Brown, George T. 1866-1956 & Mary Sara Dodd Family

BROWN, DODD, FREW, WILSON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/1/2023 at 06:04:29

Brown, George T. 1866-1956 and Mary Sara Dodd Family

This family story was taken from page 366 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

George Thompson Brown, the seventh son of John Brown born 1827 PA and Margaret Frew Brown born 1829, was born July 5, 1866, on a farm near Glademills, Pa. He moved with his parents to Allegheny City, Pa. in 1871. At this time he was too small to work, so he sold papers. He bought them for a penny and sold them for two cents. He considered it a good day if he sold 25 papers.

In the Spring of 1887, George, with his father and three brothers, came to Sioux Co. to the farm his father had purchased the preceding year. George and his brother, Robert, lived at home while their brothers Will and James lived on farms nearby.

On Aug. 17, 1887 George was married to Mary Sarah Dodd at Berlin, Ia., renamed Lincoln after the First World War. They came to Ireton and lived on his father’s farm; his parents moving into Ireton and building a new house now owned and occupied by the Leon Rus family. George bought the “homeplace” for $32.00 an acre, paying his father 8% interest. His father had purchased it in 1886 for $25.00 an acre.

In 1888 George and his family witnessed the worst blizzard that had happened since 1880. The day started out mild and just cold enough for snow. By afternoon it was snowing lightly and all of a sudden a wall of snow came, with very strong winds behind it and bitter cold. It was difficult to move and there was absolutely no visibility. It lasted all night and many were frozen to death.

In the fall of 1914 George bought another farm, across the road and ¾ mile south of the “homeplace in Sec. #33 Center Twp., for $185.00 an acre. Two of his children, Harry and Velma, lived there and took charge of it for him.

In 1916 after living on the “homeplace” for 29 years, George moved his wife and daughter, Grace, to Ireton. Two years later he sold the farm to John Vander Kieft. Mr. Vander Kieft turned it back to George years later.

In 1919 George purchased land at Paullina and also Delhi, Mn. His son, Harry, moved to Mn. to farm and Delbert and Velma Day stayed on the place Harry and Velma had farmed. This is the place occupied by the Bob Eisma family in Sec. #32, Center Twp.

Mary Brown died in 1931 after a long illness and is buried in the Ireton cemetery. During her lifetime she did sewing for her family and others and was a mid-wife, helping out in that capacity many times.

George died in his home in Ireton in 1956 at the age of 89 years. He was active, except for his last 2 years. He could be seen carrying his hammer and walking from town to check his farm and busy at whatever was needed.

George and Mary had 8 children: Edward who died in the service of his country, being wounded on Armistice Day, in France and taken prisoner; Jennie who married Ora Grau, now deceased; Stelle who married Roger Grau, now deceased; Harry who married Jennie Cammick, now deceased; Velma who married Delbert Day lives in Hawarden; Grace lives in Ireton; Florence married Spencer Plumb, now deceased; and an infant son deceased.

George was a charter member of First Presbyterian Church of Ireton where they faithfully attended. George loved to sing his favorite hymns.

RESEARCH NOTES : by Wilma J. Vande Berg
From a report on ancestry.com submitted to Ancestry by other than this submitter.
George Thompson Brown was born 5 Jul 1866 at Glademills, Butler, Pennsylvania and died 26 May 1956 Ireton IA. His parents were John Brown 1827 died 18 March 1910 Ireton IA and Margaret Frew 1829 1883 . He married Mary Sarah Dodd on 17 Aug 1887 at Berlin, Tama, IA. Mary Sarah Dodd was born 5 Nov 1866 at Tama, Tama, IA and died 9 Nov 1931 at Ireton Iowa. She was the daughter of Andrew Wright Dodd 1816 1896 and Christina Wilson 1824-1913.

CHILDREN of George Brown and Mary Sarah Dodd listed in this report were :

1. EDWARD RALPH BROWN born 23 Aug 1888 Center Township, Sioux County IA and died 29 Nov 1918 France. Spouse Evelyn M. 1889

2. JENNIE FREW BROWN born 27 Apr 1890 Iowa died 22 Sep 1974 LeMars, Plymouth, IA She was married to Ora Grau. Listed in her obit were three sons, Wendell of Los alamitos, CA, Elwood of Littleton CO and Bernard of LeMars.

3. HARRY CALVERT BROWN born Center Township, Sioux County IA died 29 Nov 1956 Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He married Jennie Cammock 1892-1968 Child listed – Mildred Brown 1918-1999,

4. STELLA Mae BROWN born Nov 16, 1893 Ireton, IA died May 14, 1845 Hawarden, Sioux, Iowa. Her husband was Roger Grau Three children listed in her obit as Miss Irene, Dwayne and Mrs. Fred Imbrock.

5. VELMA M. BROWN born 30 Sep 1895 Iowa died 27 Feb 1985 Hawarden Iowa. She was married to Delbert Day. They had two daughters Wanda Mrs. Marvin Schmidt of Ireton and Carol Mrs. William Wangen of Long Beach CA.

6. GRACE W BROWN born 10 Jul 1897 Iowa died 3 Jul 1989 Hawarden Iowa. She was not married and spent much of her time caring for her parents.

7. FLORENCE R. BROWN born 1 Dec 1898 Center Township, Sioux County, Iowa died Aug 1979 Kansas City, Jackson, MO. She married Spencer Plumb 1898-1978 on 4 Feb 1920 Ireton IA. They lived most of the time in Illinois. Their children were Marian Plumb 1920-2003, Robert Spencer Plumb 1923-2005 and Leila Johnnina Jean 1931-2004.

OBITUARY OF GEORGE T. BROWN
GEORGE THOMAS BROWN
Funeral services for George Thomas Brown, 88, a resident of Sioux County since 1887, were held Tuesday at the Ireton Presbyterian church. Mr. Brown died Saturday at his home in Ireton. Rev. H. G. Eggink, former pastor of the church, now residing at Storm Lake, officiated. Burial was in the Ireton cemetery. Mr. Brown was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on July 5, 1866, and came to this area at the age of 21. He married the former Miss Mary Dodd August 17, 1887. She died November 9, 1931. The Browns farmed near Ireton until 1916 when they moved into town. Survivors include a son Harry of Delhi, Minn.; four daughters, Grace of the home, Mrs. Ora Grau of Ireton, Mrs. Delbert Day of Hawarden, Ia., and Mrs. Spencer Plumb of Champaign, Ill.; 11 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
Source; Sioux Center News of 5-3-1956

OBITUARY OF MARY SARAH DODD BROWN
Mrs. George Brown, pioneer citizen of Sioux County, passed away at her home on Elm Street, Monday at 2 o'clock, following a lingering illness lasting several months, but she was bedfast only about three weeks.
Mrs. Brown was one of Ireton's Gold Star mothers, their son Edward having succumbed on October 30, 1920, after being mortally wounded on the last day of the World War, when fighting with the American forces in France. Another son died in his infancy. One son, Harry of Delhi and five daughters survive, namely: Mrs. Jennie Grau, Mrs. Stella Grau, Mrs. Delbert Day and Grace, at home, all of this vicinity, and Mrs. Florence Pluth(Plumb) of Hudson, Ill. Also thirteen grandchildren, beside the grief-stricken husband, to mourn the loss of a Christian wife and mother.
Source: Sioux Center News, November 12, 1931

Picture is from the Ireton Centennial book page 366.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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