Last Will and Testament of Joseph Lytle Russell

The final LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of Joseph Lyle Russell (CTR’s father) was made in July 1896, and was witnessed by three Watch Tower adherents. It made bequests to all his family members, his wife, and three surviving children. It would become a bone of contention to his wife, Emma, as perhaps evidenced by the three witnesses having to sign another statement in October 1897 that Joseph Lytle was of “sound mind and memory” when they witnessed the will. It shows that Joseph owed various parcels of real estate and investments which he valued in total at around thirty thousand dollars, which would be worth well over a million dollars today. This of course would be prior to any debts that had to be settled out of the estate.

There are two copies of the will, one filed in Florida and one in Pittsburgh. There is only slight difference in wording between the two caused through human error in copying. The transcription below is based on the Florida copy, preserving original spelling, punctuation and capitalization.

 

This is the Last Will and Testament of Joseph L. Russell, of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania being of fair bodily health and of sound and clear understanding, and knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life, do hereby make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.

First: I desire that all debts owing by me including funeral expenses be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as convenient may be. My Estate Real and Personal I at present estimate at about Thirty thousand dollars and I will name my investments affirming an estimate of their values as follows.

House and lot No. 188 Jackson St Allegheny valued at $5000.

House and Lot No. 190 Jackson St Allegheny $5800 less mortgage of $2500

House and Lot of leased ground No. 80 Cedar Avenue Allegheny valued at $5000

House and three Lots at Tarpon Springs Florida valued at $3000.

Twenty five acres of land Tarpon Springs Fla. 2500.

160 acres of land Polk County Florida - 800.

180 shares of stock in the Pittsburgh Kaolin Co. (valued at 5.00) 900.

Notes of W. D. Griffin Kinders Florida - 600

Household and Personal Property — My Entire Estate Real & Personal I hereby dispose of as follows:

First: To my beloved wife Emma H. Russell I give and bequeath in her own name and right the House and Lot No. 190 Jackson Street Allegheny subject however to Mortgage of $2500 dollars. I also give and bequeath to my wife Emma H. Russell the House on leased ground No. 80 Cedar Ave. Allegheny Pa., also one hundred Shares of Stock in the Kaolin Company of Pittsburgh Pa. par value fifty per share.

Second: To my beloved daughter Mabel Russell I give and bequeath in her own name and right, when she is twenty one years old the House and Lot No. 188 Jackson Street Allegheny Pa., also forty (40) Shares of stock of the Kaolin Company of Pittsburgh Pa. Also one half of our household furniture and our bedding and one Upright Piano and my own Gold Watch all in her own name & right.

Third: To my beloved Daughter Margaret M. Land I give and bequeath in her own name and right one house and three lots in the Town of Tarpon Springs Florida, also 25 acre of land adjoining the Town of Tarpon Springs. I also add  forty shares of stock in the Kaolin Company of Pittsburgh Pa.

Fourth: To my beloved son Charles T. Russell I give and bequeath one hundred and sixty acres of land in Polk County Florida – also thirty shares of stock in the Railway and Dock Construction Company of New York City, all in his own name & right.

Fifth: With reference to the Bequest I have made to my daughter Mabel Russell in the event of her death before she is twenty one years old, she still being single and unmarried then my desire is that all of my Bequests that have been made to my Daughter Mabel Russell shall revert to her Mother. But in case my daughter Mabel Russell should be married and have issue before she is Twenty one years old, then in that case she still retains all these Bequests I have made to her and in her own name & right as originally intended.

Sixth: I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Charles T. Russell to be my Executor and my wife Emma H. Russell to be my Executress of this my Last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I hereby affix my signature this tenth day of July 1896.

Joseph L. Russell (seal)

Witness:

Signed and sealed in presence of

E.C. Henninges (seal)
J.A. Bohnet (seal)
Mrs. O.A. Koetitz (seal)