Submitted by Laura Mattingly
I, Henry Menke of Gage County, Nebraska considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of a sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament, as follows, that is to say:
1. I direct that my funeral expenses, the expenses of administering my estate and all my just debts be paid from my personal property, and if that be insufficient I charge my real estate with the payment of the same.
2. I direct that all of my personal property of every kind, nature or description whatsoever, be given to my beloved wife, Louise K. Menke, to be hers absolutely.
3. I will that a life estate be given to my wife, Louise K. Menke, in the Southwest quarter of section 33, township 6, range 5 East, containing 153.58 acres more or less, situated in Gage County, Nebraska; and after her death that each of my children, to wit: Mrs. Emma Wenner, now of Portsmouth, Ohio; J. F. Menke, now of Portsmouth, Ohio; Mrs. Lizzie Scheidt, now of Friend, Nebraska; Mrs. Caroline Kloepper, now of Clatonia, Nebraska; Mrs. Matilda E. Daubendick, now of DeWitt, Nebraska; Mrs. Eliza Kiene, now of Deshler, Nebraska; Mrs. Rose Wegman, now of Emmet, Nebraska; Edward Menke, now of Hebron, Nebraska; Mrs. Nettie Steinmeyer, now of Clatonia, Nebraska; and Albert Menke, now of Clatonia, Nebraska, have an undivided one-eleventh interest in the above described real estate and if any of my said children should die before my death, I will that the part of such a one shall not lapse but shall descend to the heirs at law, of that one, in equal proportions.
4. I appoint Louis Kleopper of Gage County, Nebraska as my executor.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of May, A. D. 1913.
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed hereby certify that Henry Menke subscribed his name to the above instrument in our presence and in the presence of each of us and declared at the same time that said instrument was his last will and testament, and we have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to this, his last will and we, after freely conversing with the testator, are of the opinion that he is of sound and disposing mind and memory, free from any duress or constraint and in all respects fully capable of making a last will and testament at this time.
Walter Vasey
Katherine Weidenhammer
A. H. Azlett