Willis Ferguson Brown 1853-1944

BROWN, COSGRIFF, BARRINGER, ROHLF, FROSIN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/4/2011 at 00:11:23

Willis Ferguson Brown, eldest son of Henry Brown and Catherine Cosgriff Brown and one of a family of eight children, was born in Crawford county, Pa., on March 6, 1853 and died at Estherville, May 12, 1944 at the age of ninety one years, two months and six days.

When about a year old he moved with his parents to Indiana. After living there a short time the family moved to Northern Iowa, and lived at Colesburg and Jefferson in Clayton county. When seven years of age, he moved with his parents to Sparta, Monroe county, Wis., where he grew to manhood and was united in marriage to Eileen R. Barringer on Christmas Day 1875. They established a home in Big Creek Valley eight miles from Sparta where seven of their eight children were born. In the spring of 1898 they first moved to Ia., and settled about two miles north of Ruthven. They lived there four years and it was at this home that their youngest son was born. In the spring of 1902 they moved to Terril, living there one year and they returned to Sparta, Wis., in 1903, but in 1910 the Brown family returned to Iowa and settled on a farm just west of Estherville where they lived until the death of Mrs. Brown on Dec. 19th, 1930. Following the death of Mrs. Brown, the recently deceased made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mable Rohlf at Des Moines and with his son, Ervin at Ruthven, until 1936 when he returned to Estherville to make his home. From November 1, 1936 until the time of his passing he had made his home in Estherville.

In 1925 on Christmas Day, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Brown celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Early in his youth, Mr. Brown was converted and became an active member in the Methodist church. W. F. Brown was a man of frank integrity and about 30 years ago he became interested in the teachings of and in the organization of the International Bible Students and kept faith until his death.

He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Mablye C. Rohlf of Des Moines, four sons, Ervin J. of Ruthven, Thos. W. and Ray H. of Estherville and Merritt D. of Minneapolis, Minn., one brother, Sidney of Rockford, Ill., eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren/ Mrs. Brown and three daughters, Florence, Grace and Ethel preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon with Pilgrim brothers, Robert and Carroll Stephens of Sioux Falls, S.D., officiating at scripture service. Two hymns, “Fall to Face” and “Rock of Ages” were sung at the service. Pallbearers were his four sons, Ervin, Thos., Ray and Merrit brown, a grandson, O. W. Brown and a grandson-in-law, Martin Frosin. Interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 18, 1944)