Elizabeth Rosella Brownell Arms 1857-1946

ARMS, BROWNELL, COMFORT, SAMP

Posted By: Sharon K Hesebeck (email)
Date: 5/24/2014 at 12:06:46

Elizabeth Rosella Brownell Arms
June 16, 1857
February 10, 1946

Last rites for Mrs. Elizabeth Arms, resident of Clay County for seventy five years, who died at her home here on February 10 were conducted Thursday, February 14.

A short prayer service at the home on West Sixth Street was followed by services at two o'clock at Grace United Methodist Church. The Rev. F.W. Obtmeyer officiated

Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery

Pallbearers were grandsons and grandsons in law of Mrs. Arms. They were Wallace Arms, who had recently arrived from the Canal Zone. Paul Arms, recently returned from service in Germany, Herbert Arms and Lester Welle of Milford, Adrian Coover of Spencer and Fermer Adair of Minneapolis

Elizabeth Rosella Brownell, daughter of Joseph R. and Mary C. Brownell, was born June 16, 1857 at Springwater, Minnesota. At the time of her death she was 88 years and nearly nine months of age

When she was a child the family lived for some time at Decorah, coming to Clay County in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, when she was twelve. With the exception of about six years spent at University Park, Oskaloosa, shortly after she became a widow, she lived all her life in this county.

Her had homesteaded about six miles south of Spencer. The first home was a sod house which was replaced by a log house before a frame home was erected

She was married July 19, 1876 to William H. Arms and they continued to make their home on a Clay County Farm. Mr. Arms died in 1909

They became the parents of ten children, six of whom survived. Four sons, Roy, Delos, Russell and Ralph preceded their mother in death.

The surviving children are Mrs. Effie Comfort, University Park, Iowa, Lora P. Arms, Spencer, Rev. Clinton Arms, Tulare, South Dakota, Rev. Harlow H. Arms, White, South Dakota, Monroe S. Arms, Pasadena, California and Mrs. Ruby Samp of Caldwell, Idaho

She is also survived by a number of grandchildren and by two brothers, E.E. Brownell of Redfield, Iowa and Ralph Brownell of Long Beach, California

Mrs. Arms first attended Sunday School and Church services in the school house near her rural home. Later she attended services in Rossie but for many years has been a member of Grace Church in Spencer, taking an active part in the various church activities until her advanced age curtailed these activities but never her deep interest

During the past few years when she has been more or less confined to her home she knotted dozens of pairs of mittens which she gave personally to needy children as well as contributing to the families cared for by social welfare

Spencer Daily Reporter
February 19, 1946