- MRS.MARTHA M. BROOKER CLIEBRATES NINETY-FIRST BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
Mrs. Martha Brooner celebrated her ninety-first birthday anniversary Monday when her daughter., Mrs. Frank M. Graham and Mr. Graham entertained with a party.
Mrs. Brooner was born in Taylorville in Warrick County, Indiana, on December 4, 1853. She was the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Uriah McCoy. Both her father and her grandfather were Methodist ministers. She was the eldest of ten children., five of whom are still living.
Martha McCoy was married at the age of 21,, to Henry Brooner at the home of her parents in the Methodist parsonage. The ceremony was performed by a Rev. Moore, also a Methodist minister.
The young couple moved to Illinois in 1878 and from there to Howell County,, Missouri,, in 1886., where they resided and reared a family of 14 children, 11 of whom are still living. Mrs. Brooner has made her home with a daughter, Mrs. Allie Graham, in Mapleton for the past 19 years.
Mr. Brooner died in 1906,, leaving his widow with five children at home. %a continued to live on their farm until the children were all married. She then moved to Po=na., Mo.,, and then to Mapleton, in 1925.
Although nearing the century mark., Mrs. Brooner is still energetic and -says that work has never hurt anyone. She is able to wait on herself and has fair health, although her eyesight is dim,, and her hearing failing.
The Brooners were known for their hospitality. Their door was always open to the travelers when they lived on the main highway between West Plains and Springfield. Early freighters, travelers, ministers and church delegates often stayed-with the Brooner family.
A member of the Methodist church from early childhood., Mrs. Brooner united with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after moving to Missouri. She has been a faithful member since then.
Guests at the party in celebration of the birthday were the Rev. and Mrs. Quick, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Graham., Mesdames Anna Myrick, Grace Gardner, Flo Jones,, Clara Dennis,, Della Stewart, Rowena Needham and Verna Nickelson, Edra Kay Nickelson and Ronnie Nickelson, the honoree and the hosts.
Jan. 20, 1950 - 96-Year-Old Mapleton Woman Dies Thursday; Has 214 Descendants
Mrs. Martha Brooner, 96-year-old pioneer farm woman who leaves 214 surviving descendants., died at 1:30 p.m. yesterday at the home of a daughter., Mrs. Frank Graham,, of Mapleton. Mrs. Brooner had been in failing health for the past year and bedfast for 10 weeks.
Martha McCoy., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Uriah McCoy, was born atTaylorville Indiana., December 4., 1853. She was married at Taylorville, May 10, 1874, to Henry Brooner., who died 44 years ago. She came to Mapleton 26 years ago.
Surviving are nine sons and daughters., 57 grandchildren., 123.. great grandchildren., and 25 great great grandchildren. Three daughters and one son are deceased.
Sons and daughters surviving are Charley Brooner, Carthage., Missouri; Jessie Brooner, Galena, Kansas; Ray Brooner, Willow Springs,, Missouri; John Brooner,, Sleeper., Missouri; Mrs. Lilly Edson, Willow Springs., Missouri; Mrs. Mary Etta Graham, Fort Scott., Kansas; Mrs. Alice Graham,, Mapleton, Ks.; Mrs. Cora Kid n, Sand Springs., Oklahoma; and Mrs. Minnie Kinion., Glencoe,, Oklahoma. A step-son., W, A, Brooner., of Ca ron,, Missouri; two brothers, Abner McCoy, Pekin, Illinois; and Rasa McCoy, Mason City, Illinois; and a sister., Mrs, Mary Gregory,, Ift. Vernon,, Illinois, also survive.
Mrs. Brooner was a member of the RIDS church, Mapleton., where funeral services will be held at 2 p,m. Sunday, conducted by the Rev. Lee Quick. Interment will be in the Mapleton cemetery.
On 10 Mar 1873 when Martha was 19, she married Henry Brooner, son of Hiram Brooner (1811-1856) & Millie Taylor (1815->1870). Born on 19 Feb 1840 in Warrick County, Indiana. Henry died in Pomona, Howell County, Missouri on 23 Apr 1906, he was 66.
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- "These Pioneer Women"
by Mrs. Ella Horak
Mrs. Martha Brooner
Mrs. Brooner is a spry little woman. To see her about her daily routine one would never suspect she is so near her 85 th birthday. She uses glasses for reading and close work, hears well and seems as well contented as a school girl.
She is the widow of Henry Brooner who joined the Union Army in Indiana in 1861 and served until the close of the war. He died April 6, 1906 at the age of 66.
Mrs. Martha Brooner was born in Taylorville, Warwick County, Indiana, December 4, 1953. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Uriah McCoy and the eldest of a family of ten children, six of whom survive, five living in Indiana.
Martha McCoy spent her girlhood days at Taylorville. She had little opportunity for an education. she recalls of having attended school for about three months but we are sure she made good use of the three "R's". Especially is this true in reading as she was advanced to the fifth reader. Her early life was spent in the home, learning the arts of a real homemaker.
She became skillful with the cards, spinning wheel and loom. She says she spun both wool and cotton and knitted her own stockings when a little girl. As she grew older she learned to weave linsey-wolsey to make her own dresses and petticoats. She helped her her mother spin and weave flax to make table linens. She afterwards used these arts in her own home.
Martha McCoy was married at the age of 21 to Henry Brooner, May 10, 1874. The wedding ceremony was performed in the home of her parents and the officiating minister was Rev. Moore, a Methodist minister.
Mr. and Mrs. Brooner moved to Illinois in 1875. They lived in Illinois until 1886, when they loaded the big covered wagon and came to Howell County, Missouri. Mr. Brooner settled on the Brooner homestead about 1 and a half miles north of Pomona, on what is now Highway 63, the farm where Peck Brotherton now lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Brooner lived on this farm and reared a family of twelve children. All the needs of the family were produced at home. Mother Brooner says "We raised most everything we ate and made our clothes" No doubt the spinning wheel and loom was kept busy. No one knows the joys of such a task but the mother of twelve lively children.
Mrs. Brooner says that when her family was all at home she used to pick a large pail of green butter beans and then all she could carry in her apron for two cookings (dinner and supper), and it took everything else in proportion. But she says she could raise as much in those days on one row as we can now grow on one half dozen such rows. Mr. Brooner in those days kept a sign posted such as "Corn For Sale" or "Hay For Sale" and these products were all produced on the farm. We wonder how many of us today could provide for a family of fourteen and have "Corn For Sale"
Mrs. Brooner's father was a Methodist minister, and she joined the Methodist church when a girl in 1865. After she came to Missouri she united with the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints in 1891, being a charter member of the church in the Halfway community.
The Brooners were known for their great hospitality. Their door was always open to the weary traveler or freighter. They lived on the road from Springfield to West Plains and the early freighters and travelers made the Brooner homestead headquarters and none were ever turned from their door. The ministers and church delegates always stopped with the Brooners. The "latch spring" always hung on the outside of Mother Brooner's home.
Mother Brooner lived in the homestead for several years after the death of her husband in 1906. She finally moved to Pomona for a few years and after her children married she broke housekeeping in about 1925. since that time she visits among her children. She spent most of the summer here with her son and daughter in law, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Brooner of near Willow Springs, Missouri.
Wherever she goes she mends, darns, and quilts for her children and grandchildren. This last summer she quilted a quilt for Mrs. Harry Brooner. She would rise early in the morning and go to the quilt while Mr. and Mrs. Brooner were out doing their chores. She says it has become too much of a task to piece quilts any more.
Words cannot express the love . pride and ambition Mrs. Brooner has lived for her children. She has been, and is, a guiding star for her children and community. She was ever ready to care for the sick and afflicted and no one was ever turned from her door.
Harry Brooner says of his mother " She was kind , affectionate mother. She made many sacrifices for her children and still denies herself for her beloved children."
We believe; these sainted old mothers contribute their ripe old age to a righteous, temperate living, with plenty of whilesome activity to employ both mind and physical strength.Mother Ogle said "So many people bring on ill health by undue exposure." While Mother Lilly and Mother Brooner did not say so much in exact words, we know they fully sanction Mother Ogle's statement.
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1853 - 1950 (96 years) 
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