Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Will Book Vol. 5, pages 135 - 136
page 135
The will of William Bell late of Gallatin Tennessee, made and declared by him on Monday the 19th day of October 1896 in the presence of the undersigned witnesses John Iss and Henry Head both of the said County and the said Henry Head having in writing relinquished all his marital rights to any money or other property given by this will, to his wife Luta Head to her sole and separate use. Under the circumstances and in the words herein stated.
The said William Bell was laying sick in the dwelling house of Henry Head in Gallatin Tennessee where said William Bell had his home and where he had previously resided for more than ten days and William Bell was then in his last sickness, from which he had suffered about four weeks and from which he died, and from which he died the next night about 4 O'clock A.M. The said William Bell was never married and on the morning of Monday Oct. 19th 1896, he sent for his friend John Iss when said Iss arrived he commenced to tell said Iss how he, Bell, wanted his affairs settled, then Iss called in Henry Head and told Bell to tell them both what he wanted done. William Bell then said I wont (as written) be here long, I want you to settle up my business, pay off my debts and expenses and give all that is left of my property to Henry Head's wife Luta Head. He said he wanted Henry Heads wife to have every thing he had after his debts and expenses were paid.
The witnesses from his acts and words understood William Bell as calling on them to witness what he wanted done with his property when he died and that they were called on to witness William Bell's will. Put to writing and subscribed by us as witnesses, this the 22nd day of October 1896.
The interlineations on proceeding page "4 O'clock A.M." and the word "they" on this page were
made before signing this paper.
Oct. 22nd 1896
his
John X Iss
mark
Henry Head
Witnesses to John Iss' signature
B. F. Allen
W. F. Roth
[pg 136]
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court November Term Nov. 9th 1896.
A paper writing purporting to be the nuncupative Will of William Bell deceased was this
day produced in open Court for probate, when it appearing said Will was reduced to writing
within ten days after the death of said William Bell, it also appearing that said William Bell, has
been dead for more than fourteen days, he having died October the 21st 1896 and leaving no
widow, children, or next of kin conveniently to be found to contest it, and said John Iss and
Henry Head witnesses being brought into open Court and duly sworn to said Will, the same is
ordered recorded as the nuncupative Will of said William Bell deceased.
A true copy.
Harris Brown
Clerk