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| Mary Jane Braden |
Mary is shown with her parents and younger brother, Robert, on the 1870 census in Washington Twp., Clinton Co., Indiana. She is found in the same place on the 1880 census and the 1900 census.
Mary Jane wrote a letter to her mother, Laura, when Laura went to Chicago for the 1893 World's Fair. The letter follows:
"June 10th 1893 Dear Mother,
I hope you arived [sic] safe and sound and are haveing [sic] a fine time. do not worry about us, we are getting along all right. Alba had the rheumatism in his lungs this morning and I put the hot watter [sic] bags on him and that helped him, then I fixed the belt and he put it on and now he feels all right. He is going to ware [sic] the belt every day. The meat man came this morning, I got two steaks for dinner. Had to kill a chicken for Alba. Baked 7 loaves of bread this morning and baked a cake. The turkeys are hatching. Friday I run off lye and boiled it and put what soap was in the other kittle [sic] and it boiled up thick. Let it stand over night and this morning it looks like soap, will let it go till Monday. We are going to town this afternoon, Friday Wilson Jacob's house burned and they saved every thing. Well must close and eat our dinner. Mary Braden"
We have very little to tell us about Mary Jane's life over all. The letters we have are mostly written to her and only a few are from her. It does seem most likely, however, that the many old family letters that we have (as well as those that the family used to have and no longer owns) were in Mary Jane's possession at her home in Frankfort.
On 1 April 1907, Mary Jane's father, William Braden, died. Mary was 40 years old and still living on the family farm with her parents and brother, Robert. On 10 November 1907, Mary's youngest brother, Alba, died leaving a widow, Emily Amina, and two young children, William R. and Laura N. Braden.
On 14 March 1911, Mary Jane's mother, Laura Braden, died. And on 18 October 1911, Mary Jane's brother, Robert, married. I suspect it was about this time that she moved from the family farm to her house at 852 East Clinton Street in Frankfort. In at least one letter, she mentions that she misses living at the farm. It seems that she and her brother Robert inherited the farm as joint owners.
On 10 July 1914, Emily Braden, widow of Mary Jane's youngest brother, Alba, was hit by a train and killed. This left her two children, William (age 15) and Laura (age 14), orphaned. Robert F. Braden was named guardian of his nephew, William, and Mary Jane Braden was named guardian of her niece, Laura. This arrangement seems to have been difficult for everyone involved. I will write more about the situation when I do bios of William and Laura.
On 20 April 1915, Mary Jane wrote to her nephew, William, who as at Howe School: The envelope was addressed to: Mr. William R. Braden, Howe School, Howe, Ind. and postmarked: Frankfort, Ind., Apr 20, 1915 12-M. The letter follows:
"Frankfort, Ind.
April 20, 1915
Dear William:-
Well, this is fine weather we are having but we ought to have a good rain.
I am so tired, I just I did not have a thing to do, but have to wash, iron, cook, and clean all the time, my, but I get tired of it. Laura does not pay any attention to anything I tell her. I guess I will have her to go some place else to stay.
I went home with Uncle Robert Saturday afternoon, had a nice time. Braden, Aunt Sallie, Maggie and Laura came out for me Sunday afternoon. I did not want to come home. only wish I could stay at the old farm, for I have been so home sick last week and this that I almost cry my eyes out. O dear, just wish I was laying in the Cemetery by Father and Mother, then all worries and care would be over. In this world it seems to me, that people are so selfish and do not care only for them selves. I could not get my ink at Grimes, nor any place else. Will try to send your things today if I can, and am not too tired to go down to Post Office. They have moved in the new Post Office and it looks nice. Last Saturday afternoon there was a fire just north east of my house at Mr Clarks. burned the roof quite badly have had to put on a new one. Well I suppose I must close and get to work.
With love to you,
Your loveing [sic] Aunt Mary."
The 1918 Frankfort city directory shows both Laura and Bill living in Frankfort with their Aunt Mary Jane. By the 1920 census, she was listed as single, living alone, in the house on Clinton Street.
She made her will on 12 February 1929. Mary Jane left her personal property to Laura N. Braden Pavey (her niece) and William R. Braden (her nephew). She left her real estate to her brother, Robert F. Braden, during his lifetime. The real estate was to go to Laura and William after Robert's death. William R. Braden was named executor of her estate.
The 1930 census shows Mary Jane still living alone in the house on Clinton Street. She never married and had no children.
Mary Jane Braden died 25 November 1932 at her brother, Robert's home in Frankfort. She was 65 years old. She was buried next to her parents in Jefferson Cemetery, Clinton Co., Indiana.
On 27 November 1932, an obituary was published in the Frankfort Times:
Mary Jane's obituary reads, "MARY BRADEN FUNERAL FROM HER RESIDENCE - Was Lover of Outdoor Life and Sports in Schools; Versed in Arts - This afternoon at two o'clock the funeral of Miss Mary Braden, who died Friday morning at the home of her brother, will be held from her own home at 852 East Clinton Street. Burial will be made at the Jefferson cemetery. She is survived by her brother, Robert Braden, a niece, Mrs. Laura Pavey of New York City, and a nephew, William Braden of Richmond, Ind. Miss Braden will be missed, not only by her relatives but by her countless friends. Although a member of no organizations she will be missed intensively by all those with whom she came in contact. With no immediate family to care for, she spent her time and love on any who needed it. As a lover of outdoor life, she carefully watched that the birds that stayed all winter were fed and watered in her yard. With her flowers covered and cared for for the winter, she was planning for Christmas, her annual supply of doughnuts and cookies. Miss Braden has always taken active interest in the best music, paintings and art in all its forms. She was much interested and contributed toward the sports and program of our schools. Miss Braden had compiled scrapbooks on many subjects that would prove valuable additions to any library."
We believe that it was after Mary Jane's death when the family cleaned out her home that Bill Braden and his wife, Vera, came across the old family letters.
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