Hughes County,

Oklahoma

Ran In A Unknown Tulsa Newspaper

Funeral Services were held Sunday for Mrs. Ellen Nora BRUNER, 98 year old Indian Freedman, who died April 14,1960 following a two-day illness. The services were conducted at the Community Center, Wewoka, Okla. with the Rev. R. C. RUCKER officiating. Myers Mortuary was in charge of funeral arrangements.

Mrs. BRUNER was born Dec.24,1862.One of 12 children of Mr. and Mrs. Pickett RENTIE who resided in Arkansas Town, a sub-division of the Creek nation, later called Muskogee County.

She was born during the Civil War in Old Agency Community named for a church in the community. The church derived its name from the U.S Government Indian agency located at the present site of the Muskogee Veterans hospital.

Her father served with the Union Army and she attended the Old Agency Mission School which was maintained by the Creek nation for its' tribe. Later, she attended a church school in Holly Springs, Miss. and attended schools in Fort Scott and Junction City, Kan.

Following her education she returned to her home where she taught school for several years. On Feb.12,1890 she was wed to the late Benjamin F. BRUNER and moved to his home in the Seminole Nation near Econtuchka, Indian territory.

To this union six children were born, four of whom survive her. In 1906,the family moved to an unsettled part of the Creek nation and developed the Unity Community near Holdenville. Her husband died in 1939 and in 1948 she moved to Tulsa where her daughters reside.

For years a member of the Eastern Star organization, Mrs. BRUNER was active in religious; social and civic affairs. At the time of her death she was a member of the Greater Union Baptist church.

During her life she was appointed by the Dawes Commission, which was created by an act of Congress in 1893, to compile the members of the five civilized tribes. The purpose of her work was to locate and enroll members of the Seminole tribe for allotments. Because of this work, she met and knew many of the tribal officials and was sought considerably for counsel and advice.

The late J. Coody JOHNSON, prominent Wewoka lawyer depended greatly on her for his information regarding Indian affairs. Recently she conferred with the preminent Atty. B.C. FRANKLIN who is preparing his own memoirs giving him valuable information on tribal affairs.

She is survived by her daughters, Mrs. Edna STEWART, Tulsa; Mrs. Ivory HAMPTON, Okmulgee; Mrs. Leona CORBETT, Tulsa; and a son Edgar BRUNER of Bakersfield, Calif.

-obituary courtesy of Charles Gibson, Ellen BRUNER's great-grandson-