John S. Brawford, 1860-1957

BRAWFORD

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/24/2009 at 20:06:08

Longtime City Resident Dies at Age of 96

John S. Brawford, 96, highly respected and longtime resident of the Estherville community, died yesterday morning [June 9, 1957] at 11;30 after being in ill health for some time. He recently had been confined to Holy Family Hospital and had been released only a few days prior to his death. He was one of the city's oldest residents.

Mr. Brawford had lived in the Superior and Estherville communities for the last 55 years, coming to this area in 1901. He was born Dec. 20, 1860 at Waukon and was married Jan. 1, 1881 to Mary Peck at Frankville, Iowa. The Brawfords farmed in the Frankville community until 1901, when they moved to Superior. They farmed and operated a store in Superior until February 1911 when they moved to Estherville.

Mr. Brawford served as rural mail carrier here for some time and then worked in the Greig Elevator here for 25 years until his retirement some years ago.
He was a longtime member of the Methodist Church and was active in affairs of the First Methodist Church here for many years. He also was a member of Modern Woodmen of America Lodge.

Survivors include two sons, J. L. Brawford of Peoria, Ill., and Louis Brawford of Billings, Mont.; one daughter, Mrs. Lloyd (Lulu) Schenck of Estherville; 11 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and one brother, J. A. Brawford of Mason City.

Preceding him in death were his wife on June 12, 1942; a daughter, Ella May, at the age of five in 1887; and three sons, Elmer Franklin, a the age of 10 in 1898; John William, who was lost on the U. S. Cyclops during World War I; and Leo who died at Veterans Hospital in Des Moines in November 1945.

For many years Mr. Brawford participated in Memorial Day services by dropping a wreath into the Des Moines River at the Central Avenue bridge in honor of his son who was lost at sea during World War I.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at First Methodist Church with the Rev. Harrison G. Dawes officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jno. Greig, William R. Sidles, Walter Schultz, Robert S. Knight, Arnold Mouritsen and Kenneth Harding.

Friends may call at Sternborg Funeral Home from Tuesday evening until time of services.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Estherville Daily News, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa; June 10, 1957.