A few notes about research at the courthouse: the people that work there are very helpful and very friendly, so if you're polite, you should be able to find whatever you're looking for; as long as the Recorder's Office (up the main staircase to the second floor, to the left) is open, you can do your research; but, copies of documents cost a whopping TWO DOLLARS per page! I would understand a fee to pay for the copy, but $2 per page is excessive! There should be a volume discount of some kind; there were MANY pages regarding the Dunhams, and there was no way I could afford to make copies of everything, nor could I copy everything down by hand. I wouldn't pass a law to require it, but I do believe that every courthouse should make its public records available online.
In any case - please note that I could not read some of the words. The records are all written by hand, which also explains the rambling legalese of "said-s" and "whereas-es." Those words that were completely illlegible I put in brackets (with a guess), or left dashes in brackets if there was just no way to make them out. I also have scanned those sections and put them below - if you can figure them out, please let us know!
Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sen. dec'd Oct. 18th 1865
In the mater of the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sen., dec. late of Monona Co. Iowa.
Whereas Margaret Dunham widow and Samuel Dunham son of Cornelius Dunham Sen. decd have this day filed their petition in this office by their atty H. Ford asking for the appointment of J.S. Cole and Stephen King of Harrison Co. and Samuel Dunham of Monona Co. Iowa as Special Executors to collect and preserve the personal property belonging to Said Estate and do such other acts as may be necessary to further the interests of said Estate, therefore the above-named persons are appointed and a commission [issue] accordingly.
State of Iowa, Monona County. To all to whom [there Presents]; Shall come; Greeting
Know ye, that whereas Cornelius Dunham Sr. of the aforesaid county and state, died on or about the 2nd day of October 1865 having at the time of his decease personal property in this State, whereof may be last destroyed or diminished in value if [speedy] care be not taken of the same; and whereas there is a necessary delay in issuing a commission to general executors or administrators, to the end therefore that said property and debts may be collected and preserved and that other necessary acts may be done for the interests of said Estate. J.S. Cole and Stephen King of Harrison Co. and Samuel Dunham of Monona County are hereby appointed. Special administrators of the said Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. dec. with full power to collect & preserve all and singular the goods and [Chattles] rights credits and effects belonging to said Estate and preserve the same in proper and Suitable manner except as may otherwise be ordered by the undersigned authority and do all other acts that may be required of them by the Co. Judge of the said Co. of Monona. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County of Monona at my Office in Onowa City this 18th day of Oct. 1865
S. Tillsan
Co. Judge
A Petition of J.S. Cole, Stephen King and Samuel Dunham Special Executors [xc] hearing been this day filed in my office asking that appraisers may be appointed to appraise certain personal property belonging to the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr., dec. The following persons are herby appointed [------] B.B. Bishop, H.B. Lyman and David Selleck.
Such appraisers and a warrant issue to them directing them to appraise 120 head of fat cattle belonging to the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd of said County as follows: the Cattle that were being fattened by decÕd for market this fall and 20 or 30 head taken from the lot purchased by decÕd from Beaumand Gillett.
S. Tillsan
Co. Judge
In the matter of the Estate of
Cornelius Dunham Sr. decd.
Application having this day been made by the special Executors of the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. DecÕd late of this County, for power to sell at public or private sale certain fat cattle belonging to the said Estate and which were designed by the deceased for Market this fall and being fully satisfied that the interests of said Estate require that said cattle be sold as early as practicable it is hereby ordered that said special Executors be and are hereby authorized and fully empowered to sell said fat cattle not exceeding the number of one hundred and ninety-five head in such manner, either at public or private sale as shall in their judgment be for the best interests of the Estate and that the interests of said Estate may be the better guarded. H.B. Lyman and David Selleck of Harrison County, and B.B. Bishop of Crawford County are hereby appointed appraisers to appraise said fat cattle forthwith and it is further ordered that said cattle shall not be sold for less than their appraised value.
S. Tillsan
Co. Judge
And now on this day comes Henry B. Lyman and B.B. Bishop and make the following report Ð
State of Iowa Monona County, October 27th 1865
To County Judge of Monona County, Iowa
Sir, We met in accordance with your appointment of Oct. 18th and appraised the fat cattle belonging to the Estate of the late Cornelius Dunham, Sr. as follows. Forty-four (44) head light Steers and cows at $35.00 per head Ð Fifty head heavy steers at $75.00 per head. Total of $5,290.00
Henry B. Lyman
B.B. Bishop
S. Tillsan Co. Judge
In the Matter of the last Will and Testament of Cornelius Dunham Sen.
Be it remembered that on the 6th day of November 1865 it being the Nov. Term of the Probate Court of Monona County Iowa Ð Came into open Court Henry Ford and produced a written Document which was opened and publicly read in open Court and purported to be the last Will and Testament of Cornelius Dunham Sr. late of this County and was witnessed by Henry Ford and Alex Brown. Whereupon Saturday the 25th day of November 1865 at (10) oÕclock A.M. was fixed upon and appointed by the Court for proving said document to be the last Will and Testament of the said Cornelius Dunham Sr. dec.
And it is ordered that Notice thereof be given to the heirs of the said Cornelius Dunham Sr. dec. and all persons interested by two weeks publication in the Harrison Co. Union there being no newspaper published in Monona County.
S. Tillsan
Co. Judge
And now on this 25th day of November A.D. 1865 it being the day fixed by an order hereof made by this Court and the hour fixed by said order having arrived and it being shown to the satisfaction of the Court that Notice thereof had been given by two weeks publication in the Harrison County Union as ordered by this Court the Will of Cornelius Dunham Sr. late of Monona County was admitted to probate. Thereupon comes Henry Ford one of the subscribing witnesses to said will and being duly sworn deposes and says that the said will was by the said Cornelius Dunham Sr. Subscribed in his presence and in the presence of Alex Brown another subscribing witness to the said will - that witness and one A. Brown subscribed their names to said will as subscribing witnesses to said will in the presence of and at the request of said Cornelius Dunham Sr. That the said will was by the said Cornelius Dunham Sr. was immediately after the execution of the same committed to the care and Custody of this witness and has remained in his custody continuously from that time until the reading of the same in this court. That in the Spring of 1865 the said Dunham called upon Witnesses and asked for said will Ð took it and read it and expressed his satisfaction with the same and returned it to the witness. Witness further stated that he saw the said Alex Brown whose name appears a one of the subscribing witnesses to said will sign said Will as Subscribing Witness at the same time the same was subscribed by Witness also same C.H. Holbrook who being sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted with its hand writing of Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd that he has often seen said Dunham write his signature and having examined the signature of said Will purporting to be that of Cornelius Dunham says that he verily believes the same to be the genuine signature of the said Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd.
Also came B.D. Holbrook who being duly sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted with the handwriting of Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd that he has often seen said Dunham write his signature and having examined the signature to said Will purporting to be that of Cornelius Dunham Sr. says that he verily believes the same to be the genuine signature of said Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd. Whereupon the said will was considered satisfactorily proved by the Court and ordered to be recorded.
S. Tillsan
Co. Judge
Rev. Stamp
$17.50
Nov. 25, 1865
And now comes Samuel Dunham, J.S. Cole and Stephen King and make the following report. In the matter of the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. deceased to the Hon. County Judge of Monona County, Iowa We the undersigned appointed as special executors of the last will and testament of Cornelius Dunham Sr. dec. beg leave to submit the following report of their doings they report that after their appointment they made an inventory of all the personal property belonging to the Estate and returned the same to your HonourÕs Court Ð that afterwards in accordance with the prayer of a petition made by the undersigned to your Honor asking authority to sell certain fat cattle which the deceased was preparing for Market at the time of his death. The undersigned determined that it would be for the best interests of he Estate to take said Cattle to Chicago, Ill. and sell at private sale in said Market, which was the design of the deceased as the undersigned were informed Ð they therefore as soon as possible after receiving authority to sell said Cattle started for Chicago with Ninety-six head of cattle Ð ten of which they found in Crawford County of this state Ð the most of these Cattle consisted of Steers over three years old and the balance were cows.
At Boon in this State they shipped said cattle on the Chicago and Northwestern R.R.. Near State Center in this State 3 cars containing a portion of said Cattle were thrown from the track and a portion of them injured and 5 head were lost. They therefore reached Chicago with Ninety-one head a very few of these were slighty injured and damaged by the accident above referred to. For the Ninety-one head they reached Chicago with, they received in market the sum of Seven Thousand Six Hundred fifteen and 59/100 dollars. They afterwards received from the C & N.W.R.R. Co. Four Hundred thirteen and 67/100 dollars as the value of the five head of cattle that were lost and Forty Six and 67/100 dollars for damage done to the balance in consequence of said accident. Making the total amount received for the Ninety-six head $8,075.43. The last of transporting said Cattle to Chicago including commission and pay was $791.32. The incidental expenses paid amounted to $214.61. Total amount of expense in taking said cattle to Chicago and selling them was therefore $1,005.83 which deducted from $8,075.43 the amount received for the Cattle leaves $7069.50 the amount now in the hands of the special Executors realized from the sale of said fat cattle Ð the undersigned further report that the lot of cattle purchased by deceased a short time prior to his death they have thought best to leave in the Custody and care of Thomas Flowers of Monona County in whose possession they were at the time of the death of the deceased. The said Flowers having agreed to take possession of them and keep them in good condition until called for by the executors. The balance of the personal property belonging to said estate is either in the hands of the undersigned or on, or in the vicinity of the farm occupied by the family and is all in a good state of preservation. Witness our hands this 25th day of November 1865.
Samuel Dunham
J.S. Cole
Stephen King
I Samuel one of the executors above named do solemnly swear that the matter and things set forth in the foregoing report are true as I verily believe. Witness my hand this 25th day of November 1865.
Samuel Dunham
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of November A.D. 1865
S. Tillsan
Co. Judge
And now comes Samuel Dunham, J.S. Cole and Stephen King, Special Executors and make report and file an inventory of the personal property belonging to the estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd as follows
In the matter of the Estate of
Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd
Inventory of the personal effects belonging to the Estate of Cornelius Dunham, Sr. dec.. To the Hon. County Judge of Monona County Iowa. The undersigned Special executors of the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. dec. herewith return to the Court an inventory of the personal property belonging to said Estate Marked ÒExhibit AÓ
Samuel Dunham
J.S. Cole
Stephen King
I Samuel Dunham one of the Special Executors above named do solemnly swear that the inventory hereto attached is a full and complete inventory of all their personal property belonging to the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. deceased at the time of his death so far as the same has come to our knowledge. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of November 1865.
Inventory of personal property belonging to the Estate of Cornelius Dunham Sr. decÕd
1 Mare
3 Geldings
225 Head of Cattle at Thomas Harris in Monona County
3 head of cattle at H. [Agens] - these are the cattle purchased from Brown + Gillett
228 head in all
128 at home or in vicinity about half Steers balance cows + heifers all over 3 years old
23 head of Calves (about)
2 [Stiring] plows
5 [bag] chairs
2 Spades
2 Hoes
1 Cross cut saw
2 Iron wedges
6 Pitchforks
4 Ox yokes
1 hand saw
2 Chopping axes
1 iron rake
2 Files
1 Foot [ady]
1 Double Barrel shot gun
1 Small Revolver
2 augers
19 Hogs
3 Pigs about 6 months old
1 Wagon
1 Double seated Carage [sic][carriage]
1 Set harness
1 set old harness (past gone)
1 Man Saddle
2 Riding Bridles
50 feet of [nish] rope
1 Reaper and Mower Combined
1 Breaking Plow
2 Corn plows
1 Small desk
6 or 7 Books Miscellaneous
4 Bedsteads
1 Lounge
1 Trunk
2 Chests
1 Office chair
1 Rocking chair
6 Kitchen chairs
1 Breakfast table
1 Wash Stand
1 Safe Kitchen
24 plates (12 large and 12 small)
12 Cups + Saucers
4 Glass Tumblers
1 Glass Dish