I, William F. Gould, of the City of Sterling, County of Whiteside and State of Illinois, being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this to be by last will and testament, hereby revoking any and all wills by me heretofore made.
First Clause: I direct that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.
Second Clause: I give and bequeath unto by grandson, Frank E Gould, Jf., of Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to be given to him for his education and as it is needed for the same in the opinion of my executor hereinafter named.
Third Clause: I direct that my executor, hereinafter named, shall have the care and control of all the redisue and remainder of my property and pay the income therefrom to my wife, Mary A Gould, of Sterling, Illinois, for and during her natural life, in lieu of dower, widow's award and all other rights to which she might otherwise be entitled under the statutes of this State, and that he shall keep the personal property conservatively invested.
And I hereby empower and direct my executor, thereinafter named, to sell any part of said estate that he may deem advisable in order to provide her, my said wife, with the nesessities and comforts of life in case the income of all of said real and personal property should, in his opinion, not be sufficient.
Fourth Clause: After the death of my said wife I hereby empower and direct my said executor, hereinafter named, to sell and dispose of all my property, real and personal, then remaining, at such time and upon such terms and conditions as in his judgement will best subserve the inereests of asid estate, and to divide the proceeds thereof equally between bu two sons, Charles W Gould, of Seattle, Washington, and my son Frank E Gould, of Chicago, Illinois, and I hereby empower my said executor to make, execute and deliver any and all necessary deeds of conveyance.
Fifth Clause: It is my wish and I hereby direct that if any of my heirs should contest the p;robationg of this will or file a bill to have it declared null and void, or set aside, or in any way seek to thwart my wishes herein expressed, such heir or heirs shall receive nothing under thiw will, but in such case I hereby direct that the share oif such heir shall go to my remaining heirs according to the statute of descent of the State of Illinois.
Sixth Clause: I hereby nominate and appoint John E Philips, of Sterling, Illinois, executor of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of December, A D 1912
SIGNATURE and SEAL
The forgoing insturment was on the day of the date thereof signed, sealed, published and declared by the testotor, William F Gould, to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his sight and presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as attesting witnesses the day and date last above written, we believing the said testator to be of sound and disposing mine and memory.
J J Serdens, residing at Sterling, Illinois
Obituary of William F. Gould 1829 - 1914
Contributed by Sheila Smith
Walter Stage residing at Sterling, Illinois
