Rowena Barbara Letts 1841-1912

LETTS, GROVE, BROCKWAY, FERGUSON, KING, BROWN

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/18/2010 at 21:17:52

Source: LCHS scrapbook newspaper clipping, unknown date

IN MEMORIAM.

Rovena Barbara Letts, daughter of N.M. and Elizabeth (Grove) Letts, was born near Peru, LaSalle county, Ill., January 22, 1841, and passed on to her eternal reward September 28, 1912, at her home south of Letts, Louisa county, Ia.

Her parents located in Louisa county, Ia., in 1853, and her education began in the rural and Grandview schools, being continued at Mt. Pleasant, Ia., and Ottawa, Ill. She was married, at her father's home to E.F. Brockway, of Muscatine county, on September 11, 1860, in the same home in which she passed away, and went with him at once to his farm, where they resided until the spring of 1866, when they moved to Highland township, Washington county. Here they opened up a new farm, beginning on virgin soil with the enthusiasm of hopeful youth and, as the years went by, developing an almost ideal home and farm. Here their three children were born to them - Elizabeth B., Alice Rowena and James Madison Brockway, who was born on his mother's thirty-ninth birthday. These three children, with the only granddaughter, Jean, and Milne, the wife of James M., survive her and carry on her work and fulfill her ideals in the home.

In 1902 they sold the Washington county farm and bought the farm where her parents first located on coming to Iowa. Here she was very happy in the home of her youth amidst the family surroundings and loved relatives until April 20, 1908, when her beloved husband was suddenly called away. With Christian fortitude she overcame all selfish grief and continued her care and interest in her children and the many duties devolving upon her, putting the Lord's service first in heart and life.

Being of a spiritual mind and early seeking the Lord she, with her husband, united with the Methodist Episcopal church, where she had since remained a faithful and consistent member.

She was an active member of the Nehemiah Letts Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the first regent of that unique chapter.

She was a woman of remarkable character, of clear reasoning faculties and sound judgment and untiring energy, a Christian woman with a tender heart and the helpful hand, and those who knew her best loved her most.

One has said of her: "She manifested the power of an endless life. She is not dead - a life like this can never be extinguished - and the highest tribute we can pay to her sweet memory is expressed in loyal determination to fulfill her ideals in pure and lofty manhood and womanhood."

The funeral services were held at the home and were conducted by her pastor, Rev. Barker. Scriptures read, twenty-third Psalm and Prov. 54, 10-24. The pallbearers were Messrs. Lincoln Gipple, Ed. Rabe, Henry Hendrix, William Sweitzer, Louis Woodburn, and John Beik.

The home was beautifully decorated with flowers from her own loved garden, and a great profusion of hothouse flowers, the heart tributes of loving friends and relatives.

The text chosen was from Numbers 23: 10, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His."

Those who attended from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Ferguson, of Champaign, Ill. (Mrs. Ferguson was an adopted daughter of Mrs. Brockway); Mrs. Nettie Letts, of St. Joseph, Mo.; Floyd Letts and family, of Ainsworth; Mrs. Emma Letts King, of Fairfield; Gladys Letts, Ernest Letts and Dr. Howard Letts of Davenport; Mrs. Clinton Letts, of Mt. Pleasant; James C. Letts, of Chicago; Mrs. Hilton Letts and Warren Letts, of Columbus Junction; Mrs. Mary Letts Brown, of Emmetsburg; Arthur Letts, of Clarendon, Tex.; Mrs. Ida Nash, Mr. and Mrs. George Moore, of Nichols; Mrs. Lulu Kern, of Des Moines; Mrs. Belle Epperly, of Cone; R.B. Huff and Mrs. Neddess Huff Ogilvie, of Muscatine; Mrs. Mary Brockway, of Ainsworth; Mrs. Ella Letts McCrary, of Florence, Ariz.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles McCormick, of Columbus City; Mrs. Flora Smeltzer, Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Juzeler, Mr. and Mrs. Ab. Anderson, Marion Anderson, Clifford Thorne, Senator J.A. Young, Will McConnell, Wash. Wallace, Mrs. Milt Dicken, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Woodburn, Mrs. W. R. Jeffry, all of Washington; John Nicola and family of Nichols, and Mrs. E. B. Fulliam, of Muscatine.