DEATH OF MRS. BRANSON.
Mrs. M.L. Branson is dead. The end came shortly after four o'clock on last Sunday morning, and the spirit of that good woman took flight from its tenement of clay back to Him who gave it. For many years the life of Mrs. Branson was intimately associated with the efforts that strengthen and sanctify the ties of home and elevate and dignify the social and religious world. The performances of her duties to her family claimed the greater share of her time and attention. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church; she was, moreover, a sincere Christian. She became part of the being of her intimate friends, and a feeling of completeness and satisfaction resulted from associating with her. She was so full of good cheer, so rich in all that goes to brighten life. Her illness was about three weeks duration. Up until within about twelve hours of her death, she expressed herself as being confident that she would recover. The greatest trial to her was that she must lie inactive, taking no part in caring for her family. Besides her husband, the deceased leaves four children, the oldest a boy of eleven and a babe four weeks old. But the little ones will be well cared for by their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. D.W. Branson. There is in the hearts of all who knew Mrs. Branson a deep and tender sense of loss and sorrow that she has so unexpectedly been called hence. The MONITOR, in behalf of their many friends, can only extend sympathy to the family and leave it to the coming days to heal their sorrow.

Mrs. Emma (Shearer) Branson was born in the town of Barnett, state of Vermont, in the month of August 1855. In the winter of 1868, then a girl of thirteen, she came with her parents to Iowa, settling down in Marshall County. In the month of December 1879, at the age of twenty-four years, she was united in marriage to Mr. Milton L. Branson. Immediately following this event, she came with her husband to Carroll County, taking up their abode on an eighty-acre farm a mile west of where Manning now stands. Later on, in 1886, Mr. Branson traded the homestead for a larger tract of land, six miles south, where until last Sunday, when death claimed the wife and mother, lived one of the happiest families in all the country.

The funeral which was held on Monday afternoon at one o'clock from the late country residence, was attended by a large concourse of sorrowing friends and neighbors. Many were the dead woman's admirers and associates and these followed her to the verge of her grave. Rev. Hayden spoke the funeral eulogy. The cortege that wound its way up over the hills to the city of rest on that perfect autumn day was one of the largest ever witnessed in the country around Manning, there being 68 conveyances in line. Following the hearse, bearing all that was mortal of Mrs. Branson, came those to whom she was nearest and dearest the husband and children. After these came the relatives in the following order: first carriage, Mr. W.R. Shearer and Mrs. Thomas Kimball; second, Mr. and Mrs. D.W. Branson and Mrs. Maggie Branson; third, Dr. and Mrs. W.S. Branson and family; fourth, Dr. and Mrs. R.R. Williams; fifth, Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Bennett. Upon arriving at the cemetery and after a few well chosen remarks by the minister, the body was committed to the earth.