Gertrude Essex wife of Thomas A. Ziegler
Born Dec. 2 1815 near Salem, NC
Died at Hope, IND Dec 26 1897
Aged 82 Y, 24 D.
obit (newspaper name unknown) reads:
Gertrude Zeigler
Mrs. Gertrude Zeigler died at the home of her daughter Mrs. George Bruner on North Walnut street on Saturday night, after a brief illness, aged 82 years and 24 days. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. C. A. Haebuie at the Moravian church yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. The remains were interred in the Moravian cemetery. Philip Spaugh funeral director.
Gertrude Henrietta Essex daughter of John and Catherine Essex, was born in Stokes County, N.C. December 2nd 1815. She spent her youth in that county, attended the schools and grew up into womanhood. In 1835 she moved to Bartholomew county with her parents and located near Old St. Louis. She was married to Thomas A. Zeigler, May 1st, 1836. This union was blessed with the birth of four sons seven daughters-of which number three sons and four daughters still survive their parents.
In 1837, Thomas Zeigler and wife moved to Missouri, where they engaged in farming and resided about a year when they returned to Bartholomew county, Indiana. They gave their attention to farming and the rearing of their children, when in 1858 they removed to Olney, Ill., where they engaged in farming and remained until the fall of 1860, when they returned to this county, and assumed their usual avocation.
In 1861 the family moved back to Olney, Ill., and remained there until 1864, when the family moved back to Bartholomew county, where they engaged in farming and resided until Mr. Zeigler's death October 3rd, 1869.
For the past thirteen years Mrs. Zeigler has been making her home for the greater portion of the time with her son, Martin J. Zeigler near Thorntown, Indiana. Mrs. Zeigler was a sister of Thomas Essex, Lewis Essex and Mrs. Lucy Hackstin and is the last member of the old Essex family. She was a woman of many excellent qualities, of kindly disposition, a good wife, a loving and helpful mother, and a meek and lowly christian, who made her religion a part of her life.
She leaves three sons an four daughters to mourn the loss of a good and kindly mother, while 26 living grand children and 14 who have departed this life, and 27 living great-grand-children and 5 dead, have shared her love and affection.
"Aunt Trautle," as she was familiarly called by old and young in this community, always took a kindly and motherly interest in the affairs of all her neighbors and friends, and her advice was highly regarded and esteemed by all. She was a faithful and consistent member of the Moravian church and was a christian and noble hearted woman whose loss will be felt by all who knew her.

OBIT:

Mrs. Gertrude Ziegler, aged 85 or 86 years, died at Hope Sunday. Her home was at present, and for some time past, in Thorntown, but she had come to Hope about two weeks ago to visit her old home and friends.

She was a sister of Uncle Thomas Essex, one of the pioneers of this county, who died here a few years ago, and was the last member of the old pioneer Essex family. Deceased was also the mother of Lee Ziegler of this city, and an aunt of Mrs. Cal Remy.

Columbus Weekly Times, December 31, 1897