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The People Who Lived on the Land that is Now Redstone Arsenal, page 97
The Alabama Property Company deeded the same strip of land to Alabama Power Company for the use of construction of electric transmission lines (Deed Record 116:164). Shogren et al. 1989:242) state that Loundes H. Davis, and his wife Mary retained the 700 acres, known as the Homestead Plantation of Loundes H. Davis, until Loundes' death on or about 4 February 1920. This is essentially correct. The deed stated that they purchased700 acres, excepting a reserved the strip totaling 22.23 acres sold to the Alabama Property Company. At the time of his death, Loundes H. Davis resided at 300 Madison St., Huntsville (Huntsville City Directory 1920-21, Vol. VIII). On March 9, 1920, in the matter of the estate of Loundes H. Davis, Clarendon Davis, son of Loundes and Mary Davis, filed a petition to probate and admit the true last will and testament of L. H. Davis (Probate Case No. 6641, Probate Minute 34:235). The will, however, was contested by the widow of Paul Davis, Sr., deceased, daughter-in-law of Loundes H. Davis (Probate Minute 34:243). On May 8 1920, the Court made and entered the record that the “said instrument is not the valid last will and testament of said Loundes H. Davis, and that at the time of the date thereof, and of said codicil, he [Loundes] was mentally incompetent of executing a valid will” (Probate Minute 34:268). (Shogren et al. 1989:242) Clarendon Davis filed a counter petition on May 12, 1920 that showed Loundes H. Davis died intestate. The entirety of his estate was estimated to be worth about $110,000. The names of heirs and distributees named in the petition were Mary Bell Davis, widow of Loundes H. Davis; Clarendon Davis, son; and Paul Davis, Jr., grandson, with Edna R. Davis being appointed guardian of Paul Davis, jr., who was a minor. Clarendon Davis was named to be the administrator of the estate (Probate Minute 34:274). On May 28 May 1920, Clarendon Davis filed his original bill in the Circuit Court of Madison County, Alabama (Case No. 1041). Shogren et al. summarize this: . . . the complainant [Clarendon Davis] prays your Honor to make Paul Davis, Kate Mastin Davis [wife of Clarendon Davis], Mary Bell Davis, and Edna R. Davis, as guardian of the estate of said Paul Davis, Jr., a minor, parties defendant hereto and that for such Davis to buy said lands [677.67 acres] be accepted, and that upon the payment by her to the Register of this court of the sum of fifty-seven thousand six hundred one and 95/100 ($57,601.95) dollars, that all the right, title, claim, interest, and estate in and to said lands held by the Complainant individual claim, interest and estate in and to said lands held by the Complainant individually and as administrator of the estate of the said Lowndes H. Davis, deceased, and all the right, title, claim interest and estate, held in and to said lands by the defendant Paul Davis, Jr. and the defendant Mary Bell Davis, and the defendant Edna R. Davis, as the guardian of the estate 97 - (4130)