MILTON HITE, of Martinsville - The estate and the investment thereof is to remain as it now is until, out of the rents, profits and dividends thereof, his debts and funeral expenses, including the erection of a suitable family monument, shall be paid.
Wife: Margaret, while she lives is to receive the homestead, the profits and dividends of $26,000.00 stock in the First National Bank of Martinsville, and the rents and profits from the business room now used by the bank.
Nephew. Milton Hite, Jr. $6,000.00 of First National Bank stock,, half interest in Lot # 5 Block 11 in Martinsville known as the old Hue and Parks block, half interest in Hite and Park's new hall. Lot 86 Block 11 where the Hite and Parks bank now stands, and after the death of Mrs. Hite the present bank room.

After the death of his wife, Margaret Hite, the bank stock, in which she has a life interest shall be divided as follows: 51,000.00 to Ida Gardner, " I girl living in my family", $500.00 to his crippled nephew, P. M. Parks, one third of the remainder to the children of the three sisters of his wife, Mrs. Julia Egbert of Martinsville, Mrs. Burrows of Osceola, Iowa, and Mrs. Huffacrea of Kentucky. One-third of the remainder to the grandchildren of his brother Felix G. Hite, one-third to the children of Matilda McClure, one third to the children of T. H. Parks. M. H. Parks, Alice Branch and Marietta Simpson of Martinsville.

Executrix: Wife, Margaret Hite
Witnesses: Harvey Satterwhite. A. E. Graham. W. R. Harrison.

The will was probated and was estimated at a total value of $60,000.00. Margaret erected the requested family monument at a cost of 13.200.00. Milton, Jr., received approximately $20,000.00 according to estimates in the newspaper and the other requests were completed. The will was finally closed in 1913 after Margaret's death in 1911.

In 1913. thirty-six years after Milton's death, the section of the estate which was to be divided was valued at $11,821.65 less expenses of $3,370.93 leaving $8,450.72 as reported by Emmett Branch Attorney & Counselor. (This sum of $8,430.72 would be worth over $500,000.00 in 1997, assuming five percent interest.). There were a total of fifty- seven descendants who received an heir's share. The individual bequests ranged from $1000.00 to $9.00. My grandmother, Maria Ellen Hite Goble, widow of William Milton Hue along with her two children, John Milton Hite (my father) and Lula Hite Frill each received $22.35.

[From the files of Phyllis Hite Busby, second great grand niece of Milton Hite and direct descendant of his brother, Felix G. Hite.
Published in the Morgan County History & Genealogy Newsletter Vol. 9 No 1 Winter 2003