Died 4 September 1925

Published in Tribune on 10 September 1925

ANOTHER EARLY SETTLER IS LAID TO REST SUNDAY

Z.T. Brunton, one of the city's early settlers, passed away in an Omaha hospital last Thursday evening, where he had been taken a few days previously following the rupture of a blood vessel in his limb which resulted in poisoning.

The funeral was held from the Christian church Sunday afternoon, in charge of Rev. L.H .Camp, and the remains were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends.

Zacheriah Taylor Brunton was born in Jackson county, Ohio, November 12, 1848, and was nearly 77 years old. He came to Nebraska in the fall of 1869 and was married to Mary Frances Carter of this city December 23, 1874, who preceded him in death six years ago. Eight daughters and seven sons were born to this union, ten of whom are still living. Mr. Brunton is also survived by a brother who lives at Portsmouth, Ohio. The surviving children are: Warren, Mrs. J.S. Allen, Vanola, Mrs. Elsworth Gustin of this city, William of Craig, Palmer of Florida, Arthur of Centralia, Wash., Rufus of Kelso, Wash., Mrs. Raymond McConnell of Temino, Wash., and Clarkson of San Mateo, Calif. There are also twenty-two grandchildren. Rufus, Clarkson and Mrs. McConnell were her to attend the funeral and Plamer was here during his father's illness.

Mr. Brunton was a charter member of the Church of Christ in this city and at the time of his death was an honorary elder. He was closely identified with the early history of Blair and stood at all times for law enforcement and good citizenship.

#2--published in Enterprise on 10 September 1925

Zachariah Taylor Brunton, old time resident of this county, died in an Omaha hospital last Thursday after an illness of two week' s duration.

Mr. Brunton was born Nov. 12, 1848 in Jackson county, Ohio, and in the fall of 1869 came to Nebraska where he made his home until his death.

On December 23, 1874, he was married to Mary Francis Carter and to them fifteen children were born, eight girls and seven boys. Of this number, ten are still living.

The funeral services were held at the Christian church, of which organization he was a charter member, on last Sunday at 2 P.M. with Rev. Camp officiating.

The deceased was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, which organization was represented at the funeral by thirty-four men in robes, who formed in line when the body was brought into the church for the funeral oration and also when again taken from the church. At the grave the Klan took charge and gave their touching funeral ceremony.

Deceased was a man well known in this county and when at the last he was laid to rest beside the good wife, who preceded him, we note in his passing another of those hardy pioneers who opened the way for the later generations in this land of plenty and as a pioneer and one who lived his life as he saw the light we give due honor.

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

Find a Grave # 75373996