Mrs. S. A. Stonebraker was Oldest of the Early Settlers here.
(Source Unknown)
The death of Mrs. S. A. Stonebraker occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. O.P. Shannon, Wednesday, at the age of 87 years, 4 months and 29 days. Death was due to complications incident to advanced age.
Mrs. Stonebreaker was truly one of the oldest of the early settlers. Her life had largely been identified with the Black Jack vicinity, her experiences having commence there in 1863.
Susan D. Strunk was born in April 1836, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, where her early life was spent. After her marriage to S.A. Stonebraker, they remained in that country for a time, until July 1856, when Mr. Stonebraker came to Kansas, locating at Black Jack, then a thriving station on the Santa Fe Trail. Here he engaged in the merchandising business, running the Philadelphia Variety Store. He also was in the land business. He was an active participant in all the affairs of his vicinity, and a number of times in the Border Ruffian days was visited by gangs of men who robbed his store. At one time they robbed his wagon, as he was on his way from Kansas City to Black Jack with provisions, and he had to bring the empty wagon home.
In 1863, Mrs. Stonebraker and one child came to Kansas to join her husband. She arrived in Lawrence the day that Quantrill’s gang made its raid. Her husband had seen the invaders at Black Jack, and mounted his horse to warn the settlers, and to send word to Lawrence. They did not meet at Lawrence however.
After Mrs. Stonebraker reached Kansas, their first two years were spent in Black Jack, and after that on the Stonebraker farm, until Mr. Stonebraker’s death.
For twelve years they conducted a hotel and kept horses for mail on the Ft. Scott-Leavenworth trail. Their hostelry was known by all the travelers and they fed literally thousands at their tables.
There were ten children born to this union. Two died at an early age; Dora Latnaan is buried at Admire and Pearl Snyder at Baldwin. The surviving children are W.A. Stonebraker, of Emporia, Kansas; D.O. Stonebraker, of Waverly, Kansas; Olive B. Oglesby, of Reed Point, Montana; Linna Shannon, of Edgerton, Kansas; Ira O. Stonebraker, of Allen, Kansas, and Clay Stonebraker, of Emporia, Kansas. There are also 19 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
All of the children will be present at the funeral services, except Mrs. Oglesby.
Reverend H.P. Alexander will conduct the funeral services at the home of Mrs. O.P. Shannon, Friday afternoon, at two o’clock. Burial will be at Baldwin.
Mrs. Stonebraker was a member of the German Lutheran Church in her early days, but after coming to Kansas did a great deal of work with the United Brethren.
