JAMES MONROE MYERS 1840-1879

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JAMES M. MYERS – 1879

Transcribed by Valerie J. Thompson, 20 Mar 2013

Nicholas County, Kentucky Will Book H, page 266

Last will and Testament of James M. Myers, owing to the uncertainty of life and certainty of death, I make this my last will and testament.
First, I will that my insurance money, or so much of it as it will take you towards paying off my land debt.
Second, That I desire that my wife Lucy H. Myers shall have full possession and control of my entire estate, real and personal so long as she remains a widow, or until my children become of age.
Third, That I desire to empower my wife, if she thinks is best for the interest of herself and my children, to sell the land on which we now live, and to re-invest the money in land, or not to re-invest as she may think best, and I request the court to confirm the sale; if the money is not re-invested in land, I require of my wife to give security that is good and satisfactory for my children’s money until they become of age.
Fourth, I desire all my debts be paid as early as practicable.
Fifth, I hereby appoint my father-in-law, Milford Berry and request of him to see to it that this, my will, is properly and rightfully executed.

Signed by me this First day of February 1879,      J. M. Myers

Attest: George C. Faris

             R. T. Hill

Nicholas County Court, March Term, 1879

This instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James M. Myers, deceased was this day produced in open court and was fully proved by the oaths of Geo. C. Faris and R. T. Hill, the attesting witnesses, thereto, Whereupon said last will and testament is confirmed, established, and ordered to be recorded, which is done.                Attest: Jno. A. Cambell, CNCC

 

     James Monroe Myers was born 21 May 1840 and died 9 Feb 1879 according to his tombstone located at the Hopkins Cemetery, also known as the W. B. Hopkins burial ground in Nicholas County, Kentucky.  His death notice was given in the Carlisle-Mercury newspaper 20 Feb 1879. Photograph of his tombstone can be found at Find A Grave Memorial #6973315.

This young man, who died at age 39 was married to Lucy H. Berry, daughter of Milford Berry, who was named as his Executor. Lucy was the young widow of Jacob J. Hopkins, who is also buried at the Hopkins Cemetery, Find A Grave Memorial  #6973288.

Lucy and Jacob J. Hopkins had one son, Jacob Milford Hopkins born 25 Feb 1870-19 July 1933. According to his death certificate he is buried at Lexington Cemetery, Fayette County, Kentucky. Death certificate image is available at Kentucky Death Records, Ancestry.com.

James Monroe Myers and Lucy had three sons. She is listed on the 1880 Census of Moorefield,Nicholas County, Kentucky with her four sons.

The sons of James Monroe Myers and Lucy Berry Hopkins:

*Herdy Pickett Myers was born 1 July 1873 (WW I Draft Registration), although tombstone reads 1874.  He died 27 Nov 1958 Nicholas County, Kentucky. He is buried at Carlisle Cemetery, Nicholas County, Kentucky, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240816. His Kentucky death certificate is viewable at Kentucky Death Records, Ancestry.com

*Herman P. Myers was born 1873, possibly a twin to Herdy Pickett Myers, in Nicholas County, Kentucky. He died 1900 and is also buried at Carlisle Cemetery, Nicholas County, Kentucky, Find A Grave Memorial# 83240879

*James Walter Myers was born 4 Sep 1878 (WW I Draft Registration). He died 30 Dec 1952 Nicholas County, Kentucky. He is also buried at Carlisle Cemetery, Find A Grave Memorial# 83241043 His Kentucky Death certificate viewable at Kentucky Death Records, Ancestry.com states his parents were James Monroe Myers and Lucy Berry.

Lucy H. Berry, daughter of Milford Berry and Frances Ann Hendricks, and widow of Jacob J. Hopkins and James Monroe Myers was born Sep 1849, and died 12 July 1908. She is buried with her sons  at the Carlisle Cemetery in Nicholas County, Kentucky, Find A Grave Memorial# 75082089