Be Your Own Executor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 6, 1875

Be Your Own Executor.

The folly of not appropriating one's property to such objects as he wishes while living, but leaving it to the uncertainties of a will, or the more certain contentions of the heirs is well illustrated in the case of the late Capt. Ward, of Detroit, who left an immense estate which he wore himself out to acquire, and over which the heirs are now wrangling in the following lively style, according to the Detroit Evening News:—

“The litigation in the Ward will case will now settle down to a business-like but implacable basis. The boys, who have been heretofore willing to meet Mrs. Ward on her original acceptance of the proposition to give 150,000,000 feet of lumber to pay the debts of the estate, will now listen to nothing except the decision of the courts. The other side is equally determined, Mrs. Ward’s opinions being inspired and sustained by her brother, Mr. Lyons, the Chicago grain ‘corner’ operator, and Wirt Dexter, the leading lawyer of the Garden City. The sinews of war on her side will be furnished by herself and her brother, she being worth some $120,000 in money, which was settled on her by her late husband, and Mr. Lyon being quite wealthy. The other side will have Milton’s wealth, probably about $100,000, which will be expended to the last cent in prosecuting his claims, and in reserve will be the vast resources of their uncle, David Ward, of Pontiac, who has espoused the cause of the boys, and will fight for them with all the characteristic determination and tenacity of the Ward family. There is a good look-out for lawyers.”