Mary Brown Wood 1810-1900

BROWN, MOORE, EASTER

Posted By: Volunteer - Nancy Lowe
Date: 4/28/2003 at 14:28:29

Obituary held by Brown Moore:

PASSING OF THE PIONEER

Mrs. Mary S. Wood died at midnight, Thursday Dec. 13, 1900 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John H. Easter in Albia, Iowa at the advanced age of ninety years, 3 mo. and 13 days, after an illness of one week, from acute pneumonia. She was the daughter of James and Anna Brown of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and was born there August 31, 1810. At the age of 17 years she united with the Presbyterian Church in that locality, and for over 73 years she was an earnest disciple of the faith. On Dec 7, 1841, she removed to Van Buren county, Iowa making her home in the family of her only brother, James A. Brown, who then resided on a farm near Vernon, Iowa.

On Sept 13, 1843 she was united in marriage to Clement Wood of Bentonsport, and was the mother of two daughters, one of whom died in infancy. For 48 years she resided in that town, esteemed by everyone and was familiarly known as "Auntie Wood".

In 1850, with her family and a party of emigrants, she crossed the plains to the goldfields of California, remaining there for four years, and for 16 months never looked upon the face of a white woman. All the hardships there cultivated great self-reliance and developed the already strong moral traits of her positive character. Powerful in convictions of right, and courageous in the rebuke of wrong, she commanded at once the fear and respect of evil-doers. Conscientious to the last degree in the performance of duty, it was a favorite expression: "I want nothing between my maker and myself when I stand at the judgement [sic] bar."

In 1983 she moved to Albia to spend the last of her days with her daughter.

In her death is removed a remarkable type of noble womanhood, and the Bentonsport Presbyterian Church of which she had been a member since 1854, loses one of its pillars who for 40 years gave it her undivided support. She is the last leaf to fall from the tree of past generations, and is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Mary. M. Easter of Albia, the grandsons, and one great grandchild.

Mary L. Keck

[submitted by Chuck and Joy Hanson of the Mason House Inn, Bentonsport]