Brink, Milber, 1851-1937

BRINK, TYRRELL, TYRELL, HAGER

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

From the Boyden Reporter, March 11, 1937, p. 4:

OBITUARY

Dr. Milbur[sic] Brink was born in Bradford County, Pa., February 4, 1851 and died at the home of his grandson in Estherville, Iowa, March 4, 1937, at the age of 86 years and one month.

He came with his parents to eastern Iowa when a boy. He received his college education in Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and his medical training in Rush College in Chicago.

He was married to Nancy Tyrell in Jones County, Iowa, on November 18, 1875. To this union one son, Charles W. Brink, was born. He was preceded in death by his wife less than a year ago, on March 12, 1936, and by his son about two and a half years ago. He and his wife were spared to each other for more than sixty years.

He is survived by three grandchildren, Waldo Brink of Estherville, Iowa; Victor Brink of New York City; and Mrs. Helen Brink Davis of Dallas, Texas. By three brothers and one sister: Alva, Thomas, and Wesley Brink and Mrs. Esther Curran, all of Clarence, Iowa. There are two great grandchildren.

Dr. Brink began his practice of medicine at Olin, Iowa but came to Boyden in the early 80’s and was one of the real pioneers of this section. Much of this time he also operated the local drug store and was the first President of the Farmers Savings Bank. He did not devote all his time to business but was a public spirited citizen, serving for some time as Mayor of Boyden, and also as a member of the school board.

Dr. Brink was a Christian man. We have no record as to when he first made a profession of his faith. He was a member of the Boyden United Presbyterian church and for a number of years served as an elder in the church.

He lived in retirement in his home in Boyden until a few months ago when he went to Estherville, Iowa, for the colder weather, hoping as we all did that with the coming of spring he might return to this place which he felt was home, and where he had so many friends.

The funeral was from the Boyden United Presbyterian church on Monday afternoon, March 8, 1937 and service was conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. S. Pollock. He was laid to rest by the side of his wife in the Boyden cemetery.

[On page 1 of this issue is a photo of Dr. and Mrs. Brink on their wedding day.]

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From the Boyden Reporter, March 11, 1937, page 5:

DR. MILBER BRINK

The following biographical sketch of Dr. Milber Brink, deceased, was published in the “Illustrated Album Biography of Southwestern Minnesota and Northwestern Iowa," in the year 1889. The book was presented as a gift by Dr. Brink to members of Reporter staff several years ago. The sketch reads as follows:

"Dr. Milber Brink is a prominent physician and surgeon, and now resides in Boyden, Sioux county, Iowa. The parents of Dr. Brink are Ira and Cordelia (Hager) Brink also natives of Pennsylvania. The father has been a farmer most of his life, having removed from Pennsylvania to Carrol county, Illinois, in 1852: and from there he moved in 1857 to Cedar county, Iowa, (being one of the pioneers again), where the father and mother still reside. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church.

Dr. Brink is the oldest son of a family of eight children, of whom seven are now living – Lois, Wesly, Thomas, Emma, Alva, Esther, and our subject. Lois lives in Cherokee county, la. and is a wife of Wm. Pennington.

The first twenty years of the life of the subject of this biographical sketch were spent in the home of his parents, assisting his father eight or nine months in the year on the farm. The other three or four months were spent in the district school, where education and educational advantages were much the same in all pioneer settlements — very limited. At the age of twenty he started out on the voyage of life for himself.

He began teaching school and attending school during his vacations. During the time he was engaged in school work he was a student in the graded schools in Wyoming, Iowa. While at the latter place he was a member of the Amphytion Literary Society. He taught twenty terms of school before he give up teaching. In the spring of 1880 he began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Thomas Coates of Clarence, Iowa. Then, in the following spring, he took his first course of lectures in Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, and then took two courses of lectures the two following winters at the same college. He also received, the same spring, a certificate from the Central Free Dispensary of Chicago, for having taken a course of instruction in all their departments. After graduation he practiced medicine for a number of months at Oxford Junction, in his old neighborhood, and located in Boyden, Iowa, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1887 he became a registered pharmacist, and owns and conducts the only drug store in the town.

In the year 1874 he was married to Miss Nancy Tyrrell, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of Mallory and P. A. (Titus) Tyrrell. Her father died in 1875 and her mother still resides in the old homestead, where the family settled in 1852. One child has blessed this union— Charley.

He is, and always has been member of the Republican party. The village where he lives is a beautiful town of 250 inhabitants, situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and is surrounded by a very fine farming country. In addition to his drug business he owns a fine farm of two hundred acres, two miles from Boyden. He has a good practice and has performed many remarkable cures and operations. He is highly respected as a physician and as an exemplary citizen.”

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From the Sioux County Capital, March 18, 1937:

Dr. Wilbur[sic] Brink, oldest citizen of Boyden in point of time of residence passed away at the home of his grandson Waldo Brink of Estherville on March 4th. He was brought home and funeral services were held on Monday, March 8th from the home at 1:30 and the U. P. Church at 2 o’clock, Reverend J.S. Pollock officiating. He is the last of his immediate family, his wife preceding him in death almost one year. Dr. Brink was 86 years old, and had lived in Boyden over fifty years.

He is survived by one sister Mrs. Curran of Clarence, Iowa and three brothers, Alva, Wesley and Thomas also of Clarence, Mr. and Mrs. Curran and the grandchildren , Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Brink of Estherville and Mrs. Bob Davis of Dallas, Texas were among those from out of town who attended the funeral.

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From the Alton Democrat, March 19, 1937, Boyden news:

Dr. Milbur[sic] Brink, pioneer physician and leading citizen of Boyden, died at the home of his grandson, Waldo Brink, of Estherville.

He was born in Bradford County, Pa. in 1851 and came to eastern Iowa with his parents when a small boy. He received his college education at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa and his medical training at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He was married to Nancy Tyrell in Jones Co., Iowa, November 18, 1875. To this union one son, Chas. W. Brink, was born. He was preceded in death by his wife on March 12, 1886, and by his son two and one-half years ago.

He is survived by three grandchildren, Waldo Brink of Estherville, Victor Brink of New York City and Mrs. Helen Davis of Dallas, Texas, and by two great grandsons, Paul and Rodney Brink of Estherville; by three brothers, Alva, Thomas and Wesley, and one sister, Mrs. Esther Curran, all of Clarence, Iowa.

Dr. Brink began his practice of medicine at Olin, Iowa, but came to Boyden in the early ‘80’s. He established a drug store here which he operated and was first president of the Farmers Savings Bank, and president of the Citizens Bank of Granville. For years he served as mayor of Boyden and as a member of the board of education. For the past few months he has lived with his grandchildren at Estherville. He was Boyden’s oldest citizen in terms of residence.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death was covered to a lesser extent in other area newspapers.

His death certificate gives his death as 6:45 p.m. March 4, 1937; cause, senility and carcinoma[?] of esophagus, onset Aug 1936; contributory cause, malnutrition and arteriosclerosis general.

FindaGrave shows the spelling of his name as Milber Brink, with a photo of his headstone. Parents Ira Brink (1827-1904) and Cordelia Hager Brink (1826-1892). Six siblings listed. Spouse Nancy Tyrrell Brink (1856-1936). Son Charles Waldo Brink (1876-1934).