The death of Mrs. Sarah Martin Monday morning, Aug. 19, 1935, marked the passing of the oldest resident of Burnet County.

The body was interred in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Rev. L. R. Stephens, Baptist Minister, conducting the service. Burial was under charge of the Burnet Furniture Co. Funeral Home. The pallbearers were Charley Schnabel, Buford Hubbard, H. H. Galloway, Scott Edman, O. A. Riggs and Frank Atkinson.

Mrs. Martin was born in Bastrop County, Texas, June 17, 1846, making her more than 80 years of age at the time of her death. With her father, Logan Vandeveer, she moved to Burnet when about one year of age, and has since that time, a period of 88 years, continuously resided in this community.

Four years ago, when the Bulletin issued a special edition, a photograph of Mrs. Martin was taken and the above picture of her published at that time.

Mrs. Martin could remember many interesting events of pioneer days in Burnet. She could recall when soldiers were stationed at old Fort Croghan, which was one of the frontier posts of Texas. She carried with her to the grave a vivid picture of the commander of the fort. Her father had a contract to furnish beef for the soldiers, and it was in this connection that the then small child was brought into intimate contact with them, as she often accompanied him to the Fort which was only a short distance from her home. Her father, Logan Vandeveer, was a man of superior personality and he made his mark upon this country. He possessed great personal courage and was a leader among the pioneers. Mrs. Martin, in one of her reminiscent moods several years ago related the following regarding her father:

"Yellow Wolf", chief of the Comanche tribe of Indians in this section in early days, was a terror to the white people. Mr. Vandeveer's patience with this Indian was finally exhausted and meeting him one day grabbed him by the throat, and brandishing his Bowie knife told "Yellow Wolf" what to expect if he did not mend his ways. This act made Mr. Vandeveer a noted man with the Indians and he was always referred to after that as the "man who choked Yellow Wolf."

When Mrs. Martin came to Burnet it was a monthly occurrence for the Indians to raid the white settlements in this section, often murdering men, women and children and driving off the horses of the settlers. Such were perilous days and only people of courage braved the dangers and built up the civilization the citizens are now enjoying. Few of us realize the debt we owe to such people as Mrs. Martin and her forebears, and within a few years they will live in the memory of only thoughtful people.

Mrs. Martin was the last surviving charter member of the Burnet Baptist Church. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. L. W. Dorbandt of Abilene, Texas, a number of grandchildren. Three daughters and her husband preceded her in death.