A biography written by her daughter, Jane Belle:
Mary Elizabeth Franklin lost her father as a result of the Civil War in the south. At the age of nine when her mother died she went to live with her grandmother in Nashville, Tennessee. Her grandmother had a large family and found life pretty hard since she had lost her home and wealth during the war. Thus the little girl’s schooling was limited and she became self-supporting at an early age. Those few years in Nashville, where she was permitted to attend a good school, were the bright spots in her childhood. She loved nature and often took long trips into the woods with her only sister, Jane, who was two years older. Very early in life she began to express her sentiment in little nature poems and stories.
Within a few years she moved with her grandmother to Sedalia, Missouri, where she later learned the milliner’s trade and she was employed in that line when she met and married my father. Next to his young wife, I think he must have loved his violin. They moved around a great deal until after the fifth boy was born. Then it seems, they settled down in a little town near St. Louis. Mother always contributed to the family income by some ingenious method or other, ranging from making and selling yeast cakes to writing for some paper. I think she never really realized the lack of material things in those days, for her babies, her Bible and her saving sense for humor sufficed and rounded out a personality loved by all who knew her. I think her control and strength in times of stress were the reason every child felt sure of sympathy and understanding in times of trouble. When the youngest boy was five, the last child and only girl was born. A few years later, the oldest boy came to Colorado and homesteaded, whereupon, the family soon followed.
It was now necessary for my mother to divide her time between her husband and the older boys who remained in the town of Sterling to work and support the family, the three younger children who accompanied her to the little homestead six miles from town. It was during these trips to and from the homestead, behind her faithful old nag, Jim, that she composed many of her nature poems. Finances were small, her burdens were large, but she took real joy in the arrangement and adornment of the three-roomed shack there on the barren prairie. It was here that she planted some rich seed, as it were, for nightly she gathered us to her knee for prayer, and we felt our utter dependence on her resourcefulness and love.
When in due course of time the old homestead was redeemed, the family moved to town in order to educate the children. Life became more pleasant from a material standpoint. Here again she helped her husband and together they paid for a comfortable home. Years have brought no separation of this mother and her children; they have all settled around the old home, which is a source of great happiness to this worthy couple, who are enjoying the remainder of life’s experiences together in the old home.
_________________________________________________
Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Crist in The Sterling Advocate Monday, May 22, 1944
Funeral services will be held 10:30 o’clock tomorrow, Tuesday morning at the Methodist church for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Crist, aged 80 years, a resident of Sterling for 38 years. Mrs. Crist, widow of the late James E. Crist, for many years a blacksmith for the Burlington Railroad, died at 3:50 o’clock Sunday afternoon at a local hospital. She had been in impaired health for some months but had been at the hospital only four days.
Mrs. Crist was for many years an earnest worker in the Methodist church and in numerous religious activities.
Mrs. Crist was born September 4, 1863 in Birmingham, Alabama daughter of Thomas and Mary Franklin. She was married January 15, 1885 in Sedalia, Missouri to James E. Crist. The family’s home for many years was at 332 Cleveland Street, Sterling, Colorado.
Surviving Mrs. Crist are four sons and a daughter; Tom C. Crist, postmaster at Haxtun, Charles L. Crist of Billings, Montana, Ulysses S. and John W. Crist of Sterling and Mrs. Jane Kay of The Dalles, Oregon.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of A.D. Jackson and Son Mortuary. There are 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
________________________________________________
Daughter of Thomas Franklin and Mary Sweeney
Sister of Martha Jane "Janie" Franklin Neeson Memorial #: 71623247
Half sister of Rebecca from her mother's second marriage.
Mary Elizabeth Franklin lost her father as a result of the Civil War in the south. At the age of nine when her mother died she went to live with her grandmother in Nashville, Tennessee. Her grandmother had a large family and found life pretty hard since she had lost her home and wealth during the war. Thus the little girl’s schooling was limited and she became self-supporting at an early age. Those few years in Nashville, where she was permitted to attend a good school, were the bright spots in her childhood. She loved nature and often took long trips into the woods with her only sister, Jane, who was two years older. Very early in life she began to express her sentiment in little nature poems and stories.
Within a few years she moved with her grandmother to Sedalia, Missouri, where she later learned the milliner’s trade and she was employed in that line when she met and married my father. Next to his young wife, I think he must have loved his violin. They moved around a great deal until after the fifth boy was born. Then it seems, they settled down in a little town near St. Louis. Mother always contributed to the family income by some ingenious method or other, ranging from making and selling yeast cakes to writing for some paper. I think she never really realized the lack of material things in those days, for her babies, her Bible and her saving sense for humor sufficed and rounded out a personality loved by all who knew her. I think her control and strength in times of stress were the reason every child felt sure of sympathy and understanding in times of trouble. When the youngest boy was five, the last child and only girl was born. A few years later, the oldest boy came to Colorado and homesteaded, whereupon, the family soon followed.
It was now necessary for my mother to divide her time between her husband and the older boys who remained in the town of Sterling to work and support the family, the three younger children who accompanied her to the little homestead six miles from town. It was during these trips to and from the homestead, behind her faithful old nag, Jim, that she composed many of her nature poems. Finances were small, her burdens were large, but she took real joy in the arrangement and adornment of the three-roomed shack there on the barren prairie. It was here that she planted some rich seed, as it were, for nightly she gathered us to her knee for prayer, and we felt our utter dependence on her resourcefulness and love.
When in due course of time the old homestead was redeemed, the family moved to town in order to educate the children. Life became more pleasant from a material standpoint. Here again she helped her husband and together they paid for a comfortable home. Years have brought no separation of this mother and her children; they have all settled around the old home, which is a source of great happiness to this worthy couple, who are enjoying the remainder of life’s experiences together in the old home.
_________________________________________________
Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Crist in The Sterling Advocate Monday, May 22, 1944
Funeral services will be held 10:30 o’clock tomorrow, Tuesday morning at the Methodist church for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Crist, aged 80 years, a resident of Sterling for 38 years. Mrs. Crist, widow of the late James E. Crist, for many years a blacksmith for the Burlington Railroad, died at 3:50 o’clock Sunday afternoon at a local hospital. She had been in impaired health for some months but had been at the hospital only four days.
Mrs. Crist was for many years an earnest worker in the Methodist church and in numerous religious activities.
Mrs. Crist was born September 4, 1863 in Birmingham, Alabama daughter of Thomas and Mary Franklin. She was married January 15, 1885 in Sedalia, Missouri to James E. Crist. The family’s home for many years was at 332 Cleveland Street, Sterling, Colorado.
Surviving Mrs. Crist are four sons and a daughter; Tom C. Crist, postmaster at Haxtun, Charles L. Crist of Billings, Montana, Ulysses S. and John W. Crist of Sterling and Mrs. Jane Kay of The Dalles, Oregon.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of A.D. Jackson and Son Mortuary. There are 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
________________________________________________
Daughter of Thomas Franklin and Mary Sweeney
Sister of Martha Jane "Janie" Franklin Neeson Memorial #: 71623247
Half sister of Rebecca from her mother's second marriage.
A biography written by her daughter, Jane Belle:
Mary Elizabeth Franklin lost her father as a result of the Civil War in the south. At the age of nine when her mother died she went to live with her grandmother in Nashville, Tennessee. Her grandmother had a large family and found life pretty hard since she had lost her home and wealth during the war. Thus the little girl’s schooling was limited and she became self-supporting at an early age. Those few years in Nashville, where she was permitted to attend a good school, were the bright spots in her childhood. She loved nature and often took long trips into the woods with her only sister, Jane, who was two years older. Very early in life she began to express her sentiment in little nature poems and stories.
Within a few years she moved with her grandmother to Sedalia, Missouri, where she later learned the milliner’s trade and she was employed in that line when she met and married my father. Next to his young wife, I think he must have loved his violin. They moved around a great deal until after the fifth boy was born. Then it seems, they settled down in a little town near St. Louis. Mother always contributed to the family income by some ingenious method or other, ranging from making and selling yeast cakes to writing for some paper. I think she never really realized the lack of material things in those days, for her babies, her Bible and her saving sense for humor sufficed and rounded out a personality loved by all who knew her. I think her control and strength in times of stress were the reason every child felt sure of sympathy and understanding in times of trouble. When the youngest boy was five, the last child and only girl was born. A few years later, the oldest boy came to Colorado and homesteaded, whereupon, the family soon followed.
It was now necessary for my mother to divide her time between her husband and the older boys who remained in the town of Sterling to work and support the family, the three younger children who accompanied her to the little homestead six miles from town. It was during these trips to and from the homestead, behind her faithful old nag, Jim, that she composed many of her nature poems. Finances were small, her burdens were large, but she took real joy in the arrangement and adornment of the three-roomed shack there on the barren prairie. It was here that she planted some rich seed, as it were, for nightly she gathered us to her knee for prayer, and we felt our utter dependence on her resourcefulness and love.
When in due course of time the old homestead was redeemed, the family moved to town in order to educate the children. Life became more pleasant from a material standpoint. Here again she helped her husband and together they paid for a comfortable home. Years have brought no separation of this mother and her children; they have all settled around the old home, which is a source of great happiness to this worthy couple, who are enjoying the remainder of life’s experiences together in the old home.
_________________________________________________
Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Crist in The Sterling Advocate Monday, May 22, 1944
Funeral services will be held 10:30 o’clock tomorrow, Tuesday morning at the Methodist church for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Crist, aged 80 years, a resident of Sterling for 38 years. Mrs. Crist, widow of the late James E. Crist, for many years a blacksmith for the Burlington Railroad, died at 3:50 o’clock Sunday afternoon at a local hospital. She had been in impaired health for some months but had been at the hospital only four days.
Mrs. Crist was for many years an earnest worker in the Methodist church and in numerous religious activities.
Mrs. Crist was born September 4, 1863 in Birmingham, Alabama daughter of Thomas and Mary Franklin. She was married January 15, 1885 in Sedalia, Missouri to James E. Crist. The family’s home for many years was at 332 Cleveland Street, Sterling, Colorado.
Surviving Mrs. Crist are four sons and a daughter; Tom C. Crist, postmaster at Haxtun, Charles L. Crist of Billings, Montana, Ulysses S. and John W. Crist of Sterling and Mrs. Jane Kay of The Dalles, Oregon.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of A.D. Jackson and Son Mortuary. There are 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
________________________________________________
Daughter of Thomas Franklin and Mary Sweeney
Sister of Martha Jane "Janie" Franklin Neeson Memorial #: 71623247
Half sister of Rebecca from her mother's second marriage.
Mary Elizabeth Franklin lost her father as a result of the Civil War in the south. At the age of nine when her mother died she went to live with her grandmother in Nashville, Tennessee. Her grandmother had a large family and found life pretty hard since she had lost her home and wealth during the war. Thus the little girl’s schooling was limited and she became self-supporting at an early age. Those few years in Nashville, where she was permitted to attend a good school, were the bright spots in her childhood. She loved nature and often took long trips into the woods with her only sister, Jane, who was two years older. Very early in life she began to express her sentiment in little nature poems and stories.
Within a few years she moved with her grandmother to Sedalia, Missouri, where she later learned the milliner’s trade and she was employed in that line when she met and married my father. Next to his young wife, I think he must have loved his violin. They moved around a great deal until after the fifth boy was born. Then it seems, they settled down in a little town near St. Louis. Mother always contributed to the family income by some ingenious method or other, ranging from making and selling yeast cakes to writing for some paper. I think she never really realized the lack of material things in those days, for her babies, her Bible and her saving sense for humor sufficed and rounded out a personality loved by all who knew her. I think her control and strength in times of stress were the reason every child felt sure of sympathy and understanding in times of trouble. When the youngest boy was five, the last child and only girl was born. A few years later, the oldest boy came to Colorado and homesteaded, whereupon, the family soon followed.
It was now necessary for my mother to divide her time between her husband and the older boys who remained in the town of Sterling to work and support the family, the three younger children who accompanied her to the little homestead six miles from town. It was during these trips to and from the homestead, behind her faithful old nag, Jim, that she composed many of her nature poems. Finances were small, her burdens were large, but she took real joy in the arrangement and adornment of the three-roomed shack there on the barren prairie. It was here that she planted some rich seed, as it were, for nightly she gathered us to her knee for prayer, and we felt our utter dependence on her resourcefulness and love.
When in due course of time the old homestead was redeemed, the family moved to town in order to educate the children. Life became more pleasant from a material standpoint. Here again she helped her husband and together they paid for a comfortable home. Years have brought no separation of this mother and her children; they have all settled around the old home, which is a source of great happiness to this worthy couple, who are enjoying the remainder of life’s experiences together in the old home.
_________________________________________________
Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Crist in The Sterling Advocate Monday, May 22, 1944
Funeral services will be held 10:30 o’clock tomorrow, Tuesday morning at the Methodist church for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Crist, aged 80 years, a resident of Sterling for 38 years. Mrs. Crist, widow of the late James E. Crist, for many years a blacksmith for the Burlington Railroad, died at 3:50 o’clock Sunday afternoon at a local hospital. She had been in impaired health for some months but had been at the hospital only four days.
Mrs. Crist was for many years an earnest worker in the Methodist church and in numerous religious activities.
Mrs. Crist was born September 4, 1863 in Birmingham, Alabama daughter of Thomas and Mary Franklin. She was married January 15, 1885 in Sedalia, Missouri to James E. Crist. The family’s home for many years was at 332 Cleveland Street, Sterling, Colorado.
Surviving Mrs. Crist are four sons and a daughter; Tom C. Crist, postmaster at Haxtun, Charles L. Crist of Billings, Montana, Ulysses S. and John W. Crist of Sterling and Mrs. Jane Kay of The Dalles, Oregon.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of A.D. Jackson and Son Mortuary. There are 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
________________________________________________
Daughter of Thomas Franklin and Mary Sweeney
Sister of Martha Jane "Janie" Franklin Neeson Memorial #: 71623247
Half sister of Rebecca from her mother's second marriage.
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