Rebecca J. (Smiley) Brown (1833-1913)

SMILEY, BROWN, DOOLITTLE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/7/2024 at 09:57:44

From Story City Herald December 18, 1913 (page 3)

MRS. JAS. BROWN DIED TUESDAY

WELL KNOWN PIONEER LADY HAS GONE TO HER REWARD

Mrs. James F. Brown died at her home south of Story City at three o'clock Tuesday morning. She had been sick just a week, having taken a cold the Tuesday before her death whish settled in her kidneys and caused complications from which she died. She was eighty years old and was one of the earliest settlers in this community.

Funeral services were held yesterday, and she was buried in the Gilbert cemetery.

Obituary

Rebecca J. Smiley, wife of Jas. F. Brown, died at her home 2 1/2 miles south of Story City at 3 o'clock a. n. Dec. 16th, 1913 after a short illness with pneumonia.

Mrs. Brown was born in Crawford county, Penn., near Conneaut Lake, Feb. 20th, 1833. Was married to Jas. F. Brown Jan. 1, 1856 in Sagertown, Pa., and in March came overland to the farm where they now live and have lived for nearly 58 years. She was one of a family of 9 children, seven girls and two boys, all of whom have passed on to the beyond, she having lived to the greatest age of any of the family her age being 80 years, 9 months and 28 days. She was the mother of five children, Orson S., George P., Chas. J., Anna C. wife of R. L. Doolittle and Grant Brown, four of whom survive her, George P. having died five years ago last May.

Mrs. Brown was a woman who knew only friends, for all who knew her loved her. She was a kind and sympathetic neighbor, a patient and loving mother and a true and devoted wife. Her exemplary life will live on in holy memory by all those so dear to her by family ties and never to be forgotten by any who knew her, and has passed on to receive her reward. "Come thou good and faithful servant." We mourn because we'll miss her, for she welcomed even the stranger within her gates. For the past few years she has gone from her home but little on account of failing health. She suffered greatly during her last illness but remained conscious to greet all her children, then sank into unconsciousness to awaken in that beautiful home beyond for which she was so well prepared. Her husband who is past 81 years of age survives her. She was laid to rest in the Gilbert cemetery.