BROWN, Jennie (1859-1946)

BROWN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/22/2020 at 14:41:30

Jennie Brown
(October 25, 1859 – July 27, 1946)

Mrs. O. C. Brown Dies at Home On W. Ashland
Mrs. O. C. Brown, 87, a lifelong resident of Warren County and Indianola, died at her home on W. Ashland Ave., Saturday evening, July 27. The funeral service was held this afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Overton Funeral Home, conducted by her pastor, the Rev. E. W. Frohardt. Burial was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Mrs. Brown’s death removes a member of one of the pioneer families of the community. She was a granddaughter of David Hallam, who was in the banking business here in an early day. His favorite daughter, Minerva, had married James Hamilton of Illinois, a cabinet maker. Mr. Hallam would not be satisfied until Minerva came to Warren County to be near him. She and her husband tarried in Longpoint, Ill, until after the birth of their daughter, Jennie, the subject of this sketch, Oct 25, 1859.
Came in Covered Wagon
When she was only a few months old, the family came to Indianola in a covered wagon. Mr. Hamilton did cabinet work in many of the public buildings which were being erected in this rapidly developing prairie state. Another daughter of Mr. Hallam was the mother of Hall McNiel of this city. Mr. Hallam and his son, Tom, had bought out the first banking firm in the county, George W. Jones & Co. The name became Hallam & Son. Tom Hallam was cashier until the bank received a national charter and became the First National Bank, the only national bank the county ever had. Jennie Hamilton attended the rural school in Belmont Township and later the public school in Indianola. She was married April 24, 1879, to O. C. Brown, who practiced law in Indianola until his death, Jan 30, 1940.
Surviving Relatives
They were the parents of three children: Robert, whose death occurred Oct 10, 1901, while he was a senior in Simpson College; Margaret, who became the wife of George Goode and who died Jan. 10, 1933; and Gertrude, Mrs. Ralph Henderson, Sioux city, who survives. Mrs. Brown was a charter member of the Indianola chapter O.E.S.; organizing regent of Martha Devotion chapter of D.A.R.; an early member of the Shakespeare Club and P.E.O.; patroness of Simpson chapter of Theta Upsilon sorority; charter member of Alonaidni. For many years she was active in the Iowa Federation of Women’s clubs and while serving on that state library committee she helped establish a Warren County circulating library. She helped organize the Warren County Federation of Women’s clubs. During the first world war she was active in Red Cross, receiving a citation for her work. She was a member of the Methodist Church and served as president of the women’s organization.
Taught in Sunday School. Her special church interest was teaching a Sunday School class of young girls, a work for which she was well suited because of her delight in the association with young people. Besides the daughter, Mrs. Henderson, she is survived by her sister, Mrs. Dorothy Smith, Rupert, Ida., three grandchildren, Mrs. Royal Daniel II, Pittsburgh; Mrs. Howard Dobson, Washington, D. C., and Mrs. Paul Strawn, Fullerton, Calif.; and five great-grandchildren, Miss Barbara Jeanne Henderson, Barton and Royal Daniel III, and Meredith and Margery Dobson.

Came For Funeral
Mrs. Royal Daniels II of Pittsburgh, Pa., arrived Sunday night, called here by the death of her grandmother, Mrs. O. C. Brown. Barbara Henderson of Iowa City came Saturday. Ralph Henderson arrived Sunday and his wife came last week.
[Copied from a scrapbook at the Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, Iowa]