PROBATE RECORDS OF STINSON H. BLACK
Probate Box 53  Jefferson Co., IL  Photocopies of papers obtained. 

(May 4, 1883)
Received of Margaret E. Black [widow of Stinson] twenty six dolars 
and 60 cents on burill expenses the 4 day of May 1883.					
B. P. Black (his sig.)

(Sep. 17, 1883)
AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE FOR CREDITORS TO APPEAR
STATE OF ILLINOIS,		In County Court, September Term, 1883
Jefferson County		
	The undersigned, S. P. Shelton, one of the Administrators of 
the Estate of Stinson H. Black dec’d. late of said County, deceased, 
being duly sworn on said oath does depose and say that he has, pursuant 
to the requirements of Sec. 60 of an act in regard to the administration 
of estates, approved April 1st, 1872, given notice that he fixed on the 
present term of this Court, at the Court House in said County, for settling 
and adjusting all claims against such decedent by publication in a public 
Newspaper, called the Mt. Vernon News published in Mt. Vernon on said County, 
and also by putting up a printed notice on the door of this Court House, and 
five other of the most public places in this County, namely: 1 at H. R. Dare’s 
saw mill in Elk Prairie, 1 at Elk Prairie P. O. in Elk Prairie Township, 1 at 
Boswell School House in “	“, 1 near residence of deceased in Elk Prairie 
Township, 1 at Forks of road of Brownsville & Spring Garden road, notifying and 
requesting all persons having claims against said estate, to attend at the present 
term of this Court, for the purpose of having the same adjusted; said publication 
having been made, and said notices having been posted, as aforesaid, more than 
six weeks previous to the first day of the present term.
						S. P. Shelton (his sig.)
Subscribed and sworn to in open Court, this 17th day of September A. D. 1883
						Allen C. Tanner Clerk.

(Aug. 13, 1884)
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Jefferson County		ss.		
The People of the State of Illinois to the Sheriff of said County, GREETING:
WHEREAS, complaint has been made to the County Court of said County, by S. P. Shelton 
and M. E. Black, Admr’s. of S. H. Black dec’d. that A. J. Black and Benjamin Black 
have in their possession a certain deed of conveyance which rightfully belongs to 
said S. P. Shelton and M. E. Black as administrators aforesaid.
	You are, therefore, hereby commanded that you cite and give notice to the 
said as A. J. Black and Benjamin Black as aforesaid, that they be and appear before 
the County Court of Jefferson County, at a regular Term thereof, to be holden at the 
Court House, in Mt. Vernon, Ill. on the eighteenth day of August A. D. 1884, then and 
there to show cause if any they have why they shall not surrender up said Deed of 
Conveyance to said Administrators, and further to do and perform what shall then, by 
the said Court, be required and adjudged.  And hereof make due service and return as 
the law directs.
						Witness, Allen C. Tanner
						Clerk of the said County Court, and the Seal thereof,
						At Mt. Vernon in said County, this
						13th day of August A. D. 1884
						Allen C. Tanner (his sig.)
						Clerk of the County Court
						By Frank E. Patton D. C.

(Nov. 1884)
State of Illinois				In the County Court
Jefferson County		ss.		Nov. Term 1884

S. P. Shelton and M. E. Black
Admr’s. of the Estate of			Petition to sell Real
Stinson H. Black, dec’d.			Estate to pay debts.
	Vs
Salatha Black et al.

And now comes Benjamin P. Black, guardian of Salatha Black, and for further 
answer to the said petition says: That the homestead right of the widow of 
Stinson H. Black  amounts to as much more than the value of the said land, 
and that if said land is sold subject to Homestead and Dower of the said widow 
the fee will be sacrificed and the rights of the said Salatha Black extinguished 
without the creditors of the estate being benefited thereby as said real estate 
cannot under such circumstances be sold for more than a mere nominal price of a 
few dollars.  Your petitioner therefore asks this Honorable Court to exercise the 
power vested in it, and in behalf of this helpless child, who has neither father 
nor mother to represent it, compel the said widow to either relinquish her homestead 
and dower interested or have the same set off to her and only the residue be ordered 
sold.
Benjamin P. Black, Guardian of Salatha Black
						By C. A. Keller, his atty.

State of Illinois				In the County Court
Jefferson County		ss.		Nov. Term 1884

S. P. Shelton and Me. E. Black
Admr’s. of the Estate of			Petition to sell Real
Stinson H. Black, dec’d.			Estate to pay debts.
	Vs
Salatha Black et al.

And now comes Benjamin P. Black, guardian of Salatha Black, and for further 
answer to the said petition says: That the said has no right to sell said land 
named in the said petition because the title thereto was procured in the name 
of Stinson H. Black through fraud, and that the real and equitable title to the 
said real estate is in Salatha Black the ward of this defendant.  That the money 
with which said land was purchased was the sole and undivided property of the 
mother of the said Salatha Black and was received by her from her father’s estate; 
that the said Stinson H. Black was the husband of the mother of said Salatha Black 
and as her agent purchased the said land with the agreement and understanding that 
the title thereto was to be taken in the name of the mother of the said Salatha Black; 
but that the said Stinson H. Black in violation of his said agreement, disregarded 
the rights of his said wife, and without her knowledge or consent made the same? in 
his own name; that afterwards the said wife of the said Stinson H. Black died without 
knowing the fraud that had been perpetuated against her; and that shortly afterward 
the said Stinson H. Black married Margaret E. Black the widow mentioned in this cause 
and who is one of the Admr’s. herein – that the said Stinson H. Black frequently 
acknowledged to several of his family the fraud he had committed against his first 
wife and his child Salatha Black one of the defendants herein and declared his intention 
to quit claim to the Salatha Black but that he took sick suddenly and died without 
having done so.  The widow now desires to sell said land to pay her widow’s award 
thereby hoping to get the title in her own name and deprive the said Salatha Black 
from all her rights therein.  The defendant therefore prays that these facts may be 
inquired into and that said petition will be denied.
					B. P. Black, Guardian of Salatha Black
					By C. A. Keller, his atty.
					Norma A. Prince atty. For Charles M. Black
Filed Nov. 17, 1884
A. C. Tanner, Clk
B. By F. E. Patton D. C.