OBIT: Mary (GOTWALS) CUSTER, 1886, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm DEATH'S DOINGS. At the residence of her son, B. F. Custer, esq., No. 1227 Twelfth avenue, Mrs. Mary Custer died at a quarter past 2 on Wednesday afternoon, after but a brief illness in the 81st year of her age. Mrs. Custer was taken ill on Monday morning last. Her illness was not such as to cause great alarm until shortly after the noon hour yesterday. At this time she called for her son to come to her room and to him she talked for quite a while on family affairs. Mr. Custer, after conversing with her for some minutes, started to his office to attend to some business, but before he had gone any distance he was called back to her bedside. Shortly afterward death came to the aged lady, she being conscious to the last. Her disease was peritonitis. She had enjoyed unusually good health for one so aged. Last winter she was ill with the same disease, but had fully recovered from the same. Mrs. Custer was born near Norristown, in Montgomery county, on May 8, 1806. Her maiden name was Mary Gotwals. Early in the year 1828 she was married to Mr. Christian Custer, with whom she lived a happy married life until her husband's death, which occurred in Philadelphia seven years ago. To them were born twelve children, of whom two survive. These are B. F. Custer, chief clerk of motive power of the Pennsylvania railroad, and Miss Catharine Custer, who resides with her brother in this city. After her husband's death, Mrs. Custer made her home in Philadelphia until August, 1885, when with her daughter she came to Altoona and had since made her home with her son. She was an earnest Christian woman and a devoted wife and mother. Shortly after her marriage she became a member of the German Baptist church and in this faith continued her journey through life. Her remains were taken to Germantown, Pa., on Friday for interment. Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, August 26, 1886, page 3