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Johnson Newlon Camden

Parkersburg Sentinel
April 28, 1908


The Will of J. N. Camden Is Probated

The Entire Fortune Goes To His Family

No Inventory To Be Made Of The Estate

Nothing To Charity, Nothing To Parkersburg

No Allusion To Amount Of His Wealth.

The will of the late Senator Johnson N. Camden was probated today. It is a lengthy document, by which all but a small portion of his large estate is left to his wife, Mrs. Anna T. Camden, and his son, J. N. Camden, Jr., and his daughter, Mrs. Anna T. Spilman. The will provides that no inventory shall be filled [sic], and no appraisement shall be made, hence the value of the estate cannot be known.

The original will was dated December 14, 1907, and was witnessed by H. P. Camden, W. E. Davis and H. H. Moss. To this was added four codicils. Another codicil which was added, was written at St. Augustine, Fla., is dated April 5, 1908, which was witnessed by James M. Jackson, Mary E. Ball and Stanley Standing.

The will devises the home residence at Ann and Murdoch avenues to his wife Anna T. Camden during her lifetime, together with all furniture, pictures, etc., contained therein. All the rest and residue of the estate is devised and bequeathed to his son, J. N. Camden, Jr., and his daughter, Anna T. Spilman, and to Sprigg D. Camden, and the Union Trust & Deposit Company in trust, to be held by them and disposed of according to the decree of the will.

The trustees are given full power to dispose of all real estate and to receive and collect all moneys and to pay all just debts. Also, to sell all property at either public or private sale, and are directed to invest the proceeds in some interest bearing securities and deposit the same in some approved trust company either in Parkersburg or elsewhere.

Out of the income to his wife during her natural life shall be paid $30,000 a year in lieu of dower. All the rest and residue is to be divided into two equal shares or portions, one share or portion to go to his son, J. N. Camden, Jr., the other share or portion to be in trust for the benefit of his daughter, Anna T. Spilman, and her family. Out of the latter share, $4,000 a year is to be paid to General B. D. Spilman during his natural life. Also out of this share to the children of Anna T. Spilman except the son, as they reach the age of eighteen years, shall each be paid the sum of $1,500 a year until they arrive at the age of 21 years, when this amount shall be increased to $2,500 a year during the life of their mother.

At the age of 25 years, or at the date of their marriage each of the daughters of Anna T. Spilman are to receive the sum of $25,000.

The son of Anna T. Spilman is to receive $1,200 a year on reaching nineteen years, and shall continue at that rate until he shall have reached the age of 21 years, when that amount shall be increased to $2,500 a year and shall continue at the latter rate until he arrive at the age of 23 years, when he is to receive the sum of $25,000.

All the rest and residue of the share of Anna T. Spilman is practically for the use and benefit of Anna T. Spilman.

The other equal share or portion is to go absolutely to J. N. Camden, Jr., as soon as the estate shall be susceptible of division and distribution without prejudice to the equality of other interests. But from his share there is directed to be paid to each of his daughters when they arrive at the age of eighteen years $2,000 a year until they are respectively 21 years old, when they shall be paid an income of $2,500 a year, and in the event of their marriage or at the age of 25 years, if unmarried, each is to be paid the sum of $25,000, from which time the income shall cease.

The will states the object of it is and is to be so construed, that his son J. N. Camden, Jr., and family, and his daughter, Anna T. Spilman, and family, shall share equally in all of his estate, subject to the conditions and provisions of the will.

On the death of his wife Anna T. Camden the bequest for her use and benefit is to go to his son and daughter equally.

Full directions are given for the management of the estate, and how the current and routine business shall be conducted such as bookkeeping etc. The trustees are to be paid $1,000 each for the first year and thereafter $600 each and all necessary expenses.

The above is the sum and substance of the original will.

Codicil No. 1, directs that no distribution shall commence to be made until the expiration of one year in order to give time to shape up his estate and in the meantime the wife and son and daughter are to be paid at the rate of $25,000 a year.

Codicil No. 2 gives the power of his wife Anna T. Camden to dispose of the home residence by a testamentary devise to either one of her children or one or more of her grandchildren.

Codicil No. 3 directs that the pictures, silverware and other articles of vertu shall be equally divided between J. N. Camden Jr., and Anna T. Spilman at the death of his wife.

Codicil No. 4 directs that the bequest of $1,000 a year to B. D. Spilman shall at his death be added to the income of his daughter, and in the event the death of his daughter occurs first, B. D. Spilman is to be paid $20,000 in lump sum.

The codicils above mentioned executed on April 5, 1908 at St. Augustine, Florida bequeathes $20,000 to Anna T. Spilman for the purpose of completing her house in Virginia and a like sum to his son J. N. Camden Jr., to equal advances made to each. It also bequeathes to his brothers Edward D., L. D., and John S. Camden the sum of $5,000 each; To Susan Hope Camden wife of Dr. T. B. Camden and to Jessie Lewis their daughter $2,000 each and to Dr. T. B. Camden $1,000; to Camden Kunst and J. C. McKinley $2,500 each; to Dr. W. P. Newlon $2,000; to Sprig D. Camden and Harry P. Camden $5,000 each.

To Mary Ball and Harrison Washington $500 each, the latter being servants who have been with the family for a number of years.


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