Family Division

Number VI.

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MARTHA BRAMLET STRICKIN, The only daughter of Coleman B. Bramlet. He, being the youngest of the five pioneer settlers, lived to a ripe old age. Martha is still living on


Martha Bramlet Striklin

her home place since her marriage over 60 years ago. Most of her children and grandchildren live near her, and all farmers. Aunt Martha, as we all call her, is showing the many years of toil in caring for home life and family, for she truly has been a faithful keeper of home. As she has been one of the faithful in church and community welfare, and the last one of the second generation, I could not refrain from giving her this special mention, for she seems like a mother to the writer. In years to come children yet unborn can read of her as a true mother, and worshipper of Jesus Christ, and can look at her photograph as is shown in this family book. She has lived a life of toil, bearing the burdens with a will to win, and in so doing shall reap her great eternal reward in heaven. This 20th day of June, 1923, places her entering into her 80th year, and we do pray and trust she lives to enjoy her 80th birthday, and that her last days be sweet in love with all that's good and holy. With best wishes, this is followed by a devotion of praise in her memory as a true mother in Israel.

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SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF AUNT MARTHA BRAMLET STRICKLIN,
June 21,1914

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According to the Providence of God and the arrangements of man, with the family and near relatives, neighbors and friends, far and near, gathered in the beautiful grove, west of the residence, on the farm of John Stricklin, four miles west of Eldorado, Illinois, to take a part in the happy event of celebrating Aunt Martha's 70th birthday anniversary. The day was beautiful, the preparation grand and the dinner bountiful.. A table 80 feet in length was loaded to its full capacity, with the choicest provisions, of which 255 people witnessed the fact, to their hunger's satisfaction. The forenoon was spent in friendly handshakes, social chats and music; the afternoon in singing and preaching. The sermon was by her pastor, Elder G. E. Slavens, and was a tine sermon, suitable to the occasion and enjoyed by all present. It closed with favorite songs and an old-fashioned hand-shake, bidding each other God-speed and wishing Aunt Martha many more happy birthdays. The one surprise was the presence of her nephew from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Andy Flint, and family, who came down by auto. The following verses are contributed to her memory:

Home Without Mother

The story I wish to tell, of the one we love so well-that's Mother.
Here's George, Mary, William, these three we speak of now,
Then comes Frank, Laura and Coleman, all six and how
That Lawrence and Milly who have passed away,
And here is Mother, getting old and gray,
Born one thousand eighteen hundred and forty-four,
And is seventy years old and no more.
Though you have a sister and a brother,
What is home without a mother?
When we were but children and quite young,
No thoughts came to our minds but fun;
But fun to children, is foolish to Mother,
But we know she won't tell little brother;
God made us to live, get old and pass away,
And at some earlier age, and yet not gray;
Our children we love , the command from. above,
Our Mother, so dear, she always has love.
Mother come here, and Mother go there;
Mother is the one to call us to prayer,
She is the one who rests us on her knee,
Sometimes one, and two, and sometimes three.
What is home without Mother, according to nature and plans of God ?
Mother will pass away and be laid under the sod.
Weep not for her when anxious to go
To the haven of rest where tears never flow.
When I think back to my childhood days,
So often I think of Mother's curious ways;
But now I am older, and know very well
Some things I can hardly afford to tell;
But Mother was watching to see what I'd done;
And being guilty of something, I began to run.
My dear children, listen to what I have to say,
Some of these days Mother will be going away.
She will go at a time we are not now able to tell;
God only Knows when and where she'll dwell,
But when she is gone, our thoughts will soar high;
The young and older ones will break forth and cry;
But weeping and crying comes to us all,
So be careful, my children, and accept the great call;
Do the commandments of God and live right, I say,
This is the advice of a mother before going away.
But just to remember the things of this life,
Will soon be forgotten, when comes the great strife,
To live in this world of sorrow, of sin and of woe,
Makes one think how, why and the way to know;
For God who made us and gave us the command
To accept the great blessing given by the power of His hand.
Oh God, Mother, dear Mother, the one we love so well,
Our hearts are made glad of things no tongue can tell.
We know, by and by, we will miss thee, when thou art gone,
But will remember thy advice and never go wrong.
Some day, when our labors on earth are o'er,
Again we shall meet thee, to part no more.
Get ready to receive and accept Him, I say;
We are not placed here, just simply to play;
The great command is, never, never cease to pray,
And at last, in Heaven we shall forever stay.

To the Mothers

Readers may think, why not give the women a historical sketch as well as the men? It is a fact, they have as much to do in making of the men, but the male sex are the ones who hold up the family name, except the old maids; they haven't lost their right to the family name, and shall be mentioned according to their station in life, and that in making money and doing their part in keeping it. The good women, who have a part in this historical family name, are the mothers, of generations, past, present, and yet to come, and the women of other families, who have made it their choice, to enter their name as one of this very large noted family, and have taken their part in mothering these boys, and in teaching and training them for usefulness. They have their marriage right in this historical write-up. The writer is made to believe that there are but few women, coming into tins family, who have sorrowed, because of their choice, but some few were not well pleased with their choice. The success, or failure, in life, depends largely on the mother, as all are human, and none perfect, while living in the flesh. Therefore, success and failure-one's life-means much for success, or more for failure. God made man, and He made woman, the woman to be subject unto the man, but not in a way, to bring sorrow, or disgrace to the home, but according to the divine plan, as given of Jesus Christ. Heaven would have but few occupants, if there were no good mothers in the world. When each one looks and thinks of mother, there is something in that thought and look beyond human understanding. But God reveals to our understanding some better thoughts of another. Reader, do you understand, the difference between a mother, and a mammy? One is your teacher, and trainer, for time, and eternity; the other looks after you because the Law binds them to do so, not for the love of child, but for law's sake, in caring for offspring. While there are women who never have mothered a child of their own, who take motherless children, and make real mothers, in the care, and training, of the child, therefore a mammy is not always a mother. The same rule applies to father, yet there are many moments of pleasure in life, and some gloom. But thanks to a God in Heaven, who put it in hearts and lives, to mother such men as make up this family history. May the good mothers take their share of all that's good for one-half is theirs to claim. May the coming generations get a taste of true motherhood, and still build history, for time and eternity. We wish all mothers the comforts of this life, and a happy time in the great Eternal Beyond.


A Virtuous Woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31

  1. Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
  2. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
  3. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
  4. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
  5. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
  6. She rises also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
  7. She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
  8. She girdeth her loins with strength and strengtheneth her arms.
  9. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle go-eth not out by night.
  10. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
  11. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she stretcheth forth her hands to the needy.
  12. She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
  13. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
  14. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
  15. She maketh fine linen and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchants.
  16. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
  17. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
  18. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
  19. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her.
  20. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
  21. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, shall be praised.
  22. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
    A good wife is Heaven's last best gift to man. Motherhood is the highest type of woman.
    Our Savior had a mother. Every son and every daughter, who has lived on this earth, had a mother.

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The Thoughtful Boy.

While I was walking down a crowded street the other day,
I heard a little urchin, to his comrade turn and say:
"Say, Jimmie, don't you know. I'd be as happy as a clam,
If I could only think I was the fellow that my mother thinks I am?
"Why, she think? I'm a -wonder. She thinks her little lad
Couldn't be mixed up in anything naughty, ugly, mean or bad.
But sometimes I sit and think how nice 'twould be, gee whiz!
If a fellow could just be the fellow, that his mother thinks he is."

So, kind friends, let your life be one of toil and undiluted joy;
If a fellow could just be the fellow that his mother thinks he is.
Don't try to "be an earthly saint, with your eye fixed on a star,
But just try to be the fellow, .that .your mother thinks you are.
--Selected.

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