Obituary Record

Frances Ellen (Harris) Carter
Died on 9/18/1919
Buried in Blair Cemetery

Mrs. Jacob Carter Passes

Mrs. Jacob Carter passed away at her home in west Blair last Thursday morning after an illness of nearly seven years. For the last three years she has been in bed and during that time has suffered greatly. For the last week she could take no nourishment and gradually sank away into her last sleep just a week after the death of her daughter, Mrs. Z. T. Brunton.

Francis Ellen Harris was born in Kanawka County, West Virginia, on April 5, 1828. Ten years later she moved with her widowed mother to Scioto County, Ohio. On November 20, 1845 she was married to Mr. Jacob Carter near Portsmouth, Ohio. From there they moved to Campbell County, Kentucky in 1845 and back to Ohio again two years later, having lost much of their worldly goods in the destructive floods of 1847.

After a second residence in Ohio of eight years they moved to Washington County, Nebraska, and settled on land that became the town site of Blair. They drove through from Ohio with team and wagon, taking six weeks to make the trip. Here is a very interesting insert the diary of her husband written on October 16, 1892, just 36 years after landing in DeSoto.

"This day, 36 years ago, myself and wife and Charley and Mary Frances and John B. landed in DeSoto, Washington County. We had breakfast at Willet Hotel in Florence, Douglas County. We had dinner cooked by a big cottonwood tree at Moore's Creek and got to DeSoto about 4 o'clock. Brother Alexander was working in the sawmill and brother Marion was working at a charcoal pit. The day as beautiful and warm for the time of the year. Just such a day as today has been. How good and merciful and kind our Heavenly Father has been to us. We can say with the psalmist "goodness and mercy has followed us all the days of our lives."

In 1869 they sold their farm to the railroad company for a town site and bought what is now known as the John Carter farm, northwest of Blair, where they resided for a long time. In the fall of 1891 they moved back to Blair and located in the present home in the west part of town where her husband died nineteen years ago.

Mrs. Carter was the mother of ten children, five daughters and five sons. Four of her children are still living) those still living are Mrs. W. J. Lippincott of Red Cloud, Nebraska, and Charles M., John B., and Miss Dora A. of Blair.

Early she heeded the admonition "Remember, now, thy Creator in the days of youth," and at the age of 15 years, baptized into the Christian faith. At the time of her death, at the age of 91, she had been a Christian for over 76 years. During that time she has lived a consistent Christian life, a real "mother in Israel," in whose hospitable home the ministers of the gospel and other religious workers were always welcome. Those who knew her were unstinting in their praise of her Christian Spirit and helpfulness. She was a friend to everyone, especially to those in need, a kind neighbor, a faithful wife, and a devoted, unselfish mother.

From the memorial folder issued at the time of the funeral service)

The funeral was held in the Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon conducted by her pastor, Rev. C. K. Foreman, and the body laid to rest beside that of her husband in the Blair Cemetery. The relatives present from out of town were: Mr. and Mrs. George Carter, Mrs. Ellen Foss, Mrs. Harry Yeoman, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fowler and children, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Riley, all of Omaha; Mrs. Harley McMurtrie and son of Milwaukee, Dr. L. L. Cramer and wife, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lippincott of Red Cloud, Nebraska, and W. W. Noyes of Lincoln. The following relatives were here during her last illness but could not remain for the funeral: Ralph S. Carter, a grandson of Chicago; Mrs. James Thorndike, a niece of Sioux City and Mrs. Louis Shulte, another niece of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Enterprise 19 Sept 1919

Mrs. Jacob Carter

Mrs. Jacob Carter, an old and respected citizen of Blair departed this life, Thursday morning, September 18, 1919, at eight o’clock.

The deceased was born in 1828, and was therefore ninety one years of age at the time of her death.

She came with her husband, now deceased, from Adams County, Ohio, to Washington County, sixty-three years ago and homesteaded on the piece of land where she lived at the time of her death.

The children who survive her are Charles, John and Dora Carter of Blair and Mrs. Wm. Lippincott of Red Cloud, Nebraska.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, three o’clock a the Baptist church. Interment in the Blair cemetery.

The following was on the Find a Grave site:

Children: Charles Marion, James Madison(b. April 02, 1849 ohio d. Bef. 1850), Catherine C. (b. September 24, 1850 ohio d. Bef. October 1856), Alice (b. April 07, 1852 d. Bef. October 1856Ohio), Mary Francis, John Bennett, Dora Ann, Julia, Judson, and William J.

Frances Ellen Harris Carter; Blk 39 Lot 10 Blair Cemetery; FAG 75370446

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 9/19/1919


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