In the name of God, I, Ebenezer T. Webster of the Town of Van Wert, in the County of Van Wert and State of Ohio, having in view the uncertainty of Life and the near approach of my death, and for the purpose of making such disposition of my property both Real and Personal as to me seems just and equitable do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
First I direct that my body be decently interred.
Second That all my just and legal debts be paid.
Third That my executors herein named and appointed rent or sell at private sale at such price and on such terms as to them seems best for the interest of my estate, all my Real Estate, and in case of sale to execute deed or deeds in Fee Simple to the purchaser.
Fourth That all the proceeds of my estate Real and Personal remaining after the payment of the indebtedness (except my household, kitchen, chamber furniture, beds and bedding and library) shall be invested in such manner as will give the largest annual or semi-annual interest or income leaving the manner of investment to their judgement.
Fifth I give devise and bequeath to my faithful and dearly beloved wife Sarah S. Webster all my household, kitchen, and chamber furniture, my beds, bedding, library, and the interest and rent, or the interest as the case may be (after paying the taxes on the principal as they shall accrue) arising from the sale or rent of my Real Estate provided for in paragraph fourth of this my Last Will and Testament. Said interest and rent or interest as the case may be, to be paid her by my executors as the same shall be by them received so long as she shall live. And in case the interest and rent or interest so provided for shall not be sufficient to afford my wife a comfortable maintenance, I direct that a sufficient amount from the principal as shall be with the interest amply sufficient, be paid her. Said request being in lieu of Dower.
Sixth I hereby give devise and bequeath to the children of my deceased son Barton A. Webster, to whom I did, during his lifetime, advance his share and portion of my estate (and was by him accepted as such) the sum of twenty five Dollars of which said sum his daughter Flora Clippinger, his daughter Alice Webster, his sons, Fletcher, Edgar M. and Charles W. Webster shall receive each the sum of five dollars, said sum to be paid by my executors, at the death of my wife. But should any of the said children of Barton A. Webster die prior to the decease of my wife, then the portion that would have gone to the deceased shall go to the survivors equally.
Seventh I hereby give devise and bequeath to my son Charles W. Webster all accounts, claims and demands I hold against him (I having heretofore advanced to him his portion of my Estate, and the same having been by him accepted as such) and the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, to be paid to him or his heirs by my executors at my Wife�s death.
Eighth I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved children Verlinda M. Moore, Mary E. Zimmerman and Joseph W. Webster, all my property Real and personal remaining at the death of my Wife Sarah S. Webster, and after the payment of the said sums of twenty five Dollars to the children of Barton A. Webster and Three Hundred Dollars to my son Charles W. Webster, the said Verlinda M. Moore, Mary E. Zimmerman and Joseph W. Webster to take equally each one third part. In case of the decease of either of my daughters, Verlinda M. Moore, or Mary E. Zimmerman or my son Joseph W. Webster before the death of my wife, Sarah S. Webster then the share that would have gone to my deceased daughter or son shall go to the husband of my deceased daughter or wife of my deceased son. Namely, N.B. Moore husband of Verlinda M. Moore, Levi F. Zimmerman husband of Mary E. Zimmerman, Adelia Webster wife of Joseph W. Webster. And in case of the decease of my daughter Verlinda M. Moore, or her husband N.B. Moore, shall go to the bodily heirs if there are any, if no heirs are living, then the shares that would have gone to the bodily heirs of Verlinda M. Moore shall go to all the heirs of all my children then living, divided equally. And in case of the decease of my daughter Mary E. Zimmerman and her husband Levi F. Zimmerman before the death of my Wife, Sarah S. Webster, then the share that would have gone to my daughter Mary E. Zimmerman or her husband Levi F. Zimmerman shall go to the bodily heirs of Mary E. Zimmerman if there are any, if no heirs are living then the share that would have gone to the bodily heirs of Mary E. Zimmerman shall go to all the heirs of all my children then living and divided equally. And in case of the decease of my son Joseph W. Webster and his wife Adelia Webster before the death of my wife, Sarah S. Webster, then the share that would have gone to my son Joseph W. Webster or his wife Adelia Webster shall go to the bodily heirs of my son Joseph W. Webster, if there are any, if no heirs are living then the share that would have gone to the bodily heirs of Joseph W. Webster shall go to all the heirs of all my children then living divided equally.
Ninth I hereby do nominate, constitute and appoint Levi F. Zimmerman of Van Wert, Ohio and Napoleon B. Moore of Clarinda Iowa Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby authorizing them to compromise, adjust, release and discharge in such manner as they deem best the claims and debts due me. And I also empower and authorize them to sell my real estate all or any part of it at private sale upon such terms of credit as they deem proper. And to execute acknowledge and deliver deeds in fee simple to the purchasers. And in case of my surviving either one of my executors herein named, or the death of either one of them after my death and before my estate is finally settled, I hereby nominate and appoint the survivor my executor with all the powers, and authority that they would jointly have had had they both lived.
Tenth If either of my executors shall bring in a Bill against my estate for services rendered by them in the past or at any other time the other Executor or his heirs shall receive an equal amount.
In witness whereof, I have signed and sealed and published and declared this instrument as my Last Will and Testament at Van Wert, Ohio on the 26th day of November One thousand eight hundred and seventy three.
Ebenezer T. Webster (Seal)

The said Ebenezer T. Webster at said Van Wert Ohio, on said 26th day of Nov 1873. Signed and sealed this instrument and published and declared the same as and for his Last Will. And we, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto written our names as subscribing Witnesses this the 26th Nov A.D. 1873.
W. H. Denison (Seal)
C.P. Richey (Seal)
(Seal)

Will Dated 26 Nov 1873
Will Probated 31 Jan 1877

Van Wert County Ohio Will Records, Vol. 1 (1840-1888), p. 258-263 FHC Film # 1016469

The above Will was submitted by Carolyn, a direct descendant of Ebenezer Tyler Webster, [email protected]

Webmasters NOTE- Ebenezer was the husband to Sarah Sophia Lane, dau. of Charles LANE and Elizabeth MALLORY, granddaughter of Jesse LANE and Winifred AYCOCK. See Sarah's Will