MARTHA CARTER

On Sunday July 22nd, occurred the death of Grandma Carter at the home of her son, John Compton, Sr.

Grandma Carter came to Blair from Ohio before this place had a name, and in company with her second husband Alex Carter, Sr., her children and step-children, settled in the vicinity of Blair where she has since made her home, with the exception of a few years spent with her daughter, Mrs. Will Noyes, of Lincoln. After her daughter's death, she returned to Blair and has since made her home at intervals with different ones of her children. She has led a faithful Christian life, and at the time of her death was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She leaves to mourn her death five living generations in Blair and vicinity being related to nearly one hundred families. The immediate relatives left are the two children of her first marriage in Kentucky, who are John Compton, Sr., Daniel Carter and Mrs. Ellen Bilyue, and her two step-children, T. M. Carter of Plattsmouth, and Mrs. J. P. Stricklett of Blair. A sister, Mrs. Jacob Carter, is also left and both sisters are Carters by marriage having married father and son.

She will be sadly missed by her children, grandchildren, and about forty great-grandchildren, as well as many friends among the old settlers here. She was 87 years old at the time of her death.

Funeral services were held at the Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock by Elder Chas Fry, of the Latter Day Saints Church in Omaha, assisted by Rev. G. L. Cohley.

#2-Pilot 15 July 1906

Martha J. Carter, aged 89 years, died July 22 at the home of her son, John Compton Sr. The passing away of Grandma Carter leaves over one hundred families in Blair and vicinity who are her direct descendants and relatives who feel a personal bereavement. She was a remarkable old lady in many respects and has led a Christian life for many years, having been a faithful member of the re-organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Her first marriage to a Mr. Compton, who was killed in the war, was in Virginia and her early married life was spent in Virginia and Kentucky. Two children were born to her during this period and they are both living near Blair; they being John Compton Sr. and Mrs. Mirah Boston.

After her marriage to Alexander Carter, the family and a large number of step-children came to Nebraska and the Carter boys all took up homesteads where Blair now stands and Grandma’s life has been spent her ever since.

Six children were born to her after her marriage to Mr. Carter and they are, Turner, Jamie, Joanna, who have preceded her to the other world, Daniel who is in the National Soldier’s Home, Mrs. Ellen Bilvue of Blair, and Dine Carter Sr, of Cuming City.

Five living generations mourn her departure, and she also has one living sister, Mrs. Frances Carter, wife of the late Jacob Carter, both sisters having married Carters.

Forty grandchildren live in Blair and vicinity and great grandchildren, also two or three great-great-grandchildren.

#3-Carter, Martha J., 86

Published in Democrat on 26 July 1906

Grandma Martha J. Carter died Monday at the ripe old age of 86 at the home of her son J.A. Compton just south of town. The funeral was held Tuesday from the Baptist church and the services conducted by an elder of the Latter Day Saints church. Deceased was born in Virginia and came to Nebraska thirty-eight years ago and was one of the pioneer women of this neighborhood. She was the widow of the late Alexander Carter who died about fifteen years ago and leaves three sons and two daughters besides numerous grandchildren and friends to mourn her death. The surviving children are J.A. Compton, Dine and Dan Carter and Mesdames Maria Boston and Ella Bilyue.

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