Donaldson v. Allen

81 S.W. 1151, 182 Mo. 626, 1904 Mo. LEXIS 194
Supreme Court of Missouri·Decided June 20, 1904·Published·Cited by 30 cases

Opinion

MARSHALL, J.

This is a proceeding in equity to construe the will of Thomas Allen, deceased, to have the trust created by the will terminated and dissolved, to require the trustees to account, and to have the real estate covered by the trust partitioned.

The facts, which are practically conceded, are these :

Thomas Allen was a prominent citizen of St. Louis, was a lawyer, the president of a railroad, a man of large fortune and had been a member of Congress. Pie died testate, in 18S&, leaving his widow and seven children, to-wit, the plaintiffs, Elizabeth L. Donaldson and Alice Maud Allen, since intermarried with Louis Lombard, and the defendants, William Russell Allen, Thomas Allen, George W. Allen, Annie L. Allen, since intermarried with Louis Chauvenet, and Bradford Allen, [635] who has since died, leaving a widow, Helene G. Allen, and a daughter Annie, now intermarried with Pietro Lante de la Rovere.

By the terms of his will the testator gave his widow his homestead in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and likewise his homestead in St. Louis, for life. He also gave her absolutely the household furniture, carriages, horses and other personal property at both places. He further gave her for life, a lot on Main street, between Market and Chestnut streets in' St. Louis; he also gave her for life, whatever ground he owned on the east side of Carondelet avenue, near the arsenal, in St. Louis, and his farm of two hundred and seventy-two acres near Pittsfield, Massachusetts; also certain books, pictures, etc., absolutely. He also gave her absolutely one hundred thousand dollars in cash, and one hundred thousand dollars in the five per cent consolidated bonds of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad Company. He also gave her absolutely all the real estate conveyed to him by Joseph J. Clark, lying in the city of St. Louis and in the county of Jefferson.

He authorized his executrix and his executors to divide the property known as the Southern Hotel, by forming it into a corporation composed of his seven children, and dividing the stock equally among them. He gave certain specific legacies and forgave certain debts due him. The will then provided as follows:

“The residue of my estate, real and personal, which I may own at the time of my decease, it is my will shall be disposed of and bestowed as follows: The several stocks and bonds which may be held by me in corporations and all other of my notes, bonds and mortgages (excepting notes given me for accruing rents), and money, I desire may be divided into seven equal parts, or shares, and given in kind as far as practicable to each of my seven children, viz.: Elizabeth L. Donaldson, William R. Allen, Thomas Allen, Jr., George W. Allen, Bradford Allen, Annie L. Allen, and Alice Maud [636] Allen, in equal parts as far as may be, excepting the shares of stock which I may hold in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat Job Printing Company, which I give and bequeath to my son Bradford Allen, in addition to the share above mentioned. I desire and direct also that my executors shall take fifteen of my second mortgage bonds of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad Company of one thousand dollars each and set apart and hold the same for the use and benefit of my daughter, Alice Maud Allen, paying over to her or to her use the semiannual interest thereon until she arrive at the age of twenty-one years, at which time I desire that said fifteen bonds be given her absolutely, and this in addition to the share above mentioned. And as to any real estate wherever situate, other than that above disposed of, 1 give and bequeath the same to my executors hereinafter named, in trust, to be held, improved, leased, sold, or otherwise disposed of as to them may seem best for the use cmd benefit of my own children above-named in equal shares, with the following exceptions : Desiring that my homestead in Pittsfield, which has been as to the major part in my family.for over one hundred years, should continue to be held and occupied by one or more of my descendants as long as may be, it is my will that, after the decease of my wife, if she survives me, the same homestead shall be sold and conveyed to whichever of my children shall be willing to give the most therefor, the sum to be paid to be divided equally among my children, the purchaser or purchasers deducting his or hers or their shares therefrom.”

He then appointed his wife, Ann R. Allen, and his sons, "William R. Allen and George W. Allen, the executrix and executors of his will, without bond.

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Donaldson v. Allen, 81 S.W. 1151, 182 Mo. 626, 1904 Mo. LEXIS 194 (Mo. 1904).

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