Mrs. Z. T. Brunton Dead

Mrs. Z. T. Brunton died last Wednesday afternoon after an illness of about two weeks. The funeral was held at the Presbyterian church at 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon, Rev. J. B. Williams officiating, assisted by Rev. C. M. Foreman, of the Baptist church.

The six stalwart sons acted as pallbearers.

The floral offerings were profuse and the large attendance showed something of the high esteem in which Mrs. Brunton was held in the community.

The following obituary notice was prepared and read by her pastor, Rev. J. B. Williams:

Mary Frances Carter was born in Adams County, Ohio, August 12th, 1853 and was over 66 years of age when she died on Wednesday, September 10th, 1919.

When only three years of age her parents moved to Blair and educated in this community, she was widely known through the long years, and here she was married on December 23rd, 1874, to Mr. Z. T. Brunton.

Her mother, Mrs. Jacob Carter, at the ripe age of 91, survives her, also two brothers, Charles and John, and two sisters, Miss Dora Carter and Mrs. William Lippincott, of Red Cloud, Nebraska. Her father died nineteen years ago.

Mrs. Brunton was the mother of fifteen children, eleven of whom are living. Some of her boys sailed for Europe during the war and saw active, honorable service under fire.

Though the members of her family, by the drift of events were scattered, they came from the ends of the earth one might say, to be at the mother’s bedside in her final sickness. The last one to arrive coming on Tuesday night in good time for her to see his face once more and say a farewell word.

The names of the children are: Warren, Gertrude, Arthur, who came from Burgdorf, Idaho; Blanche, who died when two years of age; Cornelia, who died in her twenty-second year; Mrs. J. T. Allen, of this city; William, whose home is in Saskatchewan, Canada, Vanola, Palmer, who came from Arcadia, Florida, Rufus, from Centralia, Washington; Encil, who died at the age of 14; Mrs. Erma Gustin, of this city; Catherine, dying in infancy; Clarkson, of Shelby, Nebraska, and the youngest daughter, Gladys, Mrs. Louis Shade, whose husband died in France. There are eighteen grandchildren.

In early life Mrs. Brunton became a member of the Baptist church and then on August 23rd, 1885, united with the Christian church during a series of meetings held by the noted R. C. Burrows. She has continued a member of this church till the end of life.

Long ago it was written down: In the book of God concerning the true mother, “Her children arise up and call her blessed.” And such has been the case with Mrs. Brunton. “She was a good mother to us” is the loving tribute of her large family. Not only to her own did the instincts of her mother heart flow in a stream of kindness, she was mother to everybody. For, one of the outstanding traits of her nature was a self-forgetfulness. She had it in her soul to give even he last thing she had to some other in need, and naturally go without herself.

Among her neighbors near and far she could be depended upon in a time of sickness or grief to come to their help no matter what her own troubles might be. The nurture of six strong sons and as many daughters means unnumbered cares, many privations, and calls for no ordinary degree of fortitude and endurance. And those endless tasks, and such ceaseless toiling entailed on her were carried through patiently, faithfully, uncomplainingly. We may be justified therefore in saying, that so far as she knew, she has done her duty and has done it well.

Of a stout heart and strong courage she battled against the last enemy, unwilling to die, also unafraid. She wanted to live, to live long, for it seemed to her that this world had need of her and her children too, and her children’s children, and her husband and kin.

She was proud of her boys and a few hours before she fell asleep called them all to her side for a lingering and a last look at them. May we hope that she will see them all again in the better land.

For the past fifteen years Mrs. Brunton has been in poor health. An insidious malady which could not be cured clung to her and in the end brought about her death. During those years she had been seldom at church. Able to visit among friends it is true, yet the flutter of being in a public assembly caused physical distress and this made it inexpedient perhaps for her to be present very often.

And so at least wearied with suffering she lays down her burdens and enters into rest. If we are able to take the many voiced verdict of those who knew her best we can say today that a good woman has passed from earth. That is a great deal to say and if in the books of God the same verdict is written, she will without fail, find a place among that glorious throng of whom the Book of God says: “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels.”

Enterprise 12 Sept 1919

The death of Mrs. Z. T. Brunton occurred Wednesday, September 10th, at her home on west South street, after a serious illness of ten days, although she had not been well for some time.

The deceased was born August 12, 1853, in Adams County, Ohio, and was therefore past sixty years of age at the time of her death.

She was the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Carter and came with her parents when a child of three years to Washington county, where she has since resided.

Mr. Z. T. Brunton came to Nebraska in 1870 and just four years later, on December 23rd, was married to Miss Carter, and they went at once to housekeeping on the Curtis farm near Orum. Later they moved to the Henry Fisher place south of town, which belonged to Mr. Brunton and where they resided twelve years. Since that time, Mr. and Mrs. Brunton and family have lived in Blair on South street.

Mrs. Brunton was the mother of a large family, fifteen in all and eleven of whom have been reared to manhood and womanhood in this city. She was a hard worker as all conscientious mothers are when there are many home duties and was always ready to help a sick or needy neighbor in time of trouble.

She leaves beside her husband, to mourn her loss, six sons and five daughters all of whom knew her as a most devoted mother.

The sons live in various parts of the United States but in response to telegrams of their mother’s illness, came at once and were recognized and welcomed by her.

Besides her immediate family, she leaves a dear old mother, Mrs. Jacob Carter, 91 years old and an invalid, who is lovingly and tenderly cared for by another daughter, Dora Carter, sister of the deceased.

There is one other sister, Mrs. Wm. Lippencott of Red Cloud, Nebraska, and two brothers, Charlie, the oldest one of the children and John, both living in Washington county.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Z. T. Brunton are all home and will be present at the funeral, which will be held at the Presbyterian church in this city on Saturday at 3 p.m., Rev. J. B. Williams officiating.

The names of the children follow:

Warren, Gertrude, Vanola, Mrs. Zora Allen, Mrs. Irma Gustin, Mrs. Gladys Shade of Blair, Arthur of Burgdorf, Idaho, William of Abbey, Sask., Canada, Palmer of Arcadia, Florida, Rufus of Centrealia, Wash., and Clarkson of Shelby, Nebr. A daughter, Cornena, died at the age of 22 years and a son, Encil, at the age of 14 years, two little girls dying in infancy.

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