Brown, William 1859 - 1924

BROWN, ADAMS, MATHEWS, FUELLING

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/5/2017 at 11:06:10

Elkader Register, Thur., 24 July 1924.

William Brown, the subject of this sketch, was born at Markesaw, Wis., Feb. 4, 1859. His father being a Methodist Minister the family came to Clayton county in 1870 and settled in Monona township, where Will grew to manhood and attended the rural school in the village of Bismark. He had four brothers and two sisters all of whom preceded him in death except one sister, Mrs. Sarah Adams, of Cresco. He was married March 31, 1883, to Miss Emma Mathews, who bore him a son, Leslie, at home, and a daughter, Genevieve, now Mrs. Otto Fuelling of Farmersburg; two grandchildren also survive him, Kenneth and Winnifred Fuelling. The young couple lived near and on the old home farm for many years. Then Wm. Brown took charge of the County Home for some time, after which he was engaged in business at Elgin, Iowa, and moved to Cresco about fifteen years ago, to re-engage in farming. He was a quiet, unassuming boy and man and not of the most rugged type, but enjoyed fair health until quite recently his heart showed signs of weakening. Kind friends nor science could give no relief and on July 13th he passed away. Since the death of his wife four years ago he had been quite unsettled, but spent his last days in the company of children and sister and tried to feel contented, but those who have been placed in like circumstances know what he had lost, and the mental effort refused to keep up the appearance of contentment. For he lived with:

The feeling of sadness and longing,
That was not akin to pain,
And resembled sorrow only
As the mist resembles rain.

The service was held at the home on Wednesday morning at ten o'clock with burial in the Farmersburg cemetery by the side of his wife, Rev. C. E. Luce of Cresco M.E. church officiating. He was laid to rest in sight of his boyhood home, and where a few remaining schoolmates, teachers and old friends can indulge in meditation. "How peaceful and how powerful is the grave."