Henry Fralick’s Will

Henry Fralick, my 2nd great grandfather died on Christmas Day of 1896. He was born 27 February 1812 in New York state and sometime before his marriage to Martha Scott in 1844 when he was 32 years old, he had moved to Grant County in southwest Wisconsin. The couple had ten children, two of whom died in childhood. All were born in Grant County where the Fralicks farmed a 40-acre lot and an 80-acre lot just east of the Mississippi River. Here is a shot from the plat book. The Fralick land is marked in red.

According to the US Census of 1870, the Fralicks worth was valued at $3000 in real estate and $900 in “personal estate.” They  had two farm laborers, a domestic servant, and the four children of those workers living with them–in addition to seven of their own children.

After Henry’s death, his estate was probated in February 1897. His three-page will was included in the series of documents at his probate. His wife, Martha Scott Fralick, had preceded him in death in 1880. At the reading of his will, seven of his eight children each got one dollar. This suggests he probably had given them a portion of his wealth while he was still alive. Possibly, he gave them down payments for their houses or something along those lines. One son, who had not married, received the remainder of Henry’s estate. It reads:

“After the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, I give, devise, and bequeath to my son Charles H. Fralick the sum of one dollar and nothing more.

“. . . I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my daughter Martha Jane Reynolds the sum of one dollar and nothing more . . .

” . . . to my daughter Mary Hope . . . the sum of one dollar and nothing more

” . . . to my son David Fralick the sum of one dollar and nothing more–

” . . . to my daughter Lydia Wilson . . .the sum of one dollar and nothing more.

“. . . to my son Edward Fralick the sum of one dollar and nothing more

“. . . to my daughter Laura Taylor . . . the sum of one dollar and nothing more.

“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my son Frank Neuton Fralick all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate of whatever kind or nature, without reserve, both real and personal.”

Frank was 39 years old and had never married when his father died. That changed quickly after Henry’s death, which is fodder for my next post.

Here are images of his will and how he distributed his assets.