Brewer, Fisk Parsons 1832-1890

BREWER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/30/2014 at 14:07:02

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Jan. 1890

Saturday morning, Jan. 25th, at 4:30, Professor E.P. Brewer died at his home in Grinnell. Probably no citizen now living in Grinnell is better known or would be more missed by a large circle of friends than he. Born at Smyrna, Turkey, Oct. 19, 1832, of missionary parents, he came to America early in life, living at Hartford and New Haven. He graduated from Yale College at the age of twenty. After his graduation he served as tutor at Beloit, and still later at Yale. From '65 to '69 he was a teacher among the freedmen in N.C.; from '69 to '73, professor of Greek at the University of N.C.; for two years consul to Greece, and two years professor of Greek at the University of S.C. In 1877, upon the resignation of Professor Avery from the chair of Greek in Iowa College, Prof. Brewer was called to fill his place. He had no easy task to perform. Prof. Avery ranked high among the linguists of the country. His successor must be a skilled teacher and finished scholar to maintain the position our institution had held in the department of Greek. Prof. Brewer was both. No more enthusiastic scholar or more thorough teacher ever entered Iowa College. His love for the Greek and his devotion to it added a spirit and life to this department not felt before. So for six years his resolution and love for work struggled against ill health and a failing constitution, overcoming difficulties a more rugged body might have yielded to. Since his resignation in '83, he has been a regular contributor to several current periodicals. During the last year of his life he had been preparing a Phonetic Speller for publication. A busy life is ended. A familiar and loved face will be missed; but the impress a noble example has left upon pupils and friends will yet be an inspiration to many toilers in life's field, and will stand as a monument to the earnest Christian character of him who has passed away.

The funeral services were held at the family residence yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. H. Melville Tenney, Dr. Geo. F. Magoun and Prof. S.G. Barnes conducted the services, the latter speaking especially of the literary life and educational labors of the deceased.