George A. Brockway 1841-1907

BROCKWAY, BROBST, MOORE, KERN, LETTS

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 8/29/2022 at 06:34:39

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, February 14, 1907
page 4

George A. Brockway was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1841; fell asleep in Jesus February 2, 1907, in Des Moines, Iowa, aged sixty-five years, eleven months and nine days. His parents removed to Iowa in 1842, where he grew to manhood and where the most of his life was spent. He was educated in the home schools and in Mt. Pleasant. He was united in marriage to Miss Isadore Brobst, January 1, 1867. To this union were born ten children, eight of whom, six sons and two daughters, with their mother, survive him. The children are as follows: Frank M., Willard I. and Jay G. of Estherville; Mrs. Nellie Moore of Lebe, Kansas; James L., Judson W., Chester and Mrs. Lulu Kern of Des Moines. Mrs. Kern's husband met his death in a street car accident last summer. He also leaves two brothers, Emmett Brockway of Leadville, Colorado and E. F. Brockway of Letts; also one sister, Mrs. J. R. Letts of Letts, Iowa.

Early in life he united with the Methodist church and has been a faithful soldier of the cross from his youth up, attending the services of the church when health permitted, bringing his offering of praise and supplication to the family altar, earnestly seeking to train his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, especially active in ministering to the sick and afflicted. He was an efficient member of the church of the living God in its many branches of service, giving himself without stint to the Master's work. He enlisted in the army in 1863, joining the 35th regiment infantry volunteers, went into camp at Davenport and was sent south soon after; was in the noted Red River expedition, at the battles of Tupelo and Old River Lake and was sent with his regiment on the famous forced march after Price's cavalry in Missouri, where he fell ill and was taken to the hospital in St. Louis; was transferred to Keokuk and there given sick leave and sent home. For a time his life was despaired of, but he recovered and joined his regiment in the field in time to be sent home with it and disbanded at the close of the war.

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 3, a simple service was held at his residence in Des Moines, conducted by Crocker post of Des Monies, of which he was a member, assisted by the Rev. Frank Evans, who was chaplain of the 35th regiment during the war. He paid this tribute in substance to the character of the deceased. He said, in 1863 the 35th regiment was organized in Muscatine, Iowa. Emmett and George Brockway were members of company B of my regiment. The service was further conducted according to the ritual of the G. A. R. by his comrades, then Rev. Evans read the 23rd Psalm and a portion of the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians. His remains were taken to Conesville on Monday, February 4, when a little service was held in the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. R. D. Pool, of Columbus Junction. His remains were then taken to the Brockway cemetery and interred in the midst of his beloved ones, according to his request.