Rowley, Brainerd Kent 1852-1902

ROWLEY, KUNDSON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/8/2023 at 10:43:31

*Rowley, Brainerd Kent 50 yrs 8 mo 4 dys born abt 1852 Oswego, IL, died Apr 19,1902 Hawarden,
Sioux county Iowa, he was a conductor, he was buried Winona MN Source Sioux county Iowa Death
record. Find A Grave lists Brainerd K. Rowley as born 15 Aug 1851 died 19 Apr 1902 buried Winona MN, Wife was Ida Christina Rowley and children listed were Fred Kent Rowley and Curtis Brainers Rowley.

Hawarden Independent of April 24, 1902
DEATH of B. K. ROWLEY That popular Conductor Passed Away Saturday Morning.' The Remains Taken to Winona, Minn., for Interment Wednesday. One of the saddest events that has occurred in Hawarden was the passing away of Brainerd K. Rowley
Saturday morning April, 19th. All that was mortal of this noble man is no more. Wo can truly say, not, only this community will miss his kindly, smiling face, but the many warm hearted friends he had wherever he was known will grieve to learn of his death in the prime of his manhood. He was generous to a fault and his sympathies were always on the side of the weak and there was never a time when this large hearted man was not willing and anxious to help in distress both with his sympathy and purse. Wherever he went he carried sunshine and kindly blessings, with that merry twinkle in his eye, so familiar to his friends. It can well be said the influence of this man made the world brighter for having lived in it. He was not unmindful of the courteous treatment he always received from his associates and it was demonstrated he was full y appreciated by them, by the sweet and tender sympathy extended during his illness and death. Many friends came from a distance to pay their last respects.

The trio is broken-for nearly twenty years Capt. Lou Walters, Joseph Shirk and B. K. Rowley were pioneer conductors and the warm friendship, that grew in the hearts of those three had been unbroken. It was most pathetic to observe the remaining two following their friend to his last resting place in Winona, Minn. Accompanying his remains were many of his later associates and other friends. The noble traits of character were inherited from his Christian parents, and his mother who is in her 87th year, is sorrowing over the death of her youngest born. The last six months of his life were months of intense suffering, borne with the utmost patience, During his entire illness his one thought was not for himself, but for others. He was passionately fond of flowers and the beautiful floral designs, contributed by his railroad friends and others, were a fitting tribute to his sentiment ..
Brief funeral services were held at the home in this city at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning by Rev. Wm. Wallace pastor of the Presbyterian church. The Order of Railway Conductors were the active pall bearers and members of the Masonic fraternity honorary. A special car was provided by the C. & N. W. railway company for the family and Friends of the deceased from here to Huron, from there the private car of Supt. H. R. Sanborn was tendered to them, and the remains taken to Winona, Minn where they were placed at rest in Woodlawn cemetery at noon on Wednesday. Conductors Shirk/Walters, Tompkins and Cooley, (Conductors Prothero. and Finch being unable to leave their runs) pall bearers for the O. R. C. and Messrs. Ball, Hutcbinson, Wat Dunham, Quigley and Shannon, pall bearers for the Masonic order, were members of the sad party. Mesdames Ball, Quigley and Walters accompanied Mrs. Rowley and family to add such comforts as they might in her hour of sorrow. The burial services at Winona were under the auspices of the Masonic Blue lodge of that city, of which. Mr. Rowley has long been a member, the Masons and Conductors meeting in a body at the depot and accompanying the remains to the grave. The
family have the sincere sympathy of all in the loss of a devoted husband and father. In the year 1850, L. W. Rowley removed with his family from N. Y. State to Oswego, III. In 1851 his youngest child, Brainerd Kent, was born. In 1857 the family moved to Winona County. Minn. In 1887 the father died, being 70 years of age, but his mother, now 87 years old, is still living and makes her home with her son in Wausau, Wis.

Besides the mother, Three brothers and two sisters of Mr. Rowley's family are living: E. A. Rowley of Warsau Wis., with whom the mother makes her home. E. M. Rowley of Portland Oregon, and the elder brother W. F. Rowley of Winona, Minn., who with his wife were person at the funeral survive. His sister are Mrs. M. K. Perry of Seattle Wash., and Mrs. O. F. Allyn, of Chicago, the latter being present at the funeral as was also her daughter, Mrs. W. H. England, with her husband, of Lincoln Neb. Mr. Rowley began his railway service with the Winona & R. Peter line, now a part of the Northwestern, at the age of 19 and with the exception of about one year has been continuously in the service of the latter company. He has been a passenger conductor for 24 years. He was among the first conductors to run on
the C. D. division between Huron and Hawarden and has been on this run ever since.
Mr. Rowley has always stood well in railroad circles and was held in high esteem by the officials of the company, as well as with this associates of the Brotherhood of Railway conductors.

He was elected alderman from the first ward of the city of Huron in 1886, where he was a citizen and at time Gov. Church of the Territory of Dakota honored him with the appointment of Chief of Engineers and Ordinance of the Territory in 1888, with the rank of Colonel, and the year following Gov. church appointed his a member of the Board of Railway commissioners for the Territory, both of which positions he subsequently resigned.

Mr. Rowley has been very prominent in the different orders of Masonry. He was a member of Blue Lodge No. 18, of Winona and a member of the order of Red Cross and order of Knights Templar No.6, of Huron, and belonged to the order of Masonic chapter No 119 of Hawarden. In 1800(1900) he became a member of the ancient Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

He was married to Ida C. Kundson, of Fairbault Minn, March 22, 1880. Tree sons were born to them:
Chas H. aged 21, Fred Kent aged 19 and Harry Wellington aged 17; also Curt Brained aged 24, a son by his first marriage. For the past 12 years he has been a resident of Hawarden. In childhood he became a baptized member of the Presbyterian church his parents being communicants of the church.