Brown, Sarah Elizabeth (Martin) (1825-1899)

MARTIN, BROWN, BECK, SIMPSON

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 10/16/2016 at 19:58:55

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Mar. 30, 1899, pg. 8
Death of "Aunt Sarah Brown."

--------
"She heard the voice of Jesus say,
Come unto me and rest,
Thy head upon my breast."

Sarah Elizabeth Martin was born
in Wayne county, Illinois, on March
4, 1825, and died at her home, in Ben-
ton township, Cass county, Iowa, at
sunset, on March 23, 1899. Her life
having, therefore, passed the meridi-
na of its allotted time by four years.
A long life of checkered experiences
of joy and pain, sorrow, sunshine and
shadow, unassumingly lived with pa-
tience to the end. Mother Brown
passed her girlhood in the place of
her birth and was there united in
marriage to James Brown, who sur-
vives her, in the year 1842. Six
children, five of whom are living,
was the result of this union. In 1856
they came to Iowa and located in Cass
county, being among the first settlers
there, being among the first settlers
there, and where they have lived ever
since. In 1879 Mrs. Brown became
converted and joined the Methodist
Class, at Highland church, and has
remained a consistent member. Tho'
for years her most painful infirmities
have prevented her from attending
the services of divine worhsip yet she
remained a true child of God, and like
Job of old meekly bowed to her con-
dition unmurmuringly and gloried in
her suffering with true christian for-
titude.

Her pastor, Rev. Beck, delivered
the funeral address, taken from the
text: "Thou shalt come to thy grave
in a full age, like a shock of corn com-
eth in his sorrow."--Job 5:26.

He dwelt upon the beauties of old
age, explaining that with its riper
developement and richer fruitage it
should excel the loveliness of inex-
perience youth. He said it were a
shame for one to die under seventy,
as there was so much to be accom-
plished ere it were meet to be called
home. He said that intiuence was eter-
nal, it could not die. He spoke of
Shakespeare, Luther, Jesus Christ--
who had passed from this existence
so long ago and yet whose influence
was still her today; even so he said
would the influence of that mother
live in the hearts of her family. Her
aged husband, who is in a very poor
health, was not able to be present at
the funeral services. Long, long years
they have lived and loved and toiled
together; he will soon join her; where
beyond these sufferings there is peace.
In the month of her birth, blustering
March, so in the same March weath-
er, as the freshening nature broadens
into spring the struggle past, she is at
rest.

And the valley of death was brighter
Than the hills of life she trod,
And the peace that fell on her spirit
Was the calm, deep peace of God.

She knew in whom she trusted,
She counted all things loss,
And clung with the arms of faith and love
To the Christ and to His cross.

And from that cross a radiance
Fell with a softening beam
That shone thro' the depths of the shadowy
vale
and brightened death's narrow stream.

Her sun went down in the evening
Forever from our sight,
But it shines today on the faraway hills
In hte land that knows no night.

--- ETHEL SIMPSON.
STILLSIDE HOME, March
Twenty-Fourth.

Note: additional source:
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, IA - 1884, page 639-640

photo of grave-marker
 

Audubon Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen