BROWN, Ellen V. Hoxie 1847-1906

BROWN, HOXIE, LANFEAR, ASQUITH, SCOTT

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/24/2012 at 21:40:22

USEFUL LIFE HAS ENDED

Mrs. Ellen Brown Passed Away This Morning

Was Active in City and State Literary Work

Just as the clock was striking the hour of eight this morning, the death angel which hovered around the bed of Mrs. Ellen H. Brown for many hours, softly touched her brow and she was dead. . Suddenly stricken at noon on Thursday, she lay unconscious until the thread of life was severed and the spirit, freed from earthly fetters, returned to the haven whence it came.

In many ways Mrs. Brown was a remarkable woman. Though blessed with only the moderate education which was considered sufficient when she was a girl, she was throughout her life eager always for knowledge and, though unable to attend college, was ever an indefatigable student. She was one of the most thoroughly informed women in Waterloo and from wide reading, had gained a grasp of affairs and events which it is given few to enjoy.

Especially along literary lines, she was an authority and her long connection with the Ladies Literary Society, with the Waterloo Chautauqua League as secretary and leader for many years of the East side class, and her election at the last biennial meeting held in Waterloo to the office of vice president of the Iowa Federation of Women's clubs, testify to her interest in the work and the place she held in the esteem of the literary women of Waterloo and also of the state. All will regret her sudden death and will mourn her departure as a personal loss.

Mrs. Brown became a member of the Ladies' Literary society September 24, 1892; was elected vice president of the society for the year 1900-01; and president for the year. 1902-03. She was made vice president of the Iowa Federation of Women's clubs at the biennial meeting held in Waterloo in May, 1905. Since the establishment of the Young Ladies Literary, she acted as leader several months in place of Mrs. J. T. Coolidge who was detained at home by the illness of her husband.

Ellen V. Hoxie was born in Summerville, Cayuga County, New York, January 9, 1847, and died in Waterloo December 29, 1906, in her sixtieth year. With her parents she came to Black Hawk County in 1869 and settled with them near Raymond.

Previous to coming to Iowa, she taught in New York in the schools near her home, commencing when she was only fourteen years of age and continuing most of the time until the family came west. Opportunity for continuing her work as a teacher was immediately presented in the west and for many years, she was one of the successful teachers in this section of the state.

In 1869-70, she taught in West Waterloo in the old school building which preceded the old high school building. This being destroyed by fire, she taught for a while in the old west side church. Afterward she was teacher at Raymond and later, was principal of schools at Ackley and at Jesup. Even after her marriage, she taught for a while at Cherokee and since living in Waterloo, had frequently substituted in the East Waterloo Schools though of late years only at rare intervals. However, for two weeks before the Christmas vacation, she taught in the Alcott School in place of Miss Mary Kuhns who was detained at home on account of her mother's illness and death. Only a week ago yesterday she was in the school room, so that practically the last work she did was in the interest of that cause of education to which so much of her life had been devoted.

She was married at Raymond in 1876 to George S. Brown and to this marriage two sons were born, Roscoe, who died when very young in Florida while the family was spending the winter there, and Spencer, who is now in the United States navy. After her marriage they lived for a short time in Cherokee but came to Waterloo thirty-six years ago where she had always lived in the brick house on Fremont Street which was built by them.

Deceased is survived by her father, J. J. Hoxie, who is now in his ninety-seventh year, being 96 last August and who has been tenderly cared for by his daughter during the many years of his feebleness. Two brothers and one sister also mourn her loss, H. B. and C. H. Hoxie of this city and Augusta A. Lanfear of New York. Six nieces and nephews are all the other relatives who are left. Dr. Ray Hoxie, Mrs. F. A. Asquith, Mrs. S. S. Scott; Wirt P. and Ralph Hoxie, all of Waterloo, and Miss Nellie Hoxie, now teaching in Clarkson, Mississippi.

Definite funeral arrangements will not be made until the sister from New York arrives which will probably be tomorrow night. Mrs. Brown was an active member of the Congregational Church and Rev. W. H. Rollins, pastor of the Waterloo church, will officiate at the funeral, while the Ladies' Literary Society and the Waterloo Chautauqua League will be represented by speakers. The funeral will probably be held on Monday at two o'clock from the late residence, 334 Fremont Street.

[Waterloo Courier, Saturday, December 29, 1906]