The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-01-26
DEATH Of MRS. MARY
c. BRA|NARO
An Esteemed Skomhegan Woman
Passes Away After Several Months
OF Failing Health

Memorial services for the late Mrs.
Mary Coffin Brainard We're conducted
from the house on Madison avenue
Saturday afternoon at , o'clock Rev.
George Merriam of the Bethany Bap-
fist church officiating. The remains
were placed in the Southside receiy-
ing vault, Philo Steward, John {.
Griffin, John F. Currier and Maurice
p. Merrill serving as pail bearers. In
accordance with a wish OF the deceas-
ed who had realized the probable
climatic conditions at this season OF
the year as being unpleasant for traV-
cling, no relatives from distant points
attended. Mrs. Brainard passed away
during Thursday night after several
months of gradually failing health.
Mrs. Mary Coffin Brainard was the
daughter Of the late James F. and
Caroline A. Burbank Coffin. She was
born April s, 1860 on the Coffin home
stead farm which was cleared by her
great-grandfather, a pioneer from
Nantucket Mass This property
which is now the Wentworth farm and
the first across the line in Fairfield,
remained in the family through sue
ceeding generations until it WAS sold
by the father of the deceased. After
a short residence in WaterYille tile
family moved in about 1885 To Skow-
hogan where the parents spent the re
mainder of their lives and where Mrs
Brainard has always made her home
She received her education in SkoW
hogan high school and Kent. Hill
Seminary. On November s. 1SSf
she was married to Charles NJ. Brain
ard OF this town. His death occurred
December 25 1896 in Pueblo, Mexico
whittier he had gone accompanied by
his wife seeking restoration of health
In recent years Mrs. Brainard has
travelled extensively in foreign coun-
tries and spent her winters either in
New York, in the south or in travel
ling. She was the last of her family
her only daughter Miss Carolyn
Brainard having died three years ago
from influenza while engaged in
war work in New York From this
blow the widowed mother never fully
recovered but nevertheless went
quietly about among her friends calm
ly submitting to the inevitable.
Mrs Brainard's parents were of the
Quaker faith and by birthright she
was likewise member of that church.
Her grandfather, Charles Coffin. was
one of the oldtime Quaker preachers,
and although Mrs. Brainard was not
active in any church. she never quite
outgreW her early Quaker training
She was a woman of charming per
sonality and was kecnly intellectual
Endowed with these qualities and be
my 50 situated as to- add rich torres
OF education from literature and tray
eis She became POSSESSED of Il know
fetge rarely equalled in this section.
She was member Of the SkoWhegan
Woman's Club Eunice Farnsworth
Chapter, Daughters Of American ReVo-
tution and the Colonial DANES OF New
YORK: ~ '4"" l''.
Surviving relatives are several cou-
sins among whom are Charlea A. Cof
I'm OF New York, for years president
Of the General Electric Company Of
New York. Miss NJ. l.. Coffin of New
foiAS and Charles p Coffin of Brook
Inc Mass There are also two sis
tefs-f law Miss Gertrude S Weston
OF Skowhegan, who has been much
With Mrs. Brainard in the last few
weeks of her illnefs, and Mrs. J. l.
Fields of Alameda, Cal.