testament of William C. Adkins, deceased, and ordered to be recorded as such, whereupon the same, and this certificate have been duly recorded in my office.
Given under my hand, this 28 day of February, 1916.
J. Leo Fentress, Clerk
By I.B. Hendrick D.C.
Source: Muhlenberg County Kentucky Will Book 4, pp. 489-491.
Contributed by Kit Sinyard
Updated July 27, 2022