Rachel Brown 1811-1900

BROWN, STUART, MOORE, WILSON, SINTON, HORNBY, WOOD, EASTER

Posted By: Volunteer - Barbara Evans
Date: 5/2/2013 at 11:27:31

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obit Book C, page 5, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA

Mrs. Rachel Brown, of Bentonsport, Iowa, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George L. Moore, at half past one, Tuesday afternoon, April 24, 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. Rachel Stuart was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1811, and was united in marriage to James A. Brown, March, 1833. They were among the earliest settlers of Van Buren county, coming to Iowa in 1840, settling on Bear Creek, near Vernon. Later they moved to Bentonsport, which remained their home during the lifetime of each, where was reared a large family of nine children. Upon her own generation Mrs. Brown left a lasting impress, and in her days of active usefulness she was a factor of strength in church work and religious activities, being one of the first of the little band of eleven members to help organize the Bentonsport Presbyterian church, which was built in 1856. Added to the charm of personal lovliness,[sic] was the greatest gift of a strong character and gentle manners No one can measure the power of her wells-pent[sic] life, whose influence, like the ripples of the ocean, stretches and widens on out into infinity. For thirty years her home has been with her daughter Mrs. George L. Moore, who lives at the old family homestead. But her later life was saddened by the death of three daughters, Mrs. Wilson, and Mrs. Sinton, of Keokuk, and Mrs. Hornby, of Logan, Iowa. Of the once large family there still survive, O.B. Brown, of Washington, D.C.; Calvin, of Toledo, Ohio; Clement, of Nebraska; Allison Brown, of Council Bluffs; Noah G. Brown and Mrs. Moore, of Bentonsport. Grandma Brown’s most intimate friend and companion was her sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary S. Wood, of Albia, who is in her 90th year, but accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. Easter, was present at the funeral. Services were held Thursday afternoon, April, 16, and were conducted by Rev. C.S. McElhinney, of Fairfield. Dear Grandma Brown, peace to thy soul; sacred by thy memory Generations of men may come and go, but thy good influence will flow on forever. Thy children shall rise and call thee blessed. And as thou sleepest beneath the “low green tent whose curtain never outward swings” may those who love thee best rejoice that after darkness cometh light. Mary L. Keck.