Last Will and Testament of Reuben Smeck

In the Name of God, Amen. I William Eisenbise, of the City of Reading, County of Berks, and the State of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind memory and understanding, but considering the uncertainty of life, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in the manner and form following.

1. I direct all my just debts and expenses to be fully paid and satisfied by my Executor hereinafter named, as soon as conveniently may be after my decease; and if tombstones have not already been supplied for my wife and myself I direct my said Executor to purchase and place proper tombstones for my wife and myself within one year from my death and to pay for the same out of my estate.

2. I give and bequeath absolutely unto my sister Ann Barbara Saylor, wife of George S. Saylor, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars, ($200), and direct the sum be paid six (6) months after my decease.

3. I give and bequeath absolutely unto my daughter, Elvina C. Schaeffer, wife of David P. Schaeffer, all my shares of stock in the Berks County Trust Company, and direct my executor, six (6) months after my decease, to transfer, assign and set over all my certificates of stock to her, so as to give unto and vest in her absolute title thereto. I also give and bequeath unto said daughter, Elvina C. Schaeffer, all my right, title and interest in and to the Sagulski mortgage and bond, held owned by me against property, No. 222 Mifflin Street, Reading, PA.

4. I give and bequeath absolutely unto my daughter, Alice E. Eisenbise, all the furniture, books, pictures, bedding, mattresses, linens, and other household effects; all and every cooking utensils, together with all fuel and housekeeping provisions and other consumable stores, which, at the time of my decease, shall be in and about my dwelling house. Gilson Alley and on the west a common alley distinctively separating Seventh Street properties from alley properties. Containing about twenty-one (21) feet, more or less, on Neversink Alley and forty (40) feet, more or less, to said division alley. Being the rear portion, with dwellings, acquired from Thos. Ready Estate in February, 1892, recorded February 26 1892, in Deed Book No. 220, page 49-50.

All that certain two-story frame dwelling house, No. 400 Neversink Alley (Gilson Alley), with lot or piece of ground on which the same is erected, containing in front eleven (11) feet, more or less, and in depth eighty (80) feet more or less. Being same property which Joseph Sagulski and wife, by deed of January 3 1908, recorded same day in Deed Book 315, page 561 conveyed to me.

All that certain two-story dwelling home (frame) No. 402 Gilson Alley, adjoining 400 Neversink Alley to the south thereof, McDonough property to west thereof, Terry property No. 404 to the North thereof, and Gilson Alley to the west, containing in front eleven (11) feet, more or less, and in depth eighty (80) feet, more or less.

See Deed recorded Dec 2, 1904, Deed book 309, page 597.

5. I give and bequeath absolutely unto my daughter, Emma Minker, her heirs and assigns forever, the following property, viz:-

All that certain two-story brick dwelling house, and the lot or piece of ground upon which the same is erected situate on the west side of South Third Street, between Penn and Franklin Streets, being numbered 26 South Third Street, bounded north by Booth property, No. 24 South Third Street, East by Third Street, south by property No. 28 South Third Street, and West by John Kissinger property, containing in front on Third street, sixteen (16) feet more or less, and in depth sixty (60) feet, more or less.

Being same property conveyed to me by George D. Fahrenbach, Sheriff, in petition proceeding, recorded in Partition Docket, "D", page 244, and recorded in Sheriff’s Deed Docket, Vol. 14, page 59, March 23, 1895.

All that certain one-and-a-half story frame dwelling house, No. 216 Carpenter Street, west side Carpenter Street, between Chestnut and Spruce Streets, bounded north by a ten feet wide alley, south by Henry Shield, west by Edward Stroud and east by Carpenter Street, containing along Carpenter Street twenty (20) feet, and in depth, east and west, eighty-two (82) feet.

Deed to me is dated April 1 1869, recorded Aug 30, 1869 Deed Book 95, page 121.

All that certain one-and-a-three-quarter story frame dwelling house, and lot of ground, No. 218 Carpenter Street, west side of Carpenter Street, between Chestnut and Spruce Streets, bounded north by William Eisenbise, No. 216, south by John Eichley, west by an alley and East by Carpenter Street, containing in front sixteen (16) feet, and in depth ninety-seven (97) feet.

Deed to me is dated March 21, 1904, recorded March 30, 1904 Deed Book 301, page 331.

All that certain parcel or piece of ground and building thereon erected, situate east side of a certain twelve feet wide alley, running from Chestnut to Spruce Street, between Third and Crystal Streets, No. 321 Gall’s Court, adjoining south property now or late of Abr. Price, west twelve feet wide alley, north another alley and east by the property of William Eisenbise containing twenty (20) feet by sixteen feet.

Deed to me is dated March 25, 1901, recorded Apr 6, 1901 Deed Book 261, page 617.

6. I give and devise unto my son, Harry E. Eisenbise, his heirs and assigns forever, the following real property, viz:

All that certain two-story brick dwelling house, and the lot or piece of ground upon which the same is erected, No. 341 South Eleventh Street, northeast corner of Eleventh and Muhlenberg Streets, bounded north by property of E.W. Gilbert, east by a three foot alley, south by Muhlenberg Street and west by Eleventh Street, containing in front twelve feet eight inches (12’8") and in depth fifty-seven feet two inches, (57’2").

Deed to me is dated February 24, 1890, recorded February 26, 1890 Deed Book 190, page 109.

All that certain two-story frame dwelling house, and the lot or piece of ground upon which the same is erected, situate on the east side of Mulberry Street, between Greenwich and Oley Streets, No. 625 Mulberry Street, bounded north by property of J. Rhoads, east by property on rear of No. 625 Mulberry Street, and numbered "625 Rear". South by property of Alice E. Eisenbise, and on the west by Mulberry Street, containing in front on Mulberry Street twelve (12) feet and in depth to rear dwelling house seventy-three (73) feet.

All that certain two-story frame house in the rear of 623 and 625 Mulberry Street, and the lot or piece of ground upon which the same is erected situate on the west side of an alley running north and south parallel with Mulberry and Eleventh Streets, and between Greenwich and Oley Streets, and numbered "625 Rear", bounded north by property formerly of J. Rhoads, east by said alley, south by property No. 621 Mulberry Street formerly owned by the Reading Savings Bank, and west by properties Nos. 623 and 625 Mulberry Street, containing in front along said alley twenty-four (24) feet, and in depth westward twenty-seven (27) feet. Subject to the use of three feet alley on south from western building line to alley whereon frame dwelling is erected on the part of owner of 523 Mulberry Street, her heirs, assigns, tenants and occupiers.

The last two described properties are part of the same premises bought by me from the Thos. L. Smith Estate, and conveyed to me by deed dated May 28th, 1904, recorded the same day, in Deed Book No. 310 page 150, Berks County Records.

All that certain two-story brick dwelling house, and the lot or piece of ground, No. 224 Mifflin Street, situate on the west side of Mifflin Street between Chestnut and Spruce Streets, bounded on the north by property of Joseph Sagulski, east by Mifflin Street, south by property formerly of Andrew Fichthorn, and west by an alley, containing in front on Mifflin Street fifteen (15) feet and in depth one hundred and four (104) feet.

Being the lower property purchased by me from Executors of Andrew Fichthorn, dec’d, deed dated Mar 30, 1906, recorded April 3 1906, in Deed Book 330 page 462.

7. I give and devise unto my son, George W. Eisenbise, his heirs and assigns forever,

All that certain two-story brick store-stand dwelling house, (No. 311 Schuylkill Ave), and the lot or piece of ground upon which the same is erected, situate on Schuylkill Avenue, between Buttonwood and Hockley Streets, bounded on the north by property of Solomon Rickenbach, on the east by property No. 310 McKnight Street, devised to Elvina C. Schaeffer, on the south by property formerly of John Heudel, et al., and on the west by Schuylkill Avenue, containing in front twenty (20) feet, and depth eighty-five (85) feet, more or less.

Being front building erected upon part of the lot purchased from John Hendel, et al., March 4 1895, recorded March 5, 1895, in Deed Book 224, page 135, Berks County Records.

of and from any and all sums of money he now owes me or that he may owe me for money advanced, or rents due or otherwise howsoever owing up to the time of decease.

All the rest and residue of my estate, real, personal and mixed, of which I shall die seized and possessed, or to which I shall be entitled, I give, devise and bequeath to be equally divided to and among Elvina C. Schaeffer, Alice E. Eisenbise, Charles Albert R. Eisenbise, Emma Minker, and Harry E. Eisenbise, who are the children of the decedent.

And lastly, I do nominate and appoint David P. Schaeffer, my son-in-law, husband of Elvina C. Schaeffer, to be executor of this my last will and testament.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Ninth day of August, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and nine, (1909).

William Eisenbise (seal)

Signed, sealed, declared and published and declared by the above named William Eisenbise, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names at his request as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said testator and of each other.

Foster S. Biehl
William J. Rourke

Contributed by: Michelle.