Mary Jane Brooks

Mary Jane Brooks

• Father: Harrison Brooks b. circa 31 October 1810, d. 23 June 1865
• Mother: Fanny Sharp b. circa 1813

• Mary Jane Brooks was born on 17 December 1845 in Iowa.
• Harrison Brooks and Fanny Sharp appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Sonora, Hancock County, Illinois. Other members of the household included Mary Jane Brooks. Also in the household were children William (age 12), Absalom (9), Elizabeth (7), Jacob (2) and Melvina (1 month).
• Harrison Brooks and Fanny Sharp appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Burnet PO, Burnet County, Texas. Other members of the household included Mary Jane Brooks. Also in the household were children William (age 22), Abslom (18), Fanny a. (8) and Samuel K. (6).
• She married Martin Jasper Bolt on 12 December 1867 in Burnet County, Texas.
• Martin Jasper Bolt and Mary Jane Brooks, appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Burnet, Burnet County, Texas. Other members of the household included Josephine Bolt.
• Martin Jasper Bolt and Mary Jane Brooks appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Texas. Other members of the household included Josephine Bolt. Also in the household were children Aliff (age 9), Charie A. (8), Jefferson (6), Franklin (3) and Loula (1).
• A photographic portrait was made about 1900 of Mary Jane Brooks and her siblings, children of Harrison and Fanny Sharp Brooks. Standing: Absolom Brooks and Samuel Rose Brooks; seated: Elizabeth Sarah Brooks Lawler, William Wayland Brooks and Mary Jane Brooks Bolt.
• Martin Jasper Bolt and Mary Jane Brooks appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Burnet, Texas. Also in the household were children Lulu (age 21), Lena (15) and Oliver (13), and granddaughter Gracie Bolt (3).
• Martin Jasper Bolt and Mary Jane Brooks appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Brown County, Texas, enumerated next to the household of their dauther Josie Hill (age 41). Also in the household was daughter Gracie L. (age 12). They also were enumerated in 1910 in Brown County in the household of their daughter Mary Fry.
• Martin Jasper Bolt and Mary Jane Brooks appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Texas enumerated in the household of their daughter and her husband, Mary L. (age 25) and James H. Fry . They also were enumerated in 1910 in Brown County living next to their daughter Josie Hill.
• William Francis Hill and Josephine Bolt appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Angleton, Brazoria County, Texas, enumerated in the same household as their daughter Jula Cannan and her family. Other members of the household included Mary Jane Brooks, Martin Jasper Bolt. Also in the household were children David M. (age 16), Frank (13), Minneola (11) and Milburn (9).
• Martin and Mary Jane Bolt were photographed during the 1920s. [from the collection of Karen G. Hill]
• Mary Jane Brooks became a widow at the 16 August 1928 death of her husband Martin Jasper Bolt.
• Mary Jane Brooks died on 24 August 1933 at age 87 in Texas.
• She was interred at Old Burnet Cemetery, Burnet, Burnet County, Texas.
• The following appeared in the Burnet Bulletin: Mrs. M. J. Bolt died at her home in this place last Thursday, August 24, 1933. Her funeral service was held on the following day at the Burnet Tabernacle, conducted by Rev. T. K. Anderson, Methodist Pastor. Burial was at Odd Fellows Cemetery. The pallbearers were: Frank Atkinson, O. B. Zimmerman, Walter Wallace, Vernon Greer, H. A. Barnett and Bunk Gibbs.
       Mary Jane Brooks was born in Hancock County, Illinois, December 17th, 1845, making her at the time of her death 87 years, 8 months and 7 days of age. She came to Burnet with her parents in 1852 and was truly one of the pioneers of this section of Texas. On the 12th of December 1867, she was united in marriage to M. J. Bolt, who preceded her in death some five years ago. To this union nine children were born, four of who survive her - Frank and Jeff Bolt of Burnet, Mrs. Horace Fry of Brownwood, and Mrs. W. B. Atkinson of Grosvenor, Texas. She is also survived by one brother, Mr. Sam Brooks of Mason.
       Mrs. Bolt professed religion when thirteen years of age and joined the Methodist Church, of which institution she remained a faithfl member until death called her.
       She leaves a family of children who are highly respected in the communities in which they reside, and they are fortunate to have had such parents as Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Bolt.
       It required courage, constant vigilance and resourcefulness for people to escape the perils in this section of Texas 75 and 80 years ago. This country at that time was home of the blood-thirsty Indians and it was no uncommon occurrence for whole families to be massacred by them, not even sparing the women and children. No man or woman could feel a moments security for themselves and little ones. They knew the rising sun might be the last they would witness, but they stood their ground like the heroes they were, and paved the way for the security we now have.
       The writer has often wondered just what view these pioneers take of the present day situation. No doubt they will agree that finacially conditions are bad, but at the same time nothing to compare with what they were in the early days of this section, and at least life is secure, which was not the case while Mrs. Bolt was passing from childhood into womanhood.
       Each and every one of these pioneers should be considered with reverence by people of the present day. Not many of them are now with us and within a few years only the memory of them will be left.
       Mrs. Bolt's children and grandchildren should be proud of the heroic life that was hers and revere her memory.

• Last Edited: 27 Mar 2016