Have you ever encountered a large probate file? In the papers my grandmother, Winnie Crawford, gave me was information regarding the estate of my great-grandmother’s sister, Stella Root. At some point, I wrote to Creek County, Oklahoma to request a copy of the probate file. And I received a 74 page file.
This probate file not only identifies Stella’s siblings, but also many of her husband’s nieces and nephews, along with mailing addresses.
Transcribed below are several pages from this file, including the will, the addresses and the final settlement.
Probate No. 5996
Stella M. Root, deceased
74 pages long
Jan 16, 1950
Creek County, Oklahoma
County Court
Jan. 16, 1950 – Before Hon. S. M. CUNNINGHAM, County Judge.
Creek County, Oklahoma, Probate File, No. 5996 (16 January 1950), Stella Root, 30 December 1950; County Court, Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
MR. JENNINGS If the Court please, petition was filed
by Mrs. Jos1e Crawford, sister of the deceased, asking for the probate of the will executed in 1927, and for the appointment of J. O. Edwards as administrator of the estate with the will annexed. The Exchange Trust Company was named in the will, and as your Honor remembers, it closed and became defunct years ago, and is no longer in business. Notice has been given pursuant to the order setting this cause for trial, and the proof of posting and mailing has been filed. No contest has been filed. The witnesses to the will are L.H. Childress, Mrs. Childress and M.L. Matson
Under the Statute, I take it that since there is no contest, one subscribing witness is sufficient.
Last Will and Testament
Page 7
Last Will & Testament
of
Stella M. RootI, Stella M. Root, of the City of Sapulpa, in Creek County, State of
Oklahoma, being now in good health, strength of body and mind, but sensible
of the uncertainty of this earthly life, and desiring to make disposition
of my property and affairs while in health and strength, do hereby make,
publish and declare the following to be my last will and testament, hereby
revoking and canceling all other or former wills by me at any time made.I direct the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses
I give and device to my beloved niece, Pauline Alice Root, all of the oil, gas and mineral royalties or rights by me owned on, in and to the Southwest Quarter (SW1/4) of Section numbered Ten (10), Township Sixteen (16) North, Range Eleven (11) East, in Creek County, State of Oklahoma, and all of the personal property, wherever the same may be, of which I may die possessed, after the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses.
I give and devise tot he brothers and sisters of my late beloved husband, William P. Root, deceased, or to the children of such of said brothers or sisters as may be deceased, one half of all property remaining after the carrying out of the provisions of paragraphs numbered 1 and 2 hereof; it being my desire and intent that the above named Pauline Alice Root, shall take under this paragraph a proportion like unto that of her brothers and sister, in addition to the provision made for her herein in paragraph numbered 2 hereof.
All of the rest and residue of my estate I give and devise, in equal proportions, to the following named persons:
My beloved Father, R. F. Hammond
My beloved brother, Clyde N. Hammond, of Dodge City, Kansas
My beloved sister, Mrs. Nellie E. Bleecker of Scott city, Kansas
My beloved sister, Mrs. Josie Crawford, of Dodge City, KansasProvided: that in the event that my said Father, R. F. Hammond, does not survive me, then his share above provided for shall be and go in equal proportions to my above named brother and sisters, or their heirs.
I hereby appoint and designate Exchange Trust Company, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, sole executor of this, my last will and testament.
In Witness Whereof, I, Stella M. root, have to this my last will and testament, consisting of one sheet of paper, subscribed my name this 29th day of August, 1927.
(sgd) Stella M. RootSubscribed by Stella M. Root in the presence of each of us, the undersigned, and at the same time declared by her to us to be her last will and testament, and we, thereupon, at the request of Stella M. Root, in her presence and in the presence of each other, sign our names hereto as witnesses this 29th day of August, 1927.
(sgd) Ethel Childress
Creek County, Oklahoma, Probate File, No. 5996 (16 January 1950), Stella Root, 30 December 1950; County Court, Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
L. H. Childress
W. L. Matson
Proof of Mailing and Posting
Page 27
In the County Court of Creek County,
State of Oklahoma
In the Matter of the Estate of
Stella M. Root, Deceased
Number 5996 ProbateProof of Mailing and Posting
George H. Jennings, being first duly sworn, says, that he is the attorney
for the petitioner in the above entitled cause, and that on the 4th day of
January, 195, a duplicate original of the foregoing notice herein, was, by
him, enclosed in envelopes separately addressed to each of the following named
persons at the respective addresses set forth opposite their names, as follows:George Root, Portland Oregon;
Dewey Johnson, Rt. 1, Box 583, Ft. Collins, Colorado;
Gertrude Cocksey, 195 west 29th, National City, California;
Walter Edwin Root, 416 Lincoln Street, Santa Cruz, California;
Maud Nelson, 423 Euclid Avenue, Albuquerque, New Mexico;
Nellie Stavrous, 1213 Vermont Street, Lawrence, Kansas;
Edith Hughes, 76 Roydon Road, New Haven, Connecticut;
Harold root, Elgin, Kansas;
Pauline Gibson, 411 South Main Street, Sapulpa, Oklahoma;
Georgie Glossip, 639 South Jefferson, Springfield, Missouri;
Estella Root, 76 Roydon Road, New Haven, Connecticut;
Nelle Be. Hardwick, 1817 South Boston, Tulsa 14, Oklahoma;
Ralph E. Bunyan, Pond Creek, Oklahoma;
Pearl Kolb, Pond Creek, Oklahoma;
Marjorie Saclwachter, Meeker, Oklahoma;
Myrtle Hills, Medford, Oklahoma;
Dorothy Bunyan, 210 Arcadia Place, San Antonia 9, Texas;
Clyde N. Hammond, 151 7th Avenue, North Payette, Idaho; and
Nellie I. Bleecher, 3328 Thorn Street, sand Diego, California;and the same were, on said date, deposited in the United States Post Office at
Sapulpa, Oklahoma, with postage thereon duly prepaid.Affiant further says that on the 4th day of January, 1950, he posted a duplicate original of said notice in each of the following places in Creek County, Oklahoma; one on the bulletin board in the lobby of the Court House; one on the bulletin board n the lobby of the Clayton Building; and one on the bulletin board in the lobby of the Berryhill Building, all in the city of Sapulpa.
Creek County, Oklahoma, Probate File, No. 5996 (16 January 1950), Stella Root, 30 December 1950; County Court, Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
[George Jennings]
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16 day of January, 1950
Leela Wetchel
Deputy Clerk
My Commission expires:
Final Settlement
Page 68
In the County Court of Creek County,
State of Oklahoma
In the Matter of the Estate of
Stella Root, Deceased
Number 5996 ProbateFinal Decree
This cause comes on to be heard on this 30th day of December, 1950, pursuant to the order entered herein on November 30, 1950, and to the order entered herein on December 21, 1950, and it appearing to the court that due notice of the settlement of the final account of J. O. Edwards, administrator with the will annexed of the estate of Stella Root, deceased, has been given as required by said order, and according to law; and the court having examined the final account of said administrator, and the vouchers produced by him, and having examined said administrator under oath, and it appearing to the court that the said J. O. Edwards, as such administrator, has well and truly accounted for every part of said estate, and there being no objections, and the court being fully advised:
It is ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that the accounts of said J. O. Edwards, administrator, as aforesaid, be, and the same are hereby finally settled, allowed and adjusted by the court according to the terms and tenor of the final account of said administrator, as amended, on file herein, and distribution of said estate in accordance with the terms of the last will and testament of said Stella Root, deceased, is hereby ordered; and.
It appearing to the court on satisfactory proof and the evidence that the necessary expenses of the funeral and of the last illness of the deceased, and of the administration of said estate have been fully paid and satisfied;
and
It further appearing that no estate, inheritance or transfer tax is due to the State of Oklahoma from the waiver on file herein of the Oklahoma Tax Commission, and,page 69
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It further appearing that said estate has been fully administered and is ready for distribution, and
It further appearing to the court that due notice of the application for a final decree and for the distribution of said estate, in accordance with the terms of the last will and testament of said deceased, has likewise been duly given as required by the order of this court, and according to law: and,
It further appearing to the court that said decedent died testate and that the residue of the estate consists of the following described real and personal property:
Real Estate
The South 6.7 feet of Lot Two (2), and the North 43.3 feet of Lot Three (3) in Block Ninety-Six (96) of the Original Townsite of the City of Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma; and
An undivided one-fourth (1/4) interest in and to the East Halve (E2) of the Northwest Quarter (NW4) and the Northeast Quarter (NE4) of the Northeast Quarter (NE4) of the Northwest Quarter (NW4) of the Northwest quarter (NW4) of Section Twenty-Three (23), Township Nineteen (19) North, Range Nine (9) East, Creek County, State of Oklahoma; which said property is involved in cause number 27764 of the causes pending in the District Court of Creek County, Stat of Oklahoma; and
Personal Property
Household and kitchen furniture and effect located upon the premises first above described; and,
it appearing to the court that said administrator, at the date of the filing of his final account herein, had on hand in cash, the sum of Three Hundred Twenty-nine and 94/100 Dollars ($329.94), and that since said date, said administrator has paid: (a) the sum of twelve Dollars (412.00); (b) the sum of Seventeen and 94/100 Dollars ($17.94); as additional cost deposit herein: (c) the sum of One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) for attorney fees, One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) as compensation for his services herein as such administrator; which said sum is, by the court, determined to be the reasonable compensation for said administrator.Page 70
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The Court further finds that under the terms of the last will and testament of said deceased, all of the personal property was bequeathed to Pauline Alice Root, now Gibson, and that all real estate belonging to said deceased was devised to the following named persons: (a) one-half interest therein to R. F. Hammond, Clyde N. Hammond, Nellie E. Bleecker and Josie W. Crawford, the father, brother and sisters, respectfully, of said deceased, said will providing that in the event said R. F. Hammond should predecease her, the said Stella Root, then his share should go, in equal portions, to the above named brother and sisters of such deceased; (b) one-half interest in and to said property being devised to the brothers and sister of William P. Root, deceased, or to the children of such of the brothers and sisters of the said William P. Root as may be deceased.
The court finds that the said R. F. Hammond died on April 8, 1928, during the lifetime of said deceased, and that an undivided on-half interest in the aforementioned and described real estate, and in and to all other ral estate belonging to said deceased, if any, should be distributed in equal shares, to the said Clyde N. Hammond, Nellie E. Bleecker and Josie W. Crawford.
The court further finds that the said William P. Root had two brothers and two sisters, namely: (a) George Root; (b) Edward Root; (c) Margaret Johnson; and (d) Mary Bunyan; George Root is now living; Edward Root died on June 14, 1914, and left the following named children, all of whom survived the said Stella Root, deceased: Gertrude Cooksey, Walter Edwin Root, Maud Nelson, Nellie Stavrous, Edith Hughes, Harold root, Pauline Alice Root, How Gibson, Georgia Glossip and Estella Root; Margaret Johnson died on May 30, 1942, leaving surviving a son Dewey Johnson, who survived the siad Stella Root; Mary Bunyan died on November 14, 1940, and left surviving the following named children, all of whom survived the said Stella Root: Nellie B. Hardwick, Ralph E. Bunyan, Pearl Kolb, Marjorie Sachwatcher, Myrtle Hills and Dorothy Bunyan, and that the interest so devised to the brothers and sisters of said William P. Root, deceased, or to the children of such brothers and sisters as may be deceased, should be distributed per stirpes and not per capita.Page 71
Creek County, Oklahoma, Probate File, No. 5996 (16 January 1950), Stella Root, 30 December 1950; County Court, Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
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It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that the aforementioned persons are the sole and only devisees under the terms of the last will and testament of said deceased, and that all of the aforementioned and described personal property, and all other personal property belonging to the said deceased, if any there be, be and the same is hereby ordered transferred, conveyed and assigned to the said Pauline Alice Root, now Gibson, and that the interest which said deceased owned in the above described real estate be, and the same is hereby ordered, transfered, vested, assigned and conveyed to the aforementioned persons in the proportions or shares set opposite their respective names, as follows: to Clyde N. Hammond, an undivided one-sixth interest; to Nellie E. Bleecker, an undivided one-sixth interest; to Josie W. Crawford, an undivided one-sixth interest; to George Root, an undivided one-eighth interest; to Gertrude Cooksey, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Walter Edwin Root, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Maud Nelson, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Nellie Starous, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Edith Hughes, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Harold Root, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Pauline Alice Root, now Gibson, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Georgia Glossip, an undivided one-seventy-second inteerest; to Estella Root, an undivided one-seventy-second interest; to Dewey Johnson, an undivided one-eighth interest; to Nelle B. Hardwick, an undivided one-forty-eighth interst; to Ralph E. Bunyan, an undivided one-forty-eighth interest; to Pearl Kolb, an undivided one-forty-eighth interest; to Marjorie Sachwatcher, an undivided one-forty-eight interst; to Myrtle Hlls, an undivided one-forty-eighth inters; and Dorothy Bunyan, an undivided one forty-eighth interest; to have and to hold the same to the above named persons in the proportions or shares above set forth forever
[S?] Cunningham
County Judge
Heartland Genealogy 
