From Sandie to Gary Aden
Email dated 2/8/1999

At 12:50 AM 1/23/99 -0800, you wrote:

Dear Sandie, 

    I'll be sending by snail mail the results of the inquiry at Illinois
State University which found nothing for the above, but shows the
following for the following individuals: Etta Aden No. 273, Book 1, Page
21; Mary Aden No. 274, Book 1, Page 22; John Aden No. 371, Book 1, Page
29; and (?) John Aden No. 372, Book 1, Page 29.

   I can only speculate as to how any or all of these individuals are
related to Heye. After you receive what I send you, perhaps we can go
from there. I'm very disappointed that the original inquries were
fruitless. Your Aunt Sylvia might have some suggestions as to where we
go from here. Cuzzin' Gary

Hi again!

   Maybe not so fruitless...I just found the Last Will and Testament for Heye
Jansen Aden, the father of Mimke. I've been pouring over microfilms and
with some of your comments, have gotten lucky! I will snail-mail you a copy.
The Will is recorded in Book C, Woodford County, 1892-1898, pages 186-188.
The court appointed Herman J Piez to translate the document as it was
written in German. Witnesses to the will, dated Oct. 24, 1892 & filed May
7, 1894) were A. H. Brubaker and Thomas Backer, both of Benson, Woodford
county, Illinois.

   Heye was living in Benson, Woodford county, Illinois at the time of his
death. He died "on or about the Sixth day of April 1894". He left his
"beloved wife all she is to receive by law", to his oldest daughter Ella
Aden $2,000 (of which she was only to receive the interest, during her
lifetime and after her death the $2,000 be divided between the then living
children. All other property outside the $2,000 shall be divided among his
other living children, "except his oldest son John Aden who is dead and
shall not heir" (so we have a clue that John died prior to 1892). The son
of his daughter Antje, by the name of John Aden, shall share in the estate
the same as his own children. Last, it was his wish that Mimke Aden shall
be his administrator (this confirms Heye Jansen Aden to be Mimke's father,
the same Heye Janssen Aden whose Declaration of Intent papers were signed
the same day as Mimke and Eilt Habben.

   The John Aden you mentioned in your last email (copied at top) may be
Heye's son who died.

   Since this will confirms Heye was living in Benson at the time of his death
(and two years prior), we now have a city to narrow our search for more
records (ie: land records, taxes, state census, cemeteries, Cent Habbem, etc)

Excited Cousin,

Sandie