Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/388

 360 Stella M. Drumm These four men were part of those adventurers who forged their way through the wilderness, into the West and to the Pacific Coast. Their success encouraged others to travel there, gave the spur to civilization, and the west- ern boundary to the United States. They were of Anglo- Saxon origin, with that spirit of adventure and travel peculiar to the race. Whatever credit may be due to the employers and leaders, these men blazed the trail and made a story of human endurance worthy of any age. Coming from different states of the Union they joined a common enterprise, and were stimulated by an impulse common to all. The study of their lives calls to mind the homogeneous character of the American people in the early years of the Republic. negro girl, at the death of the said Rowena, if she shall so long live, become the absolute property of that member of my Family, with whom said Rowena may have resided.— Fourthly— It is my will and pleasure, that my step-daughter Maria Macky, shall have and possess, for her sole use and benefit, during her life, my slave Jerry, and after the death of the said Maria, that the said slave shall become the absolute property of Jane Kirker, (the daughter of the said Maria), and her Heirs, should she survive her mother. Fifthly — It is my will and pleasure, that none of the slaves bequeathed as hereinbefore mentioned, shall ever be sold, by my children or their Heirs, under any pretence whatever, — and that if any of my children (namely Elvira Jones, Melinda Jones, Ramsey Crooks Jones, Wilson Hunt Jones & William Arbuckle Jones), should die without issue, that, in that case their portion of slaves, shall be equally divided amongst the surviving children, or their Heirs. Finally — I do hereby nominate and appoint my wife, Margaret Jones, sole executrix of this my last will and Testament— and I further declare, that it is my will that my said executrix shall pay all my just debts, & perfect the titles to my Lands, and that she shall educate my minor children in a becoming manner, according to her best judgment — and, for the better enabling her to do these things, all my personal estate, other than my slaves, together with the entire proceeds and profits of my estate (after my decease), are hereby placed at her sole & absolute disposal, without any kind of account- ability therefor. — In testimony whereof, I the said Benjamin Jones, hereto set my hand & seal, at my residence, in the county of St. Louis aforesaid, this second day of June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty-five — 1835. (Signed) Benjamin Jones. Note — Rowena may reside with her sister, Maria, if she should choose to do so. The foregoing last will and Testament was read in the presence of the Testator Benjamin Jones and was subscribed & sealed by him in the presence of each of us — the attestation of each of us being also made in the presence of each other. Attest — Jeromo B. Greer Franz Rothenbucher Wm. Carr Lane.