The Later Elmshaven Years: 1905-1915 (vol. 6) - Ellen G. White

percent for the work of the Church.
She willed her personal possessions and furniture to her two sons and
made an outright bequest of $500 each to sara mcenterfer, clarence crisler,
and her granddaughters, Ella Robinson and Mable Workman, daughters of
W. C. White's first wife.
Ellen White had clearly in mind that all members of the family had
lived on a very restricted basis, financially. In recognition of their dedicated
and self-sacrificing service to her work and to the cause of God, she desired
to have them benefit somewhat from her estate. All this was arranged in her
will, dated February 9, 1912, carefully drawn up by A competent attorney
and duly executed.
But it did not work out that way!
The Settlement of Ellen White's Estate
As noted in the text, Ellen White employed an experienced accountant
who kept careful records of expenses and incomes and also the record of
borrowed monies with which to aid the cause of God and to carry forward
her book work. According to these records at the time of her death, Ellen
White's properties, including home, farm, book plates, copyrights, and
manuscripts were valued, in round figures, at $121,000; the liabilities were
recorded at $88,000. When her will was probated in the usual way in the
NAPA County Supreme Court, the judge, though riendly, did not agree with
the advice of attorney bell that provision could be made for the creditors to
await payment pending the earnings of the estate in book royalties. Rather he
held that, in compliance with law and normal procedures, all claims against
Ellen White's estate must be met promptly and the estate closed up.
The judge appointed three men to appraise the property: J. H. Steves, a
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