Brown, Edgar D., 1867-1936

BROWN, BENBOW, LAMB

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Rock Valley Bee, June 12, 1936:

E. D. BROWN, FORMER RESIDENT PASSED ON

Edgar D. Brown, of Bellflower, California, died last Saturday, May 23, in a Los Angeles hospital, following an operation. Mr. Brown was well known in Rock Valley to the older residents. He lived here five years and during that time was publisher of the Rock Valley Bee. He left here about 26 years ago and since that time has resided in California.

Mr. Brown was born at Hull, November 28, 1867, where he grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-five, he was elected principal of the public school at Hospers. He was very successful there in his school work. While teaching at Hospers, he was elected county superintendent of schools. In 1902, he came to Rock Valley and resided here until 1909, when he moved to California.

The Bellflower Herald Enterprise gives the following account of his death:

“Funeral services for Edgar D. Brown, who died late last Saturday night in the General hospital in Los Angeles, were held last Tuesday afternoon in the Bellflower mortuary. Rites were conducted jointly by Rev. C. E. Logan and Rev. D. H. M. Boyle. The deceased was interred at San Gabriel cemetery.

“Since 1918, Edgar D. Brown had been known as a worker for the betterment of this community. He was born in Iowa and came to California in 1909. Nine years later he came to Bellflower. He operated a dairy here for four years, but found time to take part in civic affairs. He developed a real estate subdivision on the west side of Bellflower which has become a well known residential district. He remained in the real estate and insurance business up to the time of his death.

“During his later years the deceased was an untiring worker for the advancement of West Bellflower. He organized the Bellflower Taxpayers’ League and was an officer in the West Bellflower Improvement Association. He was also one of the organizers and president of the Hynes-Clearwater Townsend club. In his native Iowa he had been a superintendent of schools and a publisher. In California he maintained his interest in educational problems. He was a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges.

“Surviving him are his mother, Mrs. Margaret C. Brown, 89, of Clearwater; two sisters, Mrs. Jessie Crosser and Mrs. Charles Cassil, both of Clearwater; a brother, Dr. N. J. Brown of Akron, Iowa; and four children, Mrs. Alice Busch, Bellflower, Mrs. Wendell Fisher, Lynwood, George C. Brown, Clearwater, and Rollin Brown, Long Beach.”

* * * * * * * * * *

RESEARCH NOTES

The 1900 U.S. census for Sioux County (Orange City) shows Edgar D. Brown, age 32, born Nov. 1867 in Iowa, married 6 years, county superintendent [of schools]; wife Dora, age 34, born December 1865 in Iowa, mother of 2 children, both living; and children George C., age 2, born May 1898 and Alice L., age 2/12, born April 1900.

Dora (Benbow) Brown’s obituary (posted separately) shows her marrying Edgar D. Brown on August 8, 1894 and dying October 3, 1907 of angina pectoris at the age of 41, leaving three children.

The 1910 census has Edgar D. Brown (42), a real estate broker, living in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California, with second wife May L. (40), born in Iowa, married 1-½ years, her first marriage, no children; and his three children from his first marriage, George C. (11), Luella (10), and Rollin E. (7). In 1920 they are living in Downey Township, Los Angeles County, where he is a farmer and another child has been added, Marrietta L. (9). In 1930 the couple is still living in Downey Township, residence now specified as Bellflower, with daughter Marietta L.; Edgar is again a real estate broker, and Marietta is a gas office biller.

Ancestry.com has a California marriages index record for May E. Lamb and Edgar D. Brown, married 15 February 1909. The California Death Index shows May L. Brown dying in Los Angeles County on 17 January 1934 at the age of 64.