Last Will and Testament of George A. Reed
State of Indiana
County of Marion
I, George A. Reed, being at this time a resident of the city of Indianapolis, Marion County, in the state of Indiana and although impaired physically, of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking any and all wills by me hereto fore made.
Item I All my debts and funeral expenses shall be first and fully paid.
Item II I hereby give and bequeath to my brothers Clarence Reed and Hugh Reed twenty five dollars ($25.00) each.
Item III I hereby give, bequeath and desire my real estate situated at 2730 Kenwood Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana, more particularly described as seventy (70′) off the east end of Lot twenty five in Ruddle and Vinton’s Park Place addition to the city of Indianapolis, in said county and state, as per plot thereof in Platt Book 4 page 190 seventy (feet) off the East end of said Lot twenty five (25) being forty (40′) feet wide, to my sister Sarah Busby of Benton Harbor, Michigan, to be her sole property, absolutely and in fee simple.
2.
Item IV I have money on deposit in the United States Postal Savings Bank of Indianapolis, Indiana and at the Railroadmen’s Federal Savings and Loan Association of Indianapolis. I hereby give, bequeath and desire all said money and all the rest and residue of my property, real, personal and mixed that remains after my bequests mentioned at Item II and the devise at Item III to my sisters, Sarah Busby of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Minnie Mullins Busby of Benton Harbor, Michigan and Pearl Cleage of Detroit Michigan, to be theirs absolutely and in fee simple, and they shall each have one third thereof.
Item V I hereby nominate and appoint Pearl Cleage to be the executrix of this my last will and testament and of my estate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of October 1943 George A. (His X mark) Reed (seal)
Witness to mark: Mettie J. Martin
Robert Lee Brokenburr Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 25, 1943
We, the undersigned hereby, in the presence of said George A.Reed and in the presence of each other at his request witness the foregoing last will and Testament, that he declared the same to be his last will and testament and signed same of his own free will and accord in our presence, and we sign same as witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other.
Mettie J Martin
Robert Lee Brokenburr
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You can read about George Reed’s life at this post George A. Reed.
It was useful to read about his life to understand his will. I find it a little interesting that he bequeathed more to his sisters leaving only a flat $25 to each of his brothers even though his sisters were married.
Regards
Anne
Two of the sisters were widows and he had stood in as a father to my grandmother Pearl as she was growing up.
Hugh Reed had taken his family to California and was passing for white. I don’t think he was in touch with his siblings any more. I guess maybe he thought they were men and could take care of themselves.
Or perhaps over the years they had ignored him an the women hadn’t.