Elizabeth Verback Brook 1828 - 1912

VERBACK, BROOK, MCGOWAN, HARBIDGE

Posted By: Volunteer: Stacey Swierk
Date: 8/27/2008 at 12:59:28

“Date & Newspaper Unknown”

Cantril people were sorry to hear of the death of Grandma Brooks last Thursday night. She had been a patient sufferer for the past the past few months from a broken limb, from which she never fully recovered. She was one of Iowa’s pioneer women, whose bright example, though she is at rest, will stand as a beacon light for the loved ones.

Elizabeth Verback Brook was the oldest child of Roswell and Hannah Verback, was born near Montreal, Canada, December 29, 1828. With her parents she came to the United States when about seven years old and settled somewhere in the East and later to Illinois and then to Iowa. While living in or near Farmington she was wooed and won as a bride by George Brook and they were married at Athens, Mo., in the year 1849. They lived for a time on a farm near Keosauqua and while living on this farm their oldest child was born, whom we now know as Sarah McGowan. Later the family moved to Missouri and here the other children were born, Thomas of Cantril, and Roswell E. of Foraker, Oklahoma.

The husband and father died in the year 18? And since that time for 25 or more years she made her home with her son Thomas, near Azen in Scotland County, Mo, and for the past eight years she made her home with her granddaughter ? W.L. Harbidge at Cantril.

The deceased united with the Disciples of Christ Church in Marion County, Iowa, and later, on coming to northern Missouri she united with the M.E. Church at Prairie View, on the Memphis circuit and remained a member until her death.

Grandma as she was known by all, was a remarkable woman in many ways, one especially? For remembering people and on until the last she would know those who called on her. The end was not unexpected. She had been failing very rapidly since early in the fall when she had a bad fall which confined her to her bed most of the time and for the past few weeks she was not able to be about, and grew worse until she passed away. Wednesday evening March 6 about 9 p.m., being 83 years, 2 months and 7 days old. She leaves to mourn her loss her three children, seventeen grandchildren and twenty-six great grandchildren. The funeral service was held at the old home church at Prairie View, Friday March 8, 1912. Sermon was preached by Rev. Lloyd Tennant of the Cantril M. E. Church, using as a text; Job 5-26. Interment was made in the cemetery at Prairie View.

The following acted as pallbearers: G.B. Creath, C. C. McManis, John Foster, George Irvin, Roy Marsh and Wm. Vale. Music was by a select choir with Mrs. Lena Nelson at the organ.

[Photocopy of this obit is located on page 252 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County, IA Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA]