MARY CAROLINE (PRESTON) CARTER

THE PASSING OF MRS. MARY C. CARTER

        Pioneer Woman of Hamilton County Dies in Ochiltree Brought Back to Old Home For Burial.

        Mrs. Mary C. Carter died at the home of her son, Fayette Carter in Ochiltree County, last Wednesday, October 24, at 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon.  She had been ill only a short time, just a gentle going to sleep because the night time of life had come, and she was weary with its problems, its sorrows and even its joys.  The shadows had grown long, the Beacon Light on the other shore sent out its rays to brighten the track of the waters for the one whose eyes had grown dim to the things that lay along the pathway here, and she laid down the burden of her years and passed over.

        Deceased was born in Tennessee in the year of 1830, being at her death 87 years of age.  She was married in Tennessee to H. J. Carter in 1848.  Together they came to Texas in 1849, settling in Smith County.  In 1854 they moved to Hamilton County, settling in the fertile valley of the Cowhouse, the estate becoming baronial in extent and wealth.  To their union was born eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, only one of whom, Mrs. Gussie Livingston of the Farnash community resides in this county.  She made her home with her son, Fayette Carter who with his family and his mother moved to Ochiltree County in 1912.  Thus it was for more than half century she lived in Hamilton County, in the early days battling with and subduing hardships and trials of Pioneer life, a life which robbed womanhood of that protection and tender care which the chivalry of more advanced civilization accords it, yet she was a woman pure and true, a Christian, and exemplary in every relation of life.

        By her request the body accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Fayette Carter, was brought back to the old family home where a granddaughter of Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Stribling, resides.  From there the funeral cortege came to Hamilton Sunday afternoon, burial taking place in the Old Hamilton Cemetery at 3:30 o'clock.  Rev. J. Hall Bowman, pastor of the Methodist church conducting the funeral service.  Mrs. Carter had been a consistent member of the Methodist church since a young girl.

        Many friends in Hamilton as well as from over the county were gathered at the grave to pay a last tribute of love and respect to this "Mother in Israel" who had gone to her reward.  The sympathy of all goes out to the griefstricken loved ones, but they seek not in vain for comfort, for every promise of the scriptures in vouchsafed to them for consolation.

        "There's no regret or worry where she is,

        No look back, no pain no grief to bear;

        No farewell kisses, no last touch of bliss.

        No loneliness, no missing, not a tear."

        This obituary appeared in the newspaper on November 1, 1917; date of death was October 24, 1917.  

Shared by Kathy Beaudry