File contributed for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Beth Rengers Talken,  20 September 1998.  Link change or update: 20 Sep 1998

Obituary for Mollie Lanier Brandes (1861- 1960)
No. 012 - Uncited clippings from the "Neva Murphy Hubbard Collection" of Beth Rengers Talken, 1998.

Mollie Lanier BRANDES, daughter of John and Sally Robinson LANIER, was born almost 99 years ago, on October 15, 1861, the first year of the Civil War, and died on a farm below Moscow Mills August 16, 1960, at the age of 98 years, 10 months and 1 day.

Mrs. BRANDES is of a pioneer Lincoln County family. In 1884 she was married in the home of her parents, to Mr. George HUDSON, of Wright City, to this couple, one daughter, Georgia, was born. Mr. HUDSON lived only a few months after their marriage.

In 1890 she was married to Mr. Louis BRANDES, of St. Charles county, who was in the mercantile business in Moscow Mills. While living in Moscow Mills, one son, Henry, was born.

In 1901, the family moved to Troy, where Mr. BRANDES, Charles BRANDES, W.Y. ADELOTT, Warren ADELOTT, Jim DUDLEY and George HALL, formed the Troy Commercial Co. This company opened the "Leader," a mercantile company which existed in Troy until the late '30's. This company built the building for the "Leader," which is now occupied by the Kroger Co. in Troy.

Mrs. Brandes owned a large share of stock in the Peoples' Bank in Troy. Mr. BRANDES was cashier of the bank for 15 years. He was later cashier of the bank at Moscow Mills and manager of the Farmers' Elevator at Moscow.

Both Mr. and Mrs. BRANDES were very active in the Troy Methodist church and were among the instigators of the present building.

For many years she was president of the Ladies Aid of the church. She did much work as a member of the Troy Cemetery Association, which was organized in 1908 by Mrs. Mattie BOURLAND. Mrs. Elizabeth THURMAN was president. Mrs. BRANDES also worked with the Ladies' Committee of the Buchanan College for many years. In other ways Mr. and Mrs. BRANDES played an important part in the life and history of Troy. They built the home on Cap-au-Gris street now occupied by the Troy Nursing Home, and this house had the first bathroom in Troy.

Mrs. BRANDES outlived all her generation of relatives and friends. She was the last of about twelve couples who spent many, many evenings together in the Rook Club.

Preceeding her in death, other than her parents and husband, were her sisters, Demarius Pollard and Laura HUDSON, and her brother, David LANIER. Other than her own children, she reared a step-daughter, Elizabeth BRANDES DOWELL, who has also preceeded her in death.

Surviving are her daughter, Georgia, and her husband, R.V. ELLISE, of New Albany, Miss, her son, Henry, and his wife, Marion, of Troy, 2 grandsons, Grant BRANDES, of Alameda, Cal., and Arden ELLISE, of New Albany, Miss., her grandchildren: Arden ELLISE, Jr., of Laurel, Miss., Pat, now Mrs. Dwayne HALE, of New Albany, Miss., Carl GRANT, James Henry and Susie Marion BRANDES, of Alameda, Cal; four great great grand-children, Kathy ELLISE, Dwayne Jr., and Cynthia Leigh HALE, all of New Albany, Miss., and Arden ELLISE III, of Laurel, Miss.; 2 nieces, Mrs. Frank BRUMMELL, of Troy, and Mrs. Ed MEIER, of Old Monroe; 1 nephew, John BARTON Pollard, of Dallas, Texas, and many, many friends.

Until about eight years ago Mrs. BRANDES was quite active and enjoyed visiting her neighbors. Then when she became unable to continue her former way of life, she became a guest in the Wells Nursing Home in Moscow Mills. About 5 years ago, she began to lose her sight. She seemed to let it make little difference to her, however, and was quite cheerful. She loved having her family with her, and having her former neighbors and friends call on her at the home. During her stay there she made many new friends, who along with her many other friends and her family, will greatly miss her.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Ted MATKIN at the Kemper-Marsh Funeral Home in Troy Thursday, August 18, at 3:00p.m. Mrs. BRANDES was then laid to rest by the side of her husband in the Troy cemetery.

Note regarding clippings from the "Neva Murphy Hubbard Collection":  Neva Murphy Hubbard (1886-1971) lived all of her life in Lincoln County, MO.  She collected a large file of clippings of Lincoln County residents. The majority of the clippings were without citation. Beth Rengers Talken, beneficiary of the collection, has transcribed them for inclusion in our Lincoln County Heritage Records. 

File contributed for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Beth Rengers Talken, 20 September 1998.  Link change or update: 20 Sep 1998

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