There was not much to settle up when Wesley Jones died near Callao in Macon County, Missouri, in 1872. His estate consisted of a handful of chattel items and a few farm animals. There was no real property, and Wesley's estate was valued at $176.50 when it was appraised on 21 August 1872. The estate was small enough that nine days later his widow Surrelda Jones petitioned the court to receive the entire estate instead of distributing it to Jones' heirs. According to the petition, there “is no more if as much as she is by law entitled to.” As Wesley Jones' widow, Surrelda was entitled to a widow's award, and apparently Wesley's estate did not cross the threshold of her widow's amount. There is no record of the granting of the petition; but since the record ends there, it is reasonable to assume her petition was granted.
Despite the size of the estate, there are records. Surrelda's petition to administrate Wesley's estate included a list of all his heirs, all living in Macon or Linn County, Missouri. While the individuals are listed as heirs (and not as children), there is no reason to think they are anything other than his children (or children of his children). The initials are important, especially given the common last name. It is also possible that Wesley's family used their middle names and first names interchangeably, if only to confuse future genealogists. It should also be noted that the heirs listed are heirs of Wesley Jones and not necessarily those of his widow Surrelda.
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