Noah G. Brown 1836 - 1903

BROWN, FIELDS, MCDONALD, GRIEF, GREEF

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 3/8/2013 at 09:27:54

NOAH G. BROWN, DECEASED

Born Jan. 1, 1836 and Died at
Bentonsport, Iowa, on
Wednesday August 19, 1903.

OBITUARY SKETCH.

Died, at his home in Bentonsport, on Wednesday evening, August 19, 1903, Mr. Noah G. Brown, aged 67 years, 7 months and 18 days.

The deceased was the eldest son of Hon. Jas. A. and Mrs. Rachel Brown, and was born in Westmorland county, Penn., Jan. 1, 1836. At the age of four years he removed, with the family, from the native state to Van Buren county, Iowa, and settled first at Vernon and later on a farm on Bear Creek, two miles south of that town.

After two years residence there the family removed to Bentonsport where the father of the deceased actively engaged in business. Among other enterprises he erected a flouring mill, an oil mill, a woolen factory, built the dam and lock walls and erected and operated a saw mill. The son Noah assisted his father in all these varied enterprises and this early developed that splendid business ability so well known and so much admired by his friends and acquaintances in after life.

In 1859 he went overland to California where he remained six years, engaged in milling and mining, at the end of which period he was called home, shortly before his father's death, to take charge of the extensive business interests.

In 1870 he took charge of the office and business of the Rock Island road at Bentonsport and for 25 years was one of that company's most trusted employees. Failing health forced him to relinquish this business much to the regret of the officials of the road he had served so long and well.

After a year spent in California with his son seeking to regain his health he returned to his Iowa home where the remainder of his active and useful life was passed.

Mr. Brown was a member of the Bentonsport Lodge No. 47, A. F. and A. M. and continued in membership there until its charter was surrendered a few years ago when his membership was transferred to Keosauqua lodge No. 10.

He was also a member of Lafayette Chapter No. 61, R. A. M. of Bonaparte and ElChanan commandery No. 28 K. T. of Keosauqua. In this he filled the office of Prelate for many years. In addition to the foregoing he was a highly respected member of frequent sessions of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Iowa in which she acceptably filled many offices of honor and respectability and in 1890 was advanced to the exalted position of Junior Grand Warden. It was a well known and acknowledged fact among all masons acquainted with Mr. Brown that as a worker in any of the degrees of the order in which he held membership he had few equals and no superiors in this state.

His funeral was held from the Bentonsport Presbyterian church of which body he was a leading an influential member of and at the time of his death an elder, on Sunday afternoon, August 23d, with religious services conducted by his close personal friend of years, the Rev. C. W. Wilson of Bussey, Iowa, assisted by Chas. E. Perkins of Keosauqua and Harvey Butler of Bentonsport.

The Masonic ceremony at the cemetery was in charge of Keosauqua lodge No. 10, Rev. Chas. E. Perkins, W. M. ElChanan commandery in full uniform marched in a body as a guard of honor.

The pallbearers were to be a W. M. Walker, S. E. Irish, R. R. McBeth, C. Booth, F. Whitaker and J. McElroy.

The floral offerings were profuse and appropriate to the beautiful life that had ceased to be on earth that it might continue to be in the yonder land of light and everlasting song. The address was the sincere untruthful eulogy of a well spent useful christian life, delivered by loving friend and brother.

On Feb. 5, 1857, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Lutitia Fields who survives him. In addition to his loving wife he leaves behind in life three children, Mrs. A. McDonald of Bonaparte, Ia., Miss Hattie Grief [Greef in Entler Scrapbook obit.] of Fairfield, Ia., the Elbert N. Brown of Los Angeles, Cal., and a stepson, William C. Fields of Sandwich, Ill.

Thus, passes from earth an honored citizen, a loving husband and father, a devoted, consistent christian, Gods noblest and grandest work on earth, an honest man.

Source: Entler Scrapbook, vol. 4, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA