Brown, John William 1856 - 1901

BROWN, MINGER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/1/2018 at 10:30:46

Elkader Register, Thur., 10 Oct. 1901. From the Guttenberg Press, undated.

"With heavy heart and moistened eye
our tribute here we bring,
And place upon sweet memory's page
This simple offering.

To this bouquet of memories,
Fresh gathered for the hour,
We beg to add one fragrant bud-
One modest little flower."

It is indeed with a heavy heart that we pay our personal tribute to the memory of one we have known so intimately for many years. It is seldom we are called upon to chronicle the demise of one held in such universal esteem as was the subject of this sketch. His many friends throughout the county and state feel keenly that in his death they have sustained a personal loss.

The immediate cause of his death was cancer of the stomach and liver. He had been ailing since January and everything medical skill could do proved of no avail. Death came to his relief at about 11 o'clock Oct. 3d, surrounded by his family and friends.

Mr. Brown was a man of strong personalities. In him there was no hypocrisy, no deceit, no flattery, but he was compound of those characteristics that are essentials of a true man.

John William Brown was born in Millville township, April 5th, 1856. At the age of three years he with parents went to England, his father's native country. He was educated in England with the exception of a course in special branches he received in the schools of Paris. When about 16 years old he with his parents returned to the United States and settled on a part of the farm he owned at the time of his death. On May 8th, 1879, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Minger, and to them seven children were born, five of whom are still alive. Those living are: Edith Ellen, Chas. Edward, George Irving, Bertha Ada and Arthur Ellison. Mr. Brown's mother died about 8 years ago. His Father, Thomas Brown, was twice ship-wrecked at sea, three times upset into the Mississippi river, and was afterward, about 20 years ago, drowned in the Blue Belt, a small stream that ran through his farm. At the death of his father, John Will, being an only child, took hold of his father's small place, and by industry and economy paid off all debts and added to it till at the present time the farm of almost 800 acres comprises one of the best in Clayton county. He was a thirty-two degree Mason, a member of the M.W.A. and R.N.A. His funeral took place Sunday, Oct. 6th, with interment by A.F. & A.M. at Goshen Cemetery. The entire community joins with the Press in extending to the bereft family their unfeigned sympathy. - Guttenberg Press.