Alice I. Brown Buckingham 1889-1927

BUCKINGHAM, BROWN, STREAN, MILLS, KITCHEN, MCCLINE, SCOTT, COTTIER, NILLS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/5/2011 at 00:28:19

Prominent Lady Mrs. Buckingham Passed Away Wed. Evening
A great shock came to this community last Wednesday evening when it became known that Mrs. LeRoy Buckingham had passed away. During the thirteen years of her continuous residence here she had acquired a large acquaintance. The first five years of this period she spent in the employ of the L. M. Christensen dry goods company. Since her marriage both she and her husband have taken prominent part in public activities in Estherville. From her first appearance here she was the same competent, amiable, loving personality by which she has endeared herself to her acquaintance, and became recognized as a well-nigh universal friend. To know her was to admire her.

Alice I. Brown was born in Forest City, Missouri, August 23, 1889. She was the youngest child in a family of seven. Her mother died when she was about 8 years old. She then went with her aunt, Mrs. I. S. McCline for eight years. From that time forward she became entirely self-reliant. Her schooling was acquired at Schaller, Iowa. On February 5th, 1919, she was married to LeRoy Buckingham. The wedding took place at Dallas, Texas, at the home of her brother. Her married life has been spent in Estherville. Both Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham were great lovers of children. Having none of their own, they adopted a boy, George Cottier, about two years ago. He was the child of one of her youthful schoolmates who died when he was born. On him this fond couple found expression for their dormant love of parenthood, and if anything was lacking to complete their happiness his coming supplied their need. In addition to her many other graces she showed her wonderful capacity for motherhood.

Her friends came from all walks in life. The cultured and the comfortable found in her a congenial companion. She was equally the friend of the unfortunate and the needy. A slave acquaintance of her childhood was as sure of friendly welcome as was the opulent or the refined one. On the announcement of her decease floral tributes were forthcoming from every place where she had lived, in some instances bearing the names of all the merchants of the place. The profusion of floral tributes attested the universal esteem in which she was held.

Mrs. Buckingham was a member of the Methodist church from childhood. She was devout and active in her religious life, a regular attendant at service and a teacher in the Sunday school for many years.

She was also an active member of the Eastern Star and occupied the position of Worthy Matron at the time of her death. The interment services were in charge of this order, one impressive feature of which was a hymn sung by five young women whom she recently had initiated into the order.

She took a personal interest in the conduct of her husband’s business. Her temperament and her experience qualified her to cooperate with him, and she excelled in discernment and well balanced judgment. In the language of Solomon, “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.”

Mrs. Buckingham submitted to an operation last Wednesday morning, following which she passed away on Wednesday evening.

The funeral services were held in the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon. She was laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery.

Many from a distance were in attendance at the funeral and are as follows: James and Edna Strean, of Kansas City, Mo., her brother and sister; a brother, Scott Brown of Danbury, Iowa; a niece, Fanny Mills, Kansas City, Mo.; a nephew, Frank Mills, St. Joseph, Mo.; cousins, N. G. Kitchen, Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. John and Chas. McCline of Howard, So. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Walter McCline, Fergus Falls, Minn.; Harry McCline, Newel, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Otis Scott, Danbury, Iowa; Dr. Homer Scott of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and James, John and Arthur Scott of Ida Grove, Iowa. A sister in California and a brother in Canada were unable to attend the funeral. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, June 15, 1927)

Mrs. Buckingham Dies Wednesday in Local Hospital in Local Hospital
Local Lady Fails to Recover from Major Operation Wednesday Morning; Funeral Services Held Sunday at Methodist Church
Following a week’s illness of unsuspected seriousness Mrs. Le Roy R. Buckingham died Wednesday evening at a local hospital after submitting to a major operation in the morning. News of her death was a shock to her friends which includes the entire community.

Mrs. Buckingham, who lived in Estherville thirteen years prior to her death, was a member of the Methodist church and a leader in its work. She was also prominent in social and public activities, belonging to several women’s clubs and was Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star chapter at the time of her death.

During her first five years in Estherville Mrs. Buckingham was known as Miss Alice Brown and was employed at the Christiansen department store. She married Le Roy Buckingham Feb. 5, 1919, at the home of her brother in Dallas, Texas.

Funeral services were held last Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church, the sermon being delivered by the Rev. R. T. Chipperfield. Floral tributes in great profusion from local friends and relatives and from those in the places where she has lived were evidence of the esteem in which she was held.

Burial services were held at the Oak Hill cemetery with the members of the Eastern Star chapter in charge. Five members recently initiated by Mrs. Buckingham sang a hymn.

Survivors of Mrs. Buckingham are: Le Roy Buckingham, husband; George Cottier Buckingham, an adopted son; James Brown, brother, Sulphur Springs, Texas; Scott Brown, brother, Charles Brown, brother, Alberta, Danbury; Charles Brown, brother, Alberta, Canada; Mrs. Edna Ftrean [Strean], sister, Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Charles Nills, sister, California. (Remainder the same as the Enterprise) (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, June 15, 1927)