Noah G. Brown

BROWN, FIELDS, GREEF, MCDONALD, WILSON, WHITAKER, WALKER, IRISH, MCBETH, BOOTH, MCELROY

Posted By: Chuck and Joy Hanson (email)
Date: 12/13/2006 at 22:45:15

Noah G. Brown was the son of James A. and Rachel Brown and was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1836, dying at Bentonsport, Van Buren county, Iowa, August 19, 1903, at the age of 67 years, 7 months and 18 days. In 1840, when he was four years of age his parents moved to Van Buren county, Iowa, and located on a farm two miles south of the town of Vernon. Two years later his parents moved to Bentonsport where his father commenced the erection of the Bentonsport flouring mill which drew trade for very many years from many miles distant around that town. In 1859 Noah went overland to California where he engaged in the milling business until 1865 when he returned to Iowa where he worked in a mill at Oskaloosa and at Bentonsport until 1870, when he took charge of the rail road office at Bentonsport and continued as agent there about 25 years. On February 5, 1857, he married Mrs. Lutitia Fields, who survives. To them four children were born, one, James A., dying when quite young. The others, Mrs. Fred Greef of Fairfield, Mrs. A. McDonald of Bonaparte and Elbert N. Brown of Los Angeles, California, are living and were present at the funeral. The subject of this sketch was an ardent republican and faithful member of the Presbyterian church. Most of his life was spent in Bentonsport and he clung to his old home town and did all he could for its advancement to the very last. Mr. Brown was a good man and a useful citizen, and will be greatly missed in the town where his home has been continuously for nearly 40 years. He was sick for a couple of weeks preceding his death and was thought to be much better, when dysentery set in which resulted in his death. There is much sympathy for the afflicted family and relatives. The funeral was held in the Presbyterian church, Sunday, August 23, and was very largely attended, many being present from surrounding towns and neighborhoods. He had been a long time member of the Masonic Lodge, and that order had charge of the services, the sermon being by Rev. C.W. Wilson, formerly of Vernon, now of Bussey, Iowa. The burial was in the Bentonsport cemetery where his parents are interred. The pall bearers were Frank Whitaker, W.M. Walker, S.E. Irish, R.R. McBeth, C. Booth, and John McElroy.

From the Mason Scrapbook owned by H.K. Redhead