Will of Harrington

125 N.W. 986, 142 Wis. 447, 1910 Wisc. LEXIS 230
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedApril 5, 1910
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 125 N.W. 986 (Will of Harrington) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Will of Harrington, 125 N.W. 986, 142 Wis. 447, 1910 Wisc. LEXIS 230 (Wis. 1910).

Opinion

Timlin, J.

This is a suit for the construction of the will of Nicholas M. Harrington, who died May 30, 1888, and whose will was admitted to probate in the county court of Walworth county on July 17, 1888. The testator left surviving him his widow, Catherine M. Harrington, and Frank C., John B.} and George N. Harñngton, and Jennie E. Bowers, née Harrington, his children and only heirs at law. Jennie E. Bowers married after the execution of the will and before the death of the testator, but she had no children living at the date of testator’s death. Two were afterward born to her, each of which lived but a few days. She is still living. Frank 0. Harrington died unmarried and without issue on. September 22, 1905. John B. and George N. Harñngton are still living, unmarried, and -without children. Catherine M. Harrington, testator’s widow, died September 8, 1900.

This suit was begun May 21, 1907. In the will Jennie E. Bowers is called “Jome” and sometimes “Jennie.” The will was evidently written by the testator, and from among its rambling, confused, and incoherent provisions the following are selected as indicating the general plan of the testator in the disposition of his property:

(1) Give and bequeath to my widow Catherine M. Harrington, sister Julia A. Crosby, daughter Jane E. Harñng-ton the use of the whole of my estate, real and personal, during their natural lives, unless either one should marry, then to be provided as hereinafter mentioned.

(2) After the death of Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby I give and bequeath the use of the Inlet Farm to Frank C. Harrington during his natural life, and after his death to descend to his heirs. Also I give and bequeath all the personal property belonging to or connected with said farm to Frank O. Harrington after the death of Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby.

[450]*450(3) I give and bequeath the use of the Prospect Earm, during their natural lives, to my sons John B. Harrington and George N. Harrington after the death of Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby, to descend to the heirs of said sons after their death. All personal property on the farm after the death of Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby to become the property of John B. and George N. Harrington. After the death of my said sons John B. and George N. Hamngton said land is to descend to their heirs.

(4) I give and bequeath to my daughter Jermie, should she marry, the use of two dwelling houses (described) ; also give and bequeath to her after the death of Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby the use of a piece of land (described) ; also give and bequeath to her after the death of Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby the use of another piece of land (described). All of said property being real estate willed to my daughter is given to her during her natural life and at her death is to descend to her heirs.

(5) In case of the death of either'one of my children, the property, real or personal, willed to either of them is to be equally divided to the remaining living heir of mine, subject to the same law of descent and be governed by the same rule as is the property willed directly to them in this will.

(6) I give and bequeath the use of all the remaining real estate to Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby and my daughter during their natural lives, and afterward the use to be equally divided between my heirs during their natural life.

(I) Executors are to have the right and power to convey by good and lawful title certain described land not included in the foregoing devises. Also they may sell and convey, if all parties interested are united, two of the tracts devised to Jennie subject to the prior use of Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby.

(8) A small piece of real estate is given to his brother Milton S. Harrington during his natural life; at his death this to descend “to my nearest heirs.”

(9) “Now, as to my personal property, I give and bequeath the usé of it (except such as may hereinafter be excepted) to my beloved wife Catherine M. Harrington, Julia A. Crosby, and my daughter Jennie A. Hamngton, during their natural lives.”

[451]*451(10) “Should my daughter marry, my executors are to pay her the sum of $500 in money and charge the same to her part, as a part of her share of the personal property.

(11) “I also give and bequeath to my daughter Jane E. Harrington the dividends on five shares of the capital stock of the First National Bank of Racine, and I hereby appoint and name the cashier of said hank and his successors as trustees and guardian of said hank stock to take care of said stock for the use and benefit of my daughter Jane; but in no event is she, my daughter, or said trustee, authorized to sell said stock; and in case of the death of my daughter Jane without issue, said trustee is authorized to pay the dividends to my remaining heirs, but said stock is in no way to be disposed of; but is to remain in said bank during the existence of said bank, to be kept by said cashier for the use and benefit of my heirs.”

(12) I give and bequeath the dividends of five shares of the capital stock of the First National Bank of Elkhom to my beloved sister Julia A. Crosby, during her life, and appoint the cashier of said bank and his successors trustees for the care and management of said stock, and pay the dividends to said Julia A. Crosby, but neither said trustee or said Julia A. Crosby is to have the power to sell the stock. This bequest is made in the place of a note said Julia A. Crosby holds against me, and pay one year after my death, which note is hereby revoked and canceled.

(13) All the rest of my personal property is to remain just as it now is, subject to and under the control and management of my beloved wife Catherine M. Harrington, Julia A. Crosby, Jane E. Harrington, Frank C. Harrington, John B. Harrington, and George N. Harrington, whom I appoint and name as my executors; and to have the entire control of my property, real and personal, and to carry out the intent and spirit of this will, and all sales, and all business is to have the concurrence and unanimous consent of all said executors. No bonds to be required or given by said executors.

(14) The household property, books, carriages, axe subject to the use of my wife Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby, and Jane JE. Harrington, Frank C. Harrington, John B. Harrington, and George N. Harrington, and any change or sale is to be subject to the consent of the [452]*452above named, executors, and at the death of my wife Catherine M. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby, and in three years thereafter, an equal division is to be made, share and share alike, between my children or such of them as may be living; except the personal property reserved to the parties or persons to whom it is willed, remaining on the farms at the time of the death of said Catherine 1VI. Harrington and Julia A. Crosby as heretofore provided in this will.

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Bluebook (online)
125 N.W. 986, 142 Wis. 447, 1910 Wisc. LEXIS 230, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/will-of-harrington-wis-1910.