In 1870, Margaret Pitzer, widow of Anthony Pitzer, died at the home of Oliver Trumbo. This is truly a death bed will, as she died on the following day.
I, Margaret Pitzer of the town of Dayton in the County of La Salle and State of Illinois, make this my last Will. My property consists of Notes of hand, which I wish to give and bequeath as follows, that is to say,
1st It is my will and desire that all legal and Equitable demands against my Estate Shall first be paid, which will consist in part, My Doctor Bill, Funeral Expenses, and my board bill and Expenses incurred while at the house of Oliver W. Trumbo of Dayton La Salle County Illinois. I particularly desire that a liberal compensation be paid to the said Oliver W. Trumbo as my disease has been one of no ordinary Character.
2nd I give and bequesth unto my sister Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, of Crawford County Illinois Two Hundred (200.00) Dollars.
3rd I give and bequeath unto my brother John Wagy of Kirkusville Licking County Ohio Three Hundred (300.00) Dollars.
4th I give and bequeath unto my sister Martha Harris of Quincy Illinois Two Hundred (200.00) Dollars.
5th I give and bequeath unto my nephew William Wagy of Stones Prairie Illinois his Note and Interest, which is in my hands, and amounts to about THree Hundred (300.00) Dollars.
6th I give and bequeath unto Miss Eliza Gross my Neices Daughter, now about seven years old, and lives with Henry Wagy of Adams County Illinois, Eighty (80.00) Dollars in Gold, with interest, when she shall arrive at Eighteen years of age.
7th I hold a Note of hand against Jacob Pitzer of about Three (300.00) Hundred Dollars, which I wish to have divided Equally between the said Jacob Pitzer of Grundy County Illinois, and William Pitzer of Rutland La Salle County Illinois.
8th I give and bequeath unto my nephew Joshua Wagy of Springfield Illinois, Three Hundred (300.00) Dollars.
9th Should there be anything remaining after paying Expenses of settling up my Estate, I desire that one half of the Balance shall be given towards the Erection of a Methodist Church now in contemplation and to be located near the residence of William L. Dunavan in the Town of Rutland in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, And the remaining one half to be given towards the Erection of a House of Public Worship, to be located in the Village of Dayton La Salle County Illinois.
I appoint Jesse Green of the Town of Dayton La Salle County Illinois as the Executor of this my Will.
In witness whereof I have signed and sealed and published and declared this instrument as my will, at Dayton on this sixth day of April A. D. 1870.
her
Margaret X Pitzer {{Seal}}
mark
Eliza Gross, seven years old in 1870, was to receive her inheritance in 1881, when she turned 18. In 1879 she married John W. Lanier, but unfortunately she died on the 20th of January 1880. Her husband made a claim on the estate and was awarded his wife’s share anyway.
Dayton and the Greens 
Were the two houses of worship ever built? The only church I know of in Dayton is the old baptist church, but the woman writing the will was not baptist, was she?
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I’m sure the one in Dayton wasn’t built – don’t know about Rutland. In the probate papers there is a statement that no one stepped up to claim the money for the churches, so I guess nothing happened.
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