Will of Eli Gholson

In the Name of God Amen

Ely Gholson of the county of Hamilton and State of Illinois being weak in 
body but of sound mind and memory do make, ordain, and establish this to be 
my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all overs and I do hereby appoint 
John Douglas???  to be the executor of this my last will and testament, 

First it is my will that all  just debts be paid and that my undivided half of the 
Mills? And land belonging to them lying in the County of Hamilton and known 
as the South West forty of the North West quarter Section No. 15 Township No. 
7, Range No 7 east should be sold and payments made.  If the above named 
Mills and land should be insufficient, it is then my Will that my executor 
shall sell a sufficient of my personal property.  

Second, after the payments of all my just debts and funeral expences I do hereby devise
 and bequeath to my beloved wife the farme and improvements thereon which I now 
live on, known as the north east quarter of Section No. 17, Township No. 7, Range 16 East.  
Also the west half of the north west quarter Section No. 16, Township No. 7, 
Range No. 7 each containing in them too ??? Hundred and twenty acres more or 
less during her continueing my widow or till the youngest child becomes of 
age at which time it is my will that the above land shall be equally divided 
between my legal heirs to have and to hold the Same unto them and their heirs 
and assigns forever.  To my wife I give all my household and kitchen 
furniture, farming utencels and all other of my personal properties after my 
debts is paid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this 
26th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one.

Ely Gholson

Signed and acknowledged before us.

O. B. Morris  
James Gholson

State of Illinois}}
Hamilton County}} 

At a court of probate held at the probate Office in McLeansboro on the 24th 
day of July 1841 being a special term, this day personally appears before me 
Robert Edwards, Probate Justice of the Peace in and for said county, in open 
court.  O. B. Morris and James Gholson, two credible witnesses who being by 
me duly sworn on their oaths, depose and say that they were present and saw 
the above named Ely Gholson sign the above last will and testament in their 
presence that they believe and still believe that the said Ely Gholson was of 
sound mind and memory at the time of signing the same & that they attended 
the signing of the said last will & testament in the presence and by the 
request of the said Ely Gholson and in the presence of each other. 

In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & private seal this 24th 
day of July 1841.

                      (seal)         R. Edwards (PJP)