BROWNE, Galen H. 1872-1941

BROWNE, HIGLEY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/5/2011 at 17:22:17

#1:

Galen H. Browne
Died at Iowa City
Saturday, Jan. 11, [1941]

(The following account of Galen H. Browne was prepared by Mrs. E. J. Scofield, who has known Mr. Browne as well as anyone in Osage throughout his entire life.)

Galen H. Brown was born in Osage, Iowa, March 15, 1872, and passed away at the University Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, January 11, 1941, after an illness of six weeks. Galen was the only child of Milton M. Browne, born 1835 at Byron, Genessee county, New York, and Mary Higley his wife, born in 1840 at Batavia, N.Y. Mr. and Mrs. Browne came to Mitchell, Iowa, in 1864, where Mr. Browne had been engaged to teach in the public school. In 1865 they moved to Osage and built the house that has ever since been the Browne home. In 1892, Galen's father, who was a graduate of Dartmouth College, died, leaving Mrs. Browne and their only son, Galen. Mr. Browne had been a prominent attorney here and had made an honorable record in his profession.

Galen received his early education from private tutors, but later attended and was graduated from the Cedar Valley seminary. In 1892 he attended Drake University for his first year of law, intending to follow in his father's profession. But he had such a love for music, which he inherited from his mother, that he decided to go on with his musical education instead. His mother was always his inspiration, she was an accomplished musician and gave him his first lessons. Then he had as his teacher, Prof. Rehmann, who came from Germany. Prof Rehmann was an excellent teacher.

He took more advanced work in music in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and finally of the best masters in New York. His mother went with him to New York city, and they established their home there for the period of his training. During that time he took both pipe organ and piano lessons.

Upon their return to Osage, Galen organized his class and began his teaching career, and for nearly 45 years he has taught the children of this community. Some of his pupils have rated very high with their later instructors, who have praised the work done by him.

He also won considerable attention as a composer and during the years from 1900 to 1902 he composed several pieces of music. The name of some of these were: "1st Polonaise," "A Song Without Words," "Louima," "Elisaveta," and "Algerie Waltz." At one time an orgainist playing over WHO, a program of music by Iowa comnposers, played two of Galen's compositions and he received many letters from interested listeners. The organist was Mrs. Elsie Rehmann-Newmann, of Des Moines, daughter of Prof. Rehmann, Galen's early teacher. She was so interested and so delighted with his work that she came up to see him and to urge him to continue with his composing. But the source of his inspiration was gone -- his mother having passed away on October 19, 1920.

Galen attended the Congregational Sunday School regularly during his young manhood. He was a member of the class of young men, taught for so many years by Mrs. Ed Stacy. He united with the church on September 1, 1889. He was church organist for a few years between 1895 and 1900.

Galen owned almost the first, if not the first, austomobile in Mitchell county. He was a man of naturally retiring disposition, yet he was courteous to all and was loved by his intimate friends. He was quiet, sensitive, and unassuming, a balance much needed in this world of confusion. In later years his home has been a gathering place for boys and young men, who were interested in his stamp collection and his knowledge of stamps. His two life interests were his music and his stamp collection.

He was also a great reader and his knowledge of world events and the men who were responsible for them was far above that of most people.

He was a good, loyal citizen and a kind neighbor and he will be missed by all who knew him well, for he had a quiet, but an appealing personality. His nearest relatives are cousins, living in New York.

Funeral services were conducted last Tuesday, January 14, by his pastor, the Rev. Stiles Lessly, at the Champion Funeral Home, with burial in the Osage Cemetery.

[Transcribed from a clipping at the Osage Public Library.]

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#2:

Osage City Cemetery listing on IaGenWeb shows:

BROWNE, GALEN H. (loc) 0825 7 (burial) 14 JAN 1941.