Brown, James – d. 1908

BROWN, FRENCH, JOHNSON, MCALLISTER, SHIELDS

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 10/9/2016 at 13:28:39

The funeral for James Brown was held Wednesday afternoon at his late home 401 South Race street. The service was in charge of Rev. W. W. Hess of the First Presbyterian church. His pall bearers were the members of the city council of which body he had been a member for a couple of years. At the cemetery the Masons took charge of the service. The singers were: Messrs. B. A. Miller, C. C. Crammond, T. G. Bryant and Percy McCord.
James Brown was born in Airshire, Scotland. He came with his parents to America when he was five years of age. They were in Maryland for two years and then came to Iowa where Mr. Brown has always made his home. At his death he was thirty seven years and three months of age.
He married to his first wife, Miss Maggie McAllister, a sister of David McAllister. That wife died over twenty years ago and then he married Miss Jennie Johnson, who survives him with four sons, William, John J., Lamont and Boyd. He also leaves six sisters and brothers. They are: Mrs. Henry Shields of Des Moines, Mrs. Jennie Johnson of Mitchellville, Mrs. David McAllister, Mrs. Vernon French, R. B. Brown and Matt Brown of Newton.
Mr. Brown was a fine machinist. For years he has been interested in machine work in this city and for a number of years was the proprietor of the foundry and machine shop on the corner of North Race and West McDonald streets.
At the time of his death he was a member of the city council where he was an active member and always ready to do what he thought was for the interest and the up-building of the town.
Socially he was a Knights of Pythias and Mason.
For several years he has been afflicted with a serious trouble which from time to time he seemed to get some relief. For several months before his death it was known that he could not get well. He was most tenderly cared for by his wife and loved ones and tho friends sympathized and would have given any aid they could there was no help. Early on the morning of September first he passed away and a trusty citizen and faithful friend was no more, only the memory of one who had come to an untimely end.
Source: Newton Daily News; September 11, 1908, page 1