Henri Martin Brown 1854-1939

BROWN, JENSEN, RASMUSSEN, MCCULLAH, PETERSON-HOLLAND, CHRISTIANSEN, MENGERS

Posted By: Cathy Joynt Labath (email)
Date: 12/10/2006 at 12:55:25

The Ruthven Free Press
Ruthven, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, February 8, 1939

H.M. BROWN DIES SATURDAY NIGHT
Passed Away Saturday Evening After Long Illness; Funeral Services Tuesday.

Henri Martin Brown was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, November 25, 1854, and died at the home of Mrs. Caroline Jensen on Saturday afternoon, February 4, 1939, at 5:30 at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 10 days. Mr. Brown was the eldest child of Julius O. and Betty Henrette Brown. He had one sister, Jennie, who died in Denmark in 1937.

In 1874 he came to America and lived for a while in Chicago, Ill. Then he came to Ruthven, Iowa, with a C.M. & St. P. railroad crew to be employed at the construction of railroads through this county. When this work was completed, being a mason by trade, he settled on a farm northwest of Ruthven and helped build many of the homes of this community.

In 1883, Mr. Brown was joined in marriage to Sidsel Jensen and they built a home on their farm in Lost Island township where they lived until the death of Mrs. Brown in 1914. They had no children. After the death of his wife he remained on the farm for several years and then spent a few years at the home of Mrs. Jensine Jensen in Lost Island township.

In 1920 he bought a home in Ruthven and lived here until his health began to fail him due to his advanced years. For the past eight years he has made his home with Mrs. Caroline Jensen.

Two years ago, Mr .Brown fell on an icy sidewalk and broke his leg and he was confined to the home where he stayed ever since.

He is survived by his wife's nieces, Mrs. Nels O. Rasmussen and daughter, Mrs. Ralph McCullah, Mrs. Bertha Peterson-Holland, Miss Jennie Jensen, Mrs. Fred Christiansen, Miss Margaret Jensen, Mrs. Eathan Mengers and Miss Emma Jensen and his wife's nephew, Edmond Jensen. As far as is known there are no living relatives on his side of the family.

Mr. Brown was baptized in the Lutheran Trinity church when a child and joined the Walnut Danish church during his early years in this county. He remained a member and loyal supporter of the church the rest of his life.

Mr. Brown will be remembered as a builder and a friend of those in distress.The comfortable homestead and beautiful gardens which he built on his Lost Island township farm for his invalid wife, reflected his patience, activity, industry and his love for beautiful surroundings and also his devotion for his loving wife. He was upright, honest and dependable. He had a deep and wide sympathy for all classes of mankind, and especially the unfortunate. For years he gave many sacks of sugar and flour as Christmas gifts to the needy families of the community.

Funeral services were held at the Lightle Funeral home in Ruthven on Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock and at the Danish Lutheran church in Walnut township at 2 o'clock with Rev. Christianson of the Danish Lutheran church and Rev. Wicks of the Lutheran church at Ruthven, officiating. Burial took place in the South Walnut cemetery. 

The Lightle Funeral Home of Ruthven had charge of funeral arrangements.