MRS. JAMES S. STEWART

Mary Ann Hungate, wife of James S. Stewart, of this city, of whose sudden death brief mention was made in lst week’s Pilot, was the daughter of John Hungate, of Salem, Indiana, where she was born on March 2__, 1824, and her age consequently at the time of her death, which occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1890, was 66 years, 9 months and 3 days. At the early age of 18 years, in September, 1842, and at the same place where she was born, she was united in marriage to James S. Stewart, her surviving husband, and together for 48 years, they have pursued their way, sharing alike the clouds and sunshine of life.

On April 1st, 1856, they came to Nebraska, settling on the old homestead adjoining Cuming City. Here for more than thirty years she lived, growing into the hearts of friends and neighbors, the light of a happy home, the mother of a happy family. Here with her husband, she climbed over the hills of adversity, struggling together, first amid the hardships of pioneer life, then emerging on to the plain of prosperity and later enjoying the fruits of patient, energetic toil, in comparative opulence and independence. Throughout all these years her indomitable energy was ever present. Reared from childhood and trained through all her earlier years to industry, she could not be idle. Her head and hands were always busy. Even in her last sickness she insisted on helping herself, and would and did walk up a flight of stairs to her room the evening before her death. Her heart was filled with charity for others. Selfishness found no place in her mental composition. She was one of the foremost among the ladies of the W.C.T.C., in all their good works for many years past, and the society meetings were more often held at her residence than elsewhere.

Something over 45 years ago she united with the Baptist Church and has been a faithful, consistent member from that time to her death.

She was the mother of eight children, five of whom survive her. These are Mrs. Armanda Warrick, wife of Sam Warrick; James H. Stewart; Edward A.; Grant; and Kermott. Three daughters have been buried in past years. She has four brothers living, of whom T. C. Hungate is the only one living hereabouts.

About four years ago Mr. and Mrs. Stewart gave up the care of the farm to their son Grant and moved into Blair. As stated last week, she had felt indisposed for some time with some trouble in one ear that gave more or less pain but was not considered serious until some twenty-four hours preceding her death, when it was found to be an ulcer in the head, entirely beyond the reach of medical skill and resulting in paralysis of the brain and death almost before the danger was comprehended.

The funeral was held at the family residence on New Years Day, Rev. Whiting of the Baptist Church, officiating, and the remains were carefully laid to rest in the Blair cemetery, until the last trumpet shall sound.

The aged partner of her life joys and sorrows feels the weight of his bereavement as only a life partner can, and the entire community in which her mental and moral worth were so well known and appreciated will the more readily extend to him and the surviving relatives its heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of great affliction.

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

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