Published in the Tribune March 14, 1917

Last Friday evening, March 9, one of the older residents of Washington County passed away. Mrs. J. H. Bross of Eight and South Streets, has been in frail health for about two years, suffering from diabetes, and was taken with an acute attack in the middle of last month. Notwithstanding the best of care and skill she slowly sank, subject to but little pain, growing weaker and weaker until the end came. All the member of her family have been present during the last sickness.

The funeral services were held at the Christian Church Sunday afternoon at two o’clock. Large throngs of people crowded the building, and a long line of motor cars made up the funeral procession to the grave. Rev. John B. Williams, the pastor, conducted the service, preaching from the text, “Precious in the Sight of the Lord Is the Death of His Saints.” Psalms 116:15. Following is the obituary and review of her life which was read in connection with the sermon.

Matilda Ann Keys was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, February 15th, 1852, and so was a little over sixty-five years of age when she died. In early life she removed with her parents to Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and after the Civil War the family came west to Nebraska, taking a homestead five miles west of Cuming City. Here she made the acquaintance of Mr. John Henry Bross, and the two were married on the Fourth of July, 1869, the youthful bride being then in the seventeenth year of her age. Through the long forty-eight years that followed they have journeyed through life with simple faith in each other and with a full share of mutual affection to sweeten life’s bitterness and lighten its cares. They are the parents of eleven children, seven girls and four boys, the two youngest girls dying in childhood.

The five surviving daughters are Mrs. Mary E. Caldwell, Mrs. Anna Wilson, Mrs. Alta Ryan, Mrs. Clyss Sylvis, all of Blair, and Mrs. Jeanette Spiker, of Keeline, Wyoming. The sons are, Jacob Henry, George Frank, Arthur Austin, and John Lester. There are nineteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Deceased also has one brother and one sister living, Mr. H. B. Keys, of Rock Island, Illinois, and Mrs. Josephine Nimocks, of Lacrosse, Wisconsin.

Mr. and Mrs. Bross made profession of Christian faith in 1873, four years after their marriage, and on being at that time baptized, they united with the Christian Church. Mrs. Bross was also a member of the Women’s Relief Corps, and of the Order of the Eastern Star. For a number of years however, due to failing health, she has been unable to attend any public meetings.

A long life is now finished. For in those sixty-five-year great historic changes have taken place. And life is not to be measured by its length merely but by its breadth and depth as well. It is good deal to be the mother of eleven children and a good deal more to shape their lives and rear them to take honorable places in the world is far from realizing its worth and falls short in rendering the respect due a mother who through years of toil, and often trial, succeeds in keeping alive the better ideals of love and faith and home and every day duty. This world holds no dearer, better things in all its belongings than faithful, patient, Christian mothers; and as long as a few of them are left us human society will not be utterly hopeless. Thrice blessed in the mortal who can boast such a parentage!

Mrs. Bross was of a gentle disposition, and yet also stout-hearted and brave, possessing more than ordinary vitality. The old convictions had a place in her life; she lived under their wholesome influence, and they worked out quiet and kindly results. Conscientious and high-principled, she held the esteem of many friends, and to the extent of the light she had, was a sincere Christian. If the like things can be said with the truth of the rest of us we may fare very well when the time for eternal judgement and eternal rewards comes! To those who knew her best a legacy of tender memories remains. And if we strive to emulate her virtues and perpetuate her rectitude, there is no more suitable monument that we can raise to her memory. But she will come into her own in the sweet by and by and in the better land, where the righteous receive their due recompense and meet with proper appreciation. In the shining company of the redeemed she will be see, and there not tear nor sadness can evermore come. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

People from out-of-town who attended the funeral were: Byron Demorest, D. W. Kelly and wife, Geo., Wes and Mrs. Gilliland, Mr. and Mrs. Hosea Gilliland, all of Omaha; Fred Gilmore, Brooklin, Iowa; Chas. Gilmore, Malcom, Iowa; Mrs. Geo. Ule, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Mrs. Nettie Irwin, Fremont; Mrs. Callie Hawel, Sioux City, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. McMonies and Walter White of Tekamah; and Mrs. Gene Spiker, of Keeline, Wyo.

#2-Published in the Blair Democrat March 15, 1917

Many mourners Attend Funeral of Mrs. Bross

Mrs. Matilda Ann Bross died at her residence, Saturday morning, following an illness of several years. Death was due to diabetes. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Christian Church and was one of the largest auto funerals ever held in the city. Rev. John Williams preached a comforting sermon on the virtues of the deceased.

The deceased was born in upper Sandusky, Ohio, February 15, 1852, and with her parents, moved to Lacrosse, Wis., and after the Civil War, came to Nebraska where the family located on a farm five miles west of Cumming City.

On July 4, 1869, she was married to John Henry Bross when but seventeen years of age. The couple had eleven children, seven girls and four boys; two girls dying in infancy. Those living are Mrs. Mary Caldwell, Mrs. Anna Wilson, Mrs. Alta Ryan, Mrs. Clyss Sylvis, all of Blair, and Mrs. Jeanette Spiker of Keeling, Wyo. The sons are Jacob Henry, George Frank, Arthur Austin and John Lester Bross, all of this city. One brother and sister reside in Rock Island, Ill. Mrs. Bross was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the Woman’s Relief Corps.

Those from out of town who attended Mrs. Bross’ funeral were Charlie Gilmore of Malcom, Iowa; Mrs. George Ule, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Fred Gilmore , Brooklin, Iowa; Mrs. Nettie Irvin, Fremont; Mrs. Callie Hawef, Sioux City, Ia., Mrs. And Mrs. Chas. McMonies and Walt White, Tekamah; Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Delly; Mr. and Mrs. Hosea Gilliland, George and Wes Gilliland, Mrs. Rhoda Gilliland and Byron Demorest, Omaha.

Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.

Buried: 3/11/1917 ~ Age: 65
** Some records indicate that Matilda was actually born in Illinois

John H Bross and Matilda A. Rees were married in Washington County, Nebraska, on July 4, 1869.

The 1900 census locates the family residing in Blair, Nebraska. John's birth details are recorded as born in New Jersey in August 1842, with both of his parents also born in New Jersey. Matilda's birth details are recorded as being born in Ohio in February 1852.

According to daughter, Anna's, obituary, the Bross's had a total of 11 children. With Anna's passing in 1946, a total of 5 of John and Matilda's children were deceased; 4 females and one male.

The following is a listing of the children of John H. and Matilda Bross, based upon census and obituary records, and deed books (Those marked with a * are indicated to have passed away on or before February 8, 1946, which is the date of Anna's death):

1*) Eliza Mary 71381296, (Mary Elizabeth) Bross Caldwell, b. July 1870, NE ~ 6/8/1890 ~ Married Robert M. Caldwell (b Oct 1870, VA) on June 8, 1890 in Washington County, NE. Residents of Blair, Nebraska in 1900, Smokey, Sherman, Kansas in 1910, Weir-Lisco, Morrill, Nebraska in 1930. Died in 1931.

Children:
REQ Charles "Charlie" Franklin Caldwell, 32019700, Jan 1891, Nebraska (1891-1956 UC)
REQ Abbie Rose Caldwell Singleton, Mar 1895, Nebraska
X Earl Clayton Caldwell, Apr 1897, Nebraska (1897-1978 UC)
REQ Alice C B Caldwell, 54788960, Jun 1899, Nebraska (Keturah B Caldwell, b ca 1899 in Nebraska per 1910 census) (Alice Keturah B. Caldwell, UC). 2/14/1917 RAY, GLYN CALDWELL, KETURA A 8 91 - Washington County
Agnes J Caldwell, b ca 1902 in Nebraska
REQ Kenneth J Caldwell, 59372838, b ca 1905 in Nebraska (John Kenneth Caldwell, b ca 1904 in Nebraska per 1910 census) (1903-1981)
REQ Chester Clyde Caldwell, 10883120, b ca 1906 in Nebraska (1906-1973)
X Walter R Caldwell, b ca 1908 in Nebraska
REQ Clyde Ray Caldwell, b ca 1914 in Nebraska (1915-1997)

It seems Eliza may have been deceased prior to Anna's passing in 1946)

2) "Jake" H Bross, Jan 1872, Nebraska

3) George Franklin "Frank" Nov 1873

4*) Anna Matilda Bross Wilson, Oct 1879, Nebraska

5) Arthur A Bross, Nov 1884, Nebraska

6*) Elena L Bross, Jan 1887, Nebraska

7) Dau, Atta U / Alta E Bross Ryan, Aug 1889, Nebraska

8) Jeanette "Jennie" A Bross Spiker, Feb 1891, Nebraska Married Eugene SPIKER (age 26) in Sept 1907
Living in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1946

9*) John L Bross, Aug 1892, Nebraska

10) REQ Sylvia E. "Glyss" Bross Syvis

There is one sibling missing from this list ~ a female sibling who predeceased Anna. I believe that sibling to be Stella (1876-1878). My reasoning is contained on her memorial.
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Sources:

Washington County Deed Books ~ Book 2, Page 69
"Iowa State Census, 1885", listing for Gabriel D. Bross
"United States Census, 1900", listing for John H. Bross
Obituary for Anna Bross Wilson, 1946