(p)Early Pioneer of Elk Citybr
William H. Bruntonbr
taken from Montgomery County History Book of 1902

Proment as a contractor and builder of Elk City and junior member of the firm of Reed & Brunton, William H. Brunton has been a citizen of Montgomery county since 1872, Ge was birn in Missouari, February 21, 1862, His father, the venerable Thomas Brunton, who resides near Jefferson City, that state was one of the early settlers of Louisburg township where he ook a claim as early as 1871. Some years later, he returned to Missouri, his native state where he is retired from active life at about sixty seven years old.

Thomas Brunton married Lueinda Bagsley, an Indiana lady, and the first years of his active life were passed as a carpenter builder. Toward the close of the war, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, and soldiered in the west in the Union army. In 1875 his wife died at thirty-five years of age, leaving children: Mary, deceased; Phobe, wife of John Heritage, of Montgomery county; William H. of Elk City; Clarinda, who married Philip Jones and resides in the state of Washington; Cyrus A. of Montgomery county; and Lucinda, Mrs. Charles Jones of Washington.

William H. Brunton acquired his education in the public schools of Montgomery county. On leaving school he learned the stonemason’s trade and this he worked several years, before taking up carpenter work. He has been a carpenter builder since 1885, and in 1903 formed a business alliance with his partner, Mr. Reed.

Dece3mber 25, 1888 Mr. Brunton marrried Ethel Kelso, who was born in Logan county, Illinois June 22,1870 She is a daughter of William and Maggie (Doyle) Kelso, both deceased, who left five children, as follows: Mrs. Brunton, Arthur of Chicatgo, Illinois; Emma, now Mrs. Morris Osborne of Montgomery County, Kansas; David who died at twenty one and Pearl wife of Roy Bailey, of Burden, Kansas. After her husband’s death Mrs. Kelso married Joseph Goodwin and at her death in 1886, left a daughter Maggie Goodwin. Mr. Kelso was a merchant in Corn Land, Illinois, was a justice of the peace there, and died at about Thirty years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Brunton’s family consists of Roy Vincent,Faye and Keka deceased,