George P. Brown (1858-1908)

BROWN, DOOLITTLE, COBB, DODDS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/21/2024 at 11:46:55

From Story City Herald May 28, 1908 (page 7)

OBITUARY.

GEORGE P. BROWN.

George P. Brown, the subject of this sketch, was born in LaFayette township, Story county, Ia., December 2, 1858 and died May 20th, 1908, age 49 years, 5 months and 18 days.

He spent his boyhood days on his father's farm near Story City until 23 years of age when with the spirit of "get-out-and-do-for=yourself" he married, choosing for his life companion Miss Electa J. Doolittle, a young woman of sterling qualities, a schoolmate and friend. To this union four children were born, three girls and a boy. In his death he leaves an aged father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. F. Brown in the 76th yar of their earthly pilgrimage, three brother, Orson, Charley and Grant and a sister, Mrs. Annie Doolittle, also a devoted wife and four children, Mrs. Cora Cobb, Ira the only son, Mrs. Ella Dodds and Ida the youngest child of the family.

In this instance it is a matter of interest to note that this is the first death to occur in the family of the aged parents whose longevity is shown by their own ages and that of their children, the oldest being 51 and youngest nearly 40 and in his own family his is the first to be severed out of the chain of a living continuity.

As a boy and man, husband and father, neighbor and friend he had the respect and confidence of everybody who crossed his threshold or met him as an associate of business.

All through his life he evidenced his belief in a higher power and an after existence beyond the grave and the judgment. At the age of 14 he united with the Christian church at Pleasant Grove and transferred his membership to the Congregational church in Gilbert where he has remained a faithful member up to the time of his death.

In the midst of life we are in death, is only too plainly proven in this instance. About his business as any other man with active motives, in the best of spirits he commenced to shell corn on the day of his tragic death, as he had done many times before, without a hint that his time as an earthly pilgrim was drawing to a close, when he would be called to go through the Jordan and the valley of death. First load shelled, delivered and on his return for a second he noticed the main belt on his sheller was running loose and in trying to adjust it accidentally got his foot between the lower turn, was pulled into the engine and bruised and mangled beyond recovery. The attending physicians and undertaker said they never saw a man with so many bones broken and fatal hurts on his person. He was conscious only a short while after the accident. He spoke to his wife calling her by name saying he was awfully hurt, loosen his foot and give him relief. He lived about three hours afterward and his going was a peacefully and quietly as through in sleep. An inborn mechanic he always delighted to work with machinery as evidenced by his handy work and ingenuity being shown in the many devices to lessen labor in appliances in the home and on the farm.

Funeral ceremonies with an impressive service led by Rev. Maley of Gilbert were held in the home of the deceased and witnessed by a large concourse of people. The floral decorations were profuse and beautiful with the word "father' standing out in relief, witnessing to the tender feeling and good will in which all joined to express feeling for the living and respect for the dead.

In his death the community has lost a good citizen, the wife a good husband, the children a good father and the church a good Christian.

Let his name be honored, his memory cherished as a noble man, to be appreciated for what he has done, and his grave be covered with flowers as the returning place of a man who never wished ill will to any one.