WMMASONM.txt William Mason MILLER and Mary C. BALL by Linda Sparks Starr JUN 1999 William Mason Miller, born 12 DEC 1833, was the oldest of eleven known children born to William "Billy" Miller and Eliza Jane Clark. [See WMBMILLER.txt and WMBCLARK.txt] Known within the family as "Mase", he married Mary BALL, the daughter of George Lewis Ball 1 AUG 1853. [1] Although they don't appear on the 1860 Breckinridge Co. census, that fall Mason purchased the tract of land which became his "home place": [2] This Indenture made this 6th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Sixty between William Miller and Eliza Jane Miller his wife of the County of Breckinridge and State of Ken- tucky of the one part and Mason Miller (son of the party of the first part) ... for and in consideration of the sum of Two thousand Dollars in hand paid, ... two tracts. The first ... 400 acres ... Also one other tract of land adjoining the above. ... No conclusive evidence is found for Mason serving on either side during the Civil War. There are two enlistments for "a" Wil- liam Miller, both in the Union Army from Kentucky; however the one "Wm. M. Miller" is not him. According to newspaper accounts of the history of the New Bethel Baptist Church, William Mason Miller gave the land for the church in 1872. But the Deed [3] was not recorded until 1876: This indenture made this 27th day of December 1876 by and between Mason Miller and Mary Miller his wife of the first part and George Squires, Alla M. Dejarnette and Napoleon P. Bell trustees for and on behalf of New Bethel United Baptist Church and their successors in office ... the parties of the first part have for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar . . . unto the parties of the second part a lot of ground whereon the New Bethel meeting house now stands... And then in 1892, Mason and Mary, along with other heirs of her father George L. Ball, signed a Deed of Conveyance for two acres of land to the trustees of the Corinth Baptist Church. In the division of his father's land among the heirs, he and his brother Lewis ended up joint owners of one tract. They decided to partition this jointly held tract summer 1893: [4] This Deed of partition made and entered into this 14 day of Aug. 1893 bettween (sic) Louis Miller and Wm. M. Miller of the County of Breckinridge and State of KY. Witnesseth: That whereas the said Louis Miller and Wm. M. Miller are possessed of the following described tract of land deeded to them by the heirs of Wm. Miller deceased by deed dated Dec. 8th 1884 ... being joint owners and desirous of a division ... it is agreed that Louis Miller & Elizabeth his wife ... deed to Wm. M. Miller the following portion ... witness our signature this 23 day of August 1893. Lewis Miller Bettie Miller The deed immediately following was Mason's deed to Lewis. Mason died less than a month later, 11 SEP 1893, at his home in Breckinridge County. Like his father, he died without writing a will. Transcription of the bills and receipts found in his probate packet are listed in chronological order below. [5] This first one is a copy of the Miller account for the entire year of 1893 at "F. Fraize's", apparently a general store in Cloverport. Cloverport, Ky. Jan 22, 1894 Mrs. Mary Miller, Admr. of Mason Miller In a/c with F. Fraize 1893 Jan 2 For 1 Bolt Cotton 2.60 Jun 27 " 1 Corset 50 Out Cloth 35 85 " " " 6 yd Lace 35 3 Yds Lace 45 80 " " " Thread 10 mull 25 35 " " " Bleach cotton 1.00 " " " 1 pr. slippers 1.00 " " " 2 yd out cloth 70 4.70 Jul 3 " Cash by Daughter 20 " 13 " 25 yd Cheese cloth 1.45 " " " 7 Lace 1 os 3 by lace 35 1.40 " " " 11 Lawn 110 Thread 10 1.20 3.85 " 22 " 40 yd calico .60 " 27 " Compass 10 " " " 2 yd Chees cloth 10 20 Aug 2 " Sugar 25 Rice 15 40 Sep 5 " Telephone to Dr. Milner 25 " " " Crackers 08 " 11 " 1 suit clothes 10.00 " " " 1 shirt 75 & Drawers 50 1.25 " " " 1 cullar 15 ofsx 50 65 " " " 1 Tie 25 1 pr shus 125 1.50 " " " 1 Handkerchief 25 13.65 ------------------ $26.50 1893 CR Jul 3 1 Bg Eggs 1.30 " 3 " pr slippers ret. 1.00 " 5 " Cast by Mrs. Miller 1.00 " 14 " Eggs 80 " 22 " Eggs 35 4.45 ___________ $22.05 Recd the above from Mrs. Mary Miller Admtx of Mason Miller deceased. (signed) F. Fraize Jany 22, 1894 Among the receipts paid by Mrs. Mary Miller appears a letter and a "note" marked "Paid" by the D. H. Baldwin & Co. maker of Pianos and Organs. From the Note we conclude Mason (or family member acting on his behalf) was at the D. H. Baldwin Store lo- cated at 236 Fourth Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky on August 10, 1893. He purchased a Hamilton Organ, No. 11427, signing a note for $52.50 due six months later with an interest payment of $2.12. There is no indication how much more he/they paid for the organ; however, an item on the inventory might be this organ. It indicates she paid $40.00 of her own money for this item which is listed at $80.00 charged to her part of the inventory. The "note" is a 2 by 5 1/2 inch form showing the following "fill in the blanks" answers: Post Office is Cloverport, Ky. Date: Aug. 10, 1893. On Feb. 10, 1894 I promise to pay D. H. Baldwin & Co. Fifty-two and 50/100 dollars. Negotiable and pay able in office of Louisville, Ky. for Hamilton organ No. 11427. signed Wm. M. Miller. Loan # 31438 Due Feby 10/13/94. This note marked Paid was returned with this letter to Mr. C. Tousey of Cloverport, KY., dated Feb. 5, 1894. Dear Sir: We have your favor of the 1st inst., enclosing check for Fifty-four Dollars and Sixty cents ($54.60) in payment of note of Wm. M. Miller for that amount which falls due Feb. 13 - 94. We herewith enclose same duly cancelled. Thanking you for this remittance, we remain Yours respectfully, D. H. Baldwin & Co. Another of the receipts is No. 4411 for the taxes for the year--a total of $19.40. [I came up with a total of $19.11.] State $ 12.18 County 5.73 District ---- Tithes 1.20 Six percent Penalty ---- Total 19.40 This next item is a copy from the County Court Ledger Books which are oversized for today's xerox machines and legal sized papers. A few letters are omitted from the right side of each line. At the bottom of the Appraisal we have: Persuance of Order called Term Breckinridge Co. Court Sep 29th, 1893, we the undersigned _____isers did on 21st of Oct. 1893 meet on the premises of Wm. M. Miller decd. and did ____ine as so or dered all articles presented to us and valued the same ______ing to our best knowledge and informatives and this is a true _____ment as best we know how, witness our hands this Oct. 26, 1893. Julius Hardin V. C. Pate Appraisement of Wm. M. Miller Deceased by Julius Hardin and V. C. Pate, Oct. 21st., 1893. Cow, 10 yrs. old $ 14.00 small 2 yr old steers, $7.00 each 21.00 ___ of pigs $1.00 each 9.00 Broken shovel plow 50 _____est in broken waggon 2.50 broken plows 50 cts.each 1.00 individual crop Tobacco, Burley & Red 1350 lbs supposed worth 67.50 supposed wt ____est in Clators Tobacco, Burley & 1500 lbs Red 2 1/2 acres supposed worth 75.00 supposed wt __is ___above and set-aside for widow 20 bu at 50 cts. 10.00 ___lb Hay at $7.00 per Ton 27.56 1/4 Wheat at 45 cts. 18.00 ------ $246.06 1/4 Amt not set aside for widow Amt Set Aside for Widow of Wm. M. Miller _____ for 12 months use 420 bu @.50 per bu 210.00 90 bu of this is int in Clator Crop ___ & calves each cow & calf $20.00 40.00 ___se 8 yrs old 60.00 ____old and windbroken 35.00 ____y on hand 5.00 ___ $25.00 and 1 old waggon $5.00 30.00 in lieu of sheep, wheel, Loans(?Loosn) & cords ------- 380.00 (Over) amt brought over 380.00 ___Hogs feeding 130 lbs each at 4 1/2 cts 40.95 for family meat ____and (?8eis) $10.00 and 1 Harrow $1.00 11.00 ___jurnpes $2.50 and 1 Double shovel $1.75 4.25 ___stove .50 cts and 1 pitch fork 25 cts. 75 __addle and appendages $4.00 1 sewing machine 9.00 __heat for family use at 45cts $15.75 15.75 Hay at 35cts per Hundred 31.50 Safe $2.00 1 old bureau & glass $2.00 4.00 purchased with Miss Miller's own money 4.00 __n 80.00 Mrs. Miller paid $40 own money on this bedding $20.00 each 1 bureau $5.00 45.00 cups & saucers, knives & forks, coffee & tea pots 3.00 ___hes 7.00 purchased w/ Mrs. M's money ___ss 8.00 purchased w/ Mrs. M's money __king stove and appendages 20.00 --------- 664.20 Kentucky, Breckinridge County Court Regular Term Dec 18--1893 The foregoing appraisement bill and the allotment to the widow of Wm. M. Miller deceased was this day produced to Court and ordered to record whereupon the same and this certificate have been duly recorded. Att: John E. Monarch, Clerk B.C.C. Mrs. Mary Miller, admnrx. of Wm. Mason Miller, deceased set about in the month of January paying all the bills of the estate. The tombstone was purchased from J. E. Keith and Sons, Designers and Manufacturers of Granite and Marble Monuments, of Cloverport, Kentucky. She paid $25.00 on January 22, 1894 to them. One of the final court documents is a listing of these charges to the estate: Charges Cr. Dr. To amount appraised for sale $246.06 1/4 Oct. 23rd 1893 Vouchers Credits No. 1 By F. Fraises Receipt $ 22.05 No. 2 " H. Hamman's " 25.00 No. 3 " F. K. Rhodes S. B. C. " 19.40 No. 4 " J. E. Keith & Son's " 25.00 No. 5 " J. E. Monarch's Fee Bill " 5.80 No. 6 " D. H. Baldwin's Co. " 54.60 No. 7 " Dr. A. A. Simon's " 16.25 No. 8 " A. R. Fisher's " 3.60 No. 9 " Walter Bland's " 7.10 No. 10 " Amt paid W. J. Taul for fruit 1.90 trees No. 11 " Dr. Wm. Milner's Receipt 20.00 " Admrxs Allowance 15.00 " Making this settlement 1.00 " Recording same 1.25 217.95 -------------------- $ 28.11 1/4 The foregoing settlement shows a balance in the hands of the Amdrx of Twenty-eight & 11/100 dollars ($28 11/100) this 5th day of June 1894. Thos. Adkisson J. B. C. C. The family must have objected to the $20.00 doctor bill presented by Dr. William Milner because there are two affidavits, one from Dr. Milner and the other from another doctor, A. A. Simons. The payment to Dr. Milner was one of the last charged to the estate: Affidavit by Witness The Commonwealth of Kentucky In the matter of the account of Wm. Milner against the es- tate of Mason Miller, deceased, this day came A. A. Simons, who . . . examines account for twenty dollars . . . witness states he has no interest in claim. signed A. A. Simons 29th day of Jan, 1894 in front of Wm. Ahl, N. P. Commonwealth of Kentucky Breckinridge County In the matter of the acount of Wm. Milner against the estate of Wm. Mason Miller, Deceased. This day came Wm. Milner who . . . deposes that the account for . . . twenty dollars . . . is a just demand and has never to his knowledge, been paid. signed Wm. Milner before a Justice of the Peace this 23rd day of January, 1894 R. B. Cord, P. B. C. The final court action of the estate of William Mason Miller ended thusly: Kentucky Breckinridge County Court Regular Term July 16th 1894 The foregoing settlement having been filed and laid over for ex- ceptions [Jun 18, 1894] and none being filed thereto, the same was this day confirmed and ordered to record whereupon the same and this certificate have been duly recorded. Att John E. Monarch Clerk B. C. C. The MILLER children partitioned his land in 1897. [6] This Deed of partition made and entered into this Jan. 1st 1897 between the heirs of Wm. M. Miller deceased ... said heirs being possessed of three tracts of land as shown by deeds recorded in deed books ... it is agreed that Alfred A. Miller & Ella B. Miller his wife; Norvin C. Miller, Malissa A. Miller; Cornelia Miller; Frank Kennady & Mollie E. Kennady his wife; Nelson J. Miller & Jennie E. Miller his wife; Thos. J. Miller & Mollie Miller his wife; Amanda Jordan; and Mary Miller widow of Wm. M. Miller deceased parties of the first part and Jessie K. Miller, Wm. L. Miller & Sudie A. Lay wife of Jas. W. Lay parties of the second part ... In testimony thereof witness our signature this 4 day of Jan. 1897. Nelson J. Miller Jennie E. Miller Frank Kennady Molly Kennady Thomas J. Miller Molley Miller Nelia E. Miller Malisa A. Miller Norvin C. Miller Alfred A. Miller Ella B. Miller Mary Miller Amanda C. Jourdan William. L. Miller Nannie A. Miller [Each of the above signatures is in a different handwriting and the placement herein is true to the original. I believe these are the actual signatures of the heirs of William Mason Miller. The most suspect are those of Nannie and William L. Miller since they were not present when the others signed. LSS] State of Kansas Sumner County Before me a Notary Public within and for said County and state on March 15th, 1898 A. D. personally appeared William L. Miller and Nannie A. Miller / husband and wife, who are to me per- sonally known to to (sic) be the same persons who executed the within instrument of writing and acknowedged the same to be their voluntary act and deed. Witness my hand and official seal. Chas. E. Wright Notary Public State of Kentucky Breckinridge County The foregoing Deed was this day lodged for record, whereupon the same together with this and the foregoing certificate have been duly recorded in my office. Witness my hand this 14" day of May 1898. Owen Cunningham Clerk Mason was buried in the Old Miller Cemetery located on his Uncle Jefferson Miller's farm. Mary C. (Ball) Miller died 27 MAY 1922; she is buried in the Cloverport Cemetery. ------------------- 1. The marriage date of Mason and Mary comes from Stephen Barr's The Family of Adam and Mary/Claycomb/Barr. 2. Breckinridge Co. KY Deed Book U, page 399. 3. Breckinridge Co. KY Deed Book 33, page 149. 4. Breckinridge Co. Ky Deed Book 46, page 234. 5. Intestate records on file in Breckinridge Archives. 6. Breckinridge Co. KY Deed Book 49, page 622.