Pleasant Brittain

BARROW, BRITTAIN, MUELLER, SHOTT, STURMAN

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/28/2006 at 10:42:38

Pleasant Brittain is well known in Madison county, although he now makes his home near Elliott, North Dakota, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of good farm land. He is, however, a native son of Madison county, having been born on section 32, Jefferson township, on the 10th of February, 1868. His father, Alfred Brittain, was born in Indiana, February 17, 1833, and with his parents removed to Missouri, whence he came to Madison county in 1851, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. The following year he married Eliza Sturman, who died in 1858. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California, remaining there for three years, after which he returned to the middle-west, again becoming a resident of Madison county. On the 30th of October, 1859, was celebrated his second marriage, the lady of his choice being Miss Julia Barrow, who was born in Dekalb county, Missouri, January 13, 1837, a daughter of David and Mariah Barrow. The former was born in Kentucky and after living for some years in Missouri removed to Monroe township, Madison county, Iowa, in 1852. Later in the same year he took up his abode on section 1, Union township, where he resided for a long period. He and his wife, known throughout the community as "Uncle Davy" and "Aunt Marian," taught the first subscription school in the Farris neighborhood about the year 1853 or 1854. Mr. Barrow also built a small corn "cracker" on North river, near his home, about 1853, also made all of the machinery and everything connected with the mill with his own hands. This water-power mill he operated until after the war. He lived the simple life, was plain and unostentatious in manner but possessed genuine worth. He died about 1892 at a ripe old age. His good wife, "Aunt Rie," was well known for miles around, for many of the children, now grown to be grandparents, owe their existence to her medical skill. Her daughter, Julia Barrow, accompanied the parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Barrow, to Madison county in 1852 and in 1859 became the wife of Alfred Brittain. Both were charter members of the North River United Brethren church and took an active and helpful part in the church work. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Brittain responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company A, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. For more than sixty years he lived in Jefferson and Union townships, one of the highly respected citizens of the county, and when he passed away on the 23d of October, 1913, he was laid to rest in the cemetery near the church in which he had been so active and loyal a worker. His widow survived until February 15, 1914, and her remains were interred by the side of her husband.

Pleasant Brittain was the fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children and his youthful days were spent upon the old home farm, while his education was acquired in the Stone schoolhouse in Jefferson township, Madison county. His father instructed him in all branches of farm work as he grew to manhood and he has never sought to follow any other occupation, finding it congenial pleasant and profitable. He first purchased an eighty-acre farm in Jefferson township and thereon tilled the fields successfully until a few years ago when he sold his Madison county property and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Ransom county, North Dakota. Following his marriage, which was celebrated on the 3d of April, 1901, he lived upon his farm in Jefferson township, Madison county, until the spring of 1904, when he removed to North Dakota, taking up his abode near Elliott. There he rented land for a few years, afterward purchased one hundred and sixty acres and in 1914 bought another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, so that he now has a valuable farm property. Moreover, he is a director of the Farmers' Elevator at Elliott and a director of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Ransom county, North Dakota.

On the 3d of April, 1901, at Winterset, Iowa, Mr. Brittain was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Mueller, whose birth occurred on section 2, Union township, Madison county, Iowa, September 7, 1870, her parents being George and Catharine (Schott) Mueller, of this county. She acquired her education in the Farris school in Union and district school No. 7 of Jefferson township and here grew to womanhood. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children, namely: Nola O., who was born in Madison county, Iowa October 12, 1903 and Catharine J., whose birth occurred in Ransom county, North Dakota, June 5, 1907. Mrs. Brittain is a devoted and consistent member of the United Brethren church.

Fraternally Mr. Brittain is connected with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is serving as assessor of Springer township, Ransom county, having occupied the position since 1909. When he went from Madison county he left behind him many friends whom he had known through the period of his boyhood and youth as well as that of his early manhood. He is highly esteemed wherever known and most of all where he is best known.