Obituary Record

Mary A (Leach) Carter
Died on 7/10/1937
Buried in Blair Cemetery

#1-Enterprise 15 July 1937

Pioneer Answers Last Roll Call At The Age Of 75

Born at DeSoto in 1862. Spent Entire Life in This County

Mary A. Carter, mother of Mrs. J. P. Jensen, passed away Saturday, July 10, at five o’clock a.m. at the age of 75 years. Deceased was a pioneer of Washington county having been born at DeSoto in 1862 to Mr. and Mrs. Don J. Leach. Her parents were among the members of the Latter Day Saints church who left Nauvoo, Illinois, at the time of the death of the leader of the church, and they came to DeSoto to the winter quarters of the church and decided with a band of the Saints to stop at DeSoto where the branch of the Reorganized church was formed in that new town. Here, in the present old brick house known as the Wilds farm, Mrs. Carter, then Mary Leach was born.

She was married May 10, 1877, at Blair, Nebraska, to Oliver Sir Dion Carter, youngest son of Alexander Carter, sr., and Martha Jane MacLoud Carter, by Rev. Sin Clair, a pioneer minister of DeSoto, Nebraska. To that union eight children were born all living as follows: Mrs. Lee Pratt, Valentine, Nebraska; Claude E. Carter, Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Mrs. O. Croxin, Hyannis, Nebraska; Mrs. J. P. Jensen, Mrs. Bert Norris, Mrs. Ivor Clark, Earl Dine Carter and John D. Carter, all of Blair, Nebraska. They mourn a faithful and loving mother.

The husband and father passed away 23 years ago at Blair, Nebraska.

She was the last living sister-in-law of the original pioneer Carter family founders of the city of Blair, being the widow of the youngest son of the original family, who came to Nebraska and founded their homes here. She also leaves 23 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren to mourn her passing with many other relatives and a host of friends. Her own immediate family, brothers and sisters of the Don Leach family have all passed on.

Funeral services were held last Monday at 2 p.m. at the Baptist church in Blair with Elder Carl T. Selof, of the Latter Day Saints church officiating and Rev. T. J. Reese of the local Baptist church assisting under the auspices of the Woodman Circle and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

Thus one by one the pioneers are leaving us. The privations and hardships of those earlier days are things of the past and like they themselves belong to a time soon to be but a memory.

#2-July 15, 1937- The Pilot Tribune- Mary A (Leach) Carter

MRS. MARY CARTER, PIONEER, IS DEAD

BLAIR WOMAN WAS BORN IN “GHOST VILLAGE” OF DESOTO 75 YEARS AGO

Mrs. Mary A. Carter, 74, who was born in the “ghost village” of DeSoto in 1862, when that settlement was considered Nebraska’s metropolis, died here Saturday morning at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Bert Norris. She had been bedfast for several months.

A Washington County pioneer, she was born February 14, 1862, daughter of Don J. and Phoebe Martin Leach, who were among members of the Latter Day Saints church who left Nauvoo, Illinois, after the death of the church leader in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Leach were members of the contingent which stopped in the Florence and DeSoto vicinity and established a branch of the church.

At DeSoto, in the old brick house now known as the Wilds farm, Mrs. Carter, then Mary Leach, was born. She lived there during her early life, and on May 10, 1877, was married in Blair to Oliver Sir Dion Carter, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Carter, Sr., the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Sin Clair, pioneer DeSoto minister.

To Mr. and Mrs. Carter were born eight children, all of whom are living. They are Mrs. Lee Pratt, Valentine, Nebraska; Claude E. Carter, Plattsmouth; Mrs. C. Croxin, Hyannis, Nebraska; Mrs. J.P Jensen, Mrs. Bert Norris, Mrs. Iver Clark, Earl Dine Carter and John D. Carter, all of Blair. Mrs. Carter also leaves 23 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Her husband died here 23 years ago. She was last member of the Leach family, and the last living sister-in-law of the original Carter family, founders of Blair, being the widow of the youngest Carter son.

Mrs. Carter was a lifelong member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, having been baptized and confirmed at a camp meeting and reunion held at Clearwater July 6, 1887. She had received the last administration of her faith last week. Mrs. Carter also was a member of the Woodman Circle of Blair.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday at the local Baptist church, Elder Carl T. Self of the Latter Day Saints officiating, assisted by the Rev. Thomas J. Reese, pastor of the Baptist church. A large number of friends attended the services. Burial followed in Blair cemetery.

Mrs. Gladys Moore Berger sang at the funeral services. Pallbearers were six grandsons of Mrs. Carter; Soren K. and John P. Jensen, David and Frederick Norris, Lawrence and Russell Carter.

Note: Per Blair Cemetery listing: Buried in Blk 9 Lot 11 Sp 9; Born 14 Feb 1862

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 7/15/1937


[BACK]