The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-10-20

Bearing the burden of her years light
| ly, with physical and mental powers but
! little impaired by the ravages of time,
Mrs. Mary A. (Weston) Bray observed
her Goth birthday, Friday, at the rest
dence of her son, Y. l. Bray, 90 Blossom
street, in this city.
Mrs Bray was born in Skowhegan
Mo Oct IA, 1914, and the memories OF
hor childhood years carry her back 10
the pioneer days OF that state, forming a
connecting link between the present and
the early part of the 18th century, when
the white man had not penetrated the
wilderness along the banks of the Ken
nebec river. Her grandfather was
John Weston, enc of seven brothers,
who settled in Skowhegan and were the
pioneers of civilization in that region.
Their descendants in large numbers still
live in the township founded by these
brothers and have filed an honorable
and important place in it's history a.
we'll as that of the county and state of
which it 10 a part.
Tho family records disclose that Mary
A. Weston, tho subject of this sketch,
was married in Skowhegan, Fob. Is,
1884, to James Bray. OF thia union,
seven children were born, only one OF
whom, F. l.. Bray, the we'll known deal
or in meats and provisions at 242 Main
street in this city, Is living. She has
ono grandson, two great-grandsons and
. great granddaughter Up to the time
of hor husbands death in 1879, Mrs
Bray resided In okowhegAn, and since
then she has made her homo with heI
son. F. l.. Bray, and his wife
Tho occasion of her entering upon the
| 10th decade of her life WAS f1tly observed
by her relatives and friends, Friday
from whom she received many letters oil
congratulation and tokens of re-
me mberanoo where distance prevented
them from coming In person to pay theii
regards. The receipt of flowers and
gifts from friends in Skowhegan es
pecially pleased Mrs. Bray and she also
expressed hor pleasure to those who
called at the house during the day to
extend their congratulations Among
the callers from out OF town woTo heI
brother, Herman Weston of South Ian
caster, 80 years OF age, his son and
daughter, and othor South Lancaster
relatives; a nephew, Henry Bray, and
his wiie of Clinton, and Mrs. Simon
Nudd of Skowhegan, Me.
For ono OF her age, Mrs. Bray is in
| pOB5oablOn OF noE IaCultltS 10 TomhTk-
able degree. She is keenly alive to ths
current events Of the day, reading foI
herself the happenings as they are re
corded in the daily newspapers. Her
opinions upon the topics of the time are
clear and decided and her long life hal
been 80 full OF experiences, her mind 81
stored with "reminiscences of the past as
to make a C rnversa ion with her full of in
terest From childhood she has been YER.
expert with her needle and she exhibited
Thursday, to callers with justifiabl,
pride some beautiful specimens of am
broidery, which she had just finished
Her embroidery and fancy work indeed
10 OF moro than local rspute among con-
noisseurs and finds ready sale in the
market. The advancing years have
brought no impairment in her skil
through failing eyssight or other physi-
cal causes, and in the midst of the re
joicings in the celebration of her Goth
birthday she was anticipating = renewal
of industry on the morrow for tho Dom
pletion of some work which she had
previously MISUNDERSTANDING Sen
| tinel