ALMIRA (HOLT) BROWN

HOLT, BROWN, THURO, FOX

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 3/19/2002 at 20:25:45

Decatur County Journal
Thursday, January l6, l9l9

With the passing away of ALMIRA BROWN, one of the oldest and longest residents of our town and community ceases to be. She was born in Crawford County, Ohio, May 29, l84l, and died in her home in Van Wert, Iowa, January 8, l9l9, her age being 77 years, 7 months, and ll days. She was the daughter of MR. and MRS. JOHN NELSON HOLT. The place of her birth continued to be her home as she grew to womanhood, and in l859 she was united in marriage with MR. B.F. BROWN. To this union eight children were born, all of whom are living except three. The deceased are HEPER O., HANNAH E., and LOLA A., while those who survive her are MRS. DELLA B. THURO, of Harrisonville, Mo.; RALPH N., of Chicago, Ill.; DWIGHT M., of Ramer, Colorado; UEL H., of Van Wert, Iowa, Iowa; and HOMER L., of Creston, Iowa; all of whom were present except RALPH.

She moved with her husband in April of l86l from Ohio to their farm near Van Wert. This has been the home ever since of this pioneer family with the exception of about two years which they spent in Ohio.

At the early age of eleven, she was converted and baptized by Rev. James Ashley of the Free Will Baptist Church. She has lived ever since a very devoted and consistent Christian life as her many friends can well assure us. She was a student of the Word of God, and it was her habit and joy to be in the Sunday School, class meeting and preaching services. In our conversation with her we discovered that she had deep understanding of spiritual things. The sufficient grace of God was her experience in all of her trying times, especially at and before the time of her death. She had a very definite and bright experience of Perfect Love, or as she would call it the "Way of Holiness." Her joy in the Savior was constant and she would speak of seeing the bright and shining way and that she was walking upon it. She often offered praises to God and toward the last, not only was she anxious to go, but those of the Glory World seemed to be beckoning her to come. She had a parting word with each of those present, and her wish was to meet them all "Over There." While her physical strength was frail in late years, her mid was exceptionally vigorous up to the very last.

Those who survive and mourn her loss are husband, one daughter , four sons, seven grandchildren, one great grandchild, one half-sister, MAGGIE FOX, of Tarkio, Mo.; and many friends who will miss the hallowed influence of her Christian life. It would be of interest also to note that of her full brothers and sisters, she and two brothers have all died within the last year leaving none living of that branch of the family. The brothers were NELSON HOLT, of Bloomville, Ohio; and LEWIS HOLT, of Van Wert.

If Sister BROWN had lived till next July 4th, she and her husband would then have been married just 60 years. The funeral services were held at the M.E. Church under the direction of Rev. W.A. Weyraugh, Pastor.

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CARD OF THANKS

We wish to thank our friends for their kindness and assistance in the illness and death of wife and mother.

B.F. BROWN AND FAMILY.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
March l9, 2002

*My grandfather (Isaac Samuel McMurtrey's) sister, Sarah M. McMurtrey, married Uel H. Brown, February 26, l905. I never knew Aunt Sarah or Uncle Uel, so I'm excited to find some information on his family