Alfred Brittain (1913)

BARROW, BRITTAIN, STURMAN

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/24/2010 at 08:14:18

The Winterset Reporte
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, October 29, 1913
Page 1

Alfred Brittain was born in Indiana February 17, 1833 and died October 23, 1913 at the age of 80 years, 8 months and 6 days.

His parents came west while he was yet in his infancy and settled in Missouri. He came to Madison county, Iowa, in 1851, holding his residence in Jefferson and Union townships for sixty years, dying in the house he erected sixty years ago.

He was married to Eliza Sturman in the year 1852. To this union one child, Newton, was born.

In the year 1854 he crossed the plains to California where he remained three years and returned via Cape Horn to New York.

In the year 1858 his wife, Eliza, departed this life. He was again married in the year 1859 to Julia Barrow. To this union were born ten children, eight boys and two girls—Seth, Joseph, Maria, Pleasant, Martha, David, John, William, Robert and Alfred, eight of whom are living, Joseph and Alfred having preceded him in death. Besides his wife and immediate family, he leaves 26 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren to mourn his loss.

Of a family of eleven children he leaves but two brothers and one sister.

He became a soldier in the Union army November 24, 1862, in Co. A, 39th Iowa Vol., and served until the close of the war. He was of that type of citizen who possessed the sterling qualities of the early pioneer, having the courage to battle with adversity, fighting the battle of life with the courage and willingness as he fought for his country.

He was a Christian. He was a member of the Campbelite church until the North River United Brethren church was organized, when he became one of the charter members of that organization. He has always been a regular attendant at the services and never allowed anything to hinder his presence in the house of worship. His place will be vacant, but may the example he has set, be a memorial for generations to come.

He was a man of few words, short of speech, bordering onto gruffness. But beneath the rough exterior beat a heart of gold. Deeds of kindness to the sick, helping the needy amply bespeaking true man.

He took great pride and comfort in his large family of boys and girls, of whom all were present at the funeral except William.

The neighbors and friends of which there are a host, join in extending their sympathy to the bereaved family.

The funeral was held in North River U. B. church Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock and conducted by the Rev. E. W. Curtis of Des Moines, a former pastor of the church and a friend of the family, assisted by Rev. Baber, the present pastor. The remains were interred in the church cemetery and the burial services were conducted by a delegation from Pitzer Post G.A.R.

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