Martha Ann Bell Merchant was born April 15, 1841 near Galveston, Ind., and departed this life Feb. 28, 1930, at her home in Brook, age 85 years, 10 months and 13 days. She was the second child in a family of seven children.
At the close of the Civil War, she a young woman, moved with her parents to Brook, settling on what is known as the Bowers farm south of town. Her father died the same year. She was a young maiden at the time of the Civil War and with an older brother, James Bell in the service, she knew the soldier's song as well as he. Hers was one of the "many hearts that were weary, wishing for the war to cease." Hers was one of the "many hearts looking to the right to see the dawn of peace." She taught school in the county for a few years. As a teacher and young woman she rode horse back over the prairies, where there were few roads and many swamps. Hers was a typical pioneer life.
On Oct. 15, 1871 she was united in marriage to Frederick Merchant. They lived on the Spangler farm west of town for three years. Then they bought the home farm north west of town and there they resided until the family moved to Brook in 1904.
Four children were born into this home. The eldest, Harvey, died suddenly and accidently at the age of fifteen months. Recovery from the sadness was hard, indeed, in the lonely farm home.
The deceased's husband passed away in 1918 and the younger daughter, Miriam, departed from this life six years ago.
When a small girl, Mrs. Merchant had scarlet fever which left her with impaired hearing. It grew worse as she grew older and of late years she was totally deaf. But with this affliction she had a sunny disposition which meant a great deal to the family and to those about her.
She never belonged to but one organization--Our Lord's Own--the church. She thought with all that she could give in her life time, there would yet be work to do in God's Kingdom when she was gone. She gave her energy, her work and her money for the help of His Kingdom.
And now departing she leaves a daughter, Chloe who remains at home, a son, Jay, who lives on the farm north of Brook, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jay Merchant, two granddaughters, Georgia and Martha Merchant, three brothers, D. Preston Bell, of Denver, Colo., Jay Bell of Scott City, Kan., Edwin Bell, of Galveston, Ind., one brother-in-law, Mr.Samuel Merchant living west of town, besides numerous relatives, neighbors and friends.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Mar. 7, 1930, Page 1
At the close of the Civil War, she a young woman, moved with her parents to Brook, settling on what is known as the Bowers farm south of town. Her father died the same year. She was a young maiden at the time of the Civil War and with an older brother, James Bell in the service, she knew the soldier's song as well as he. Hers was one of the "many hearts that were weary, wishing for the war to cease." Hers was one of the "many hearts looking to the right to see the dawn of peace." She taught school in the county for a few years. As a teacher and young woman she rode horse back over the prairies, where there were few roads and many swamps. Hers was a typical pioneer life.
On Oct. 15, 1871 she was united in marriage to Frederick Merchant. They lived on the Spangler farm west of town for three years. Then they bought the home farm north west of town and there they resided until the family moved to Brook in 1904.
Four children were born into this home. The eldest, Harvey, died suddenly and accidently at the age of fifteen months. Recovery from the sadness was hard, indeed, in the lonely farm home.
The deceased's husband passed away in 1918 and the younger daughter, Miriam, departed from this life six years ago.
When a small girl, Mrs. Merchant had scarlet fever which left her with impaired hearing. It grew worse as she grew older and of late years she was totally deaf. But with this affliction she had a sunny disposition which meant a great deal to the family and to those about her.
She never belonged to but one organization--Our Lord's Own--the church. She thought with all that she could give in her life time, there would yet be work to do in God's Kingdom when she was gone. She gave her energy, her work and her money for the help of His Kingdom.
And now departing she leaves a daughter, Chloe who remains at home, a son, Jay, who lives on the farm north of Brook, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jay Merchant, two granddaughters, Georgia and Martha Merchant, three brothers, D. Preston Bell, of Denver, Colo., Jay Bell of Scott City, Kan., Edwin Bell, of Galveston, Ind., one brother-in-law, Mr.Samuel Merchant living west of town, besides numerous relatives, neighbors and friends.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Mar. 7, 1930, Page 1
Martha Ann Bell Merchant was born April 15, 1841 near Galveston, Ind., and departed this life Feb. 28, 1930, at her home in Brook, age 85 years, 10 months and 13 days. She was the second child in a family of seven children.
At the close of the Civil War, she a young woman, moved with her parents to Brook, settling on what is known as the Bowers farm south of town. Her father died the same year. She was a young maiden at the time of the Civil War and with an older brother, James Bell in the service, she knew the soldier's song as well as he. Hers was one of the "many hearts that were weary, wishing for the war to cease." Hers was one of the "many hearts looking to the right to see the dawn of peace." She taught school in the county for a few years. As a teacher and young woman she rode horse back over the prairies, where there were few roads and many swamps. Hers was a typical pioneer life.
On Oct. 15, 1871 she was united in marriage to Frederick Merchant. They lived on the Spangler farm west of town for three years. Then they bought the home farm north west of town and there they resided until the family moved to Brook in 1904.
Four children were born into this home. The eldest, Harvey, died suddenly and accidently at the age of fifteen months. Recovery from the sadness was hard, indeed, in the lonely farm home.
The deceased's husband passed away in 1918 and the younger daughter, Miriam, departed from this life six years ago.
When a small girl, Mrs. Merchant had scarlet fever which left her with impaired hearing. It grew worse as she grew older and of late years she was totally deaf. But with this affliction she had a sunny disposition which meant a great deal to the family and to those about her.
She never belonged to but one organization--Our Lord's Own--the church. She thought with all that she could give in her life time, there would yet be work to do in God's Kingdom when she was gone. She gave her energy, her work and her money for the help of His Kingdom.
And now departing she leaves a daughter, Chloe who remains at home, a son, Jay, who lives on the farm north of Brook, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jay Merchant, two granddaughters, Georgia and Martha Merchant, three brothers, D. Preston Bell, of Denver, Colo., Jay Bell of Scott City, Kan., Edwin Bell, of Galveston, Ind., one brother-in-law, Mr.Samuel Merchant living west of town, besides numerous relatives, neighbors and friends.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Mar. 7, 1930, Page 1
At the close of the Civil War, she a young woman, moved with her parents to Brook, settling on what is known as the Bowers farm south of town. Her father died the same year. She was a young maiden at the time of the Civil War and with an older brother, James Bell in the service, she knew the soldier's song as well as he. Hers was one of the "many hearts that were weary, wishing for the war to cease." Hers was one of the "many hearts looking to the right to see the dawn of peace." She taught school in the county for a few years. As a teacher and young woman she rode horse back over the prairies, where there were few roads and many swamps. Hers was a typical pioneer life.
On Oct. 15, 1871 she was united in marriage to Frederick Merchant. They lived on the Spangler farm west of town for three years. Then they bought the home farm north west of town and there they resided until the family moved to Brook in 1904.
Four children were born into this home. The eldest, Harvey, died suddenly and accidently at the age of fifteen months. Recovery from the sadness was hard, indeed, in the lonely farm home.
The deceased's husband passed away in 1918 and the younger daughter, Miriam, departed from this life six years ago.
When a small girl, Mrs. Merchant had scarlet fever which left her with impaired hearing. It grew worse as she grew older and of late years she was totally deaf. But with this affliction she had a sunny disposition which meant a great deal to the family and to those about her.
She never belonged to but one organization--Our Lord's Own--the church. She thought with all that she could give in her life time, there would yet be work to do in God's Kingdom when she was gone. She gave her energy, her work and her money for the help of His Kingdom.
And now departing she leaves a daughter, Chloe who remains at home, a son, Jay, who lives on the farm north of Brook, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jay Merchant, two granddaughters, Georgia and Martha Merchant, three brothers, D. Preston Bell, of Denver, Colo., Jay Bell of Scott City, Kan., Edwin Bell, of Galveston, Ind., one brother-in-law, Mr.Samuel Merchant living west of town, besides numerous relatives, neighbors and friends.
The Brook Reporter (Brook, Indiana) Mar. 7, 1930, Page 1
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