Elizabeth L Speers Bequest
Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 August 1894, page 6
NEWPORT
The will of Elizabeth L Speers of Dayton, Ky. was field for
probate in the County Clerk's office yesterday, and it was the most notable one
filed for years, for the reason that it distributed more money for charitable
institutions than any ever filed in Campbell County. Her bequests are as
follows:
To Solomon Speers and his wife and each of his six children, $1000; to Charles S Hartridge of St Louis, $10,000; to Sarah Jane McCune and each of her six children, $1000; to Mrs. Kate Muerdy of Batesville Indiana, $2000; to St Joseph Orphan Asylum, $2000; to the Sisters of Good Shepherd in the Highlands, $2000; to the Campbell County Children's Home, $2000; Charles Speers of Springfield Mo. $5000 when he reaches his majority; Emma Speers $2000; Mattie G Reeves of Cincinnati, $2000; the three children of Dr. C B Schoolfield of Dayton (Clarence, Pearl and Ray) $2000 each; to William Pickering of Cincinnati, the house and lot at the southwest corner of Berry avenue and Jefferson street in Dayton, with all its furniture. To each of the four children of Wm J Coppock $2000.
To Maria Louis Makibben and Edwin Leon Makibben $2000 each when they arrive at 21 years of age, to remain in the hands of her executors until that time and also a sum sufficient for her support and education until she marries and set aside $10,000 for that purpose. To her executors, Dr. C B Schoolfield of Dayton, and Wm G Pickering and Wm J Coppock she gives $3000 for their services.
After the payment of all specific legacies and the payment of all costs and expenses the entire residue of the estate she gives in fee simple to Dr. B K Rachford, Dr. C B Schoolfield and Wm G Pickering, in trust for the establishment and maintenance of a hospital to be erected in Dayton Ky. and maintained and conducted in such manner and upon such plan as in their judgment would do the greatest good. the said trustees shall report their acts and doings to the highest court in Campbell County and that Court may allow a just and fair compensation for their labor.
If any contest the will they are to be shut off from any benefits under the will. In a codicil she countermands her bequest to Mattie G Reeves, to whom she had left $2000 and leaves her nothing. Mrs. Speers died last week at the age of 73 years. Her husband was a well-known river Captain and amassed a fortune by speculation in cotton during the war.