The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-09
Richmond. Va, Wednesday, March 8.
MRS. ELIZABETH II. BRO WN.

whose death could occasion more wide
spread sorrow than that Of her whose
name stands at the head of this column.
1t came as surprise even to those who
had heard of her illness, and still more
to those who not having heard of it had
so long associated her with whatever was
fullest of vital activity as not to think of
her as mortal.
The death of the humblest and most
obscure person rends some tie and makes
at least one mourner, but by this death
not only a family and large circle of
relatives, but whole community is in
volved in common sorrow.
For this reason it will be at least
partial relief to the general grief to give
1T some expression, and while paying to
her memory the tribute affection de-
mands, it will at the same time serve to
magnify the grace of God which enabled
her so to live that now in the view
OF her completed history we may find
summary of the whole in the tender
words Of our Lord: ",She hath done vhat
she COULD"
Mrs. Brown was born in Harrisonburg,
Va, May 9th, 1922. Her father, who
died in 1866, was the Rev Joseph Smith,
ID. D., then pastor of the Presbyterian
church in that place and well-known in
Virginia and Pennsylvania as an emf
nent minister of the gospel. Her mother,
Eliza Bell, (who survives the death of
her first-born,) is the daughter of Mr..
John Bell, long since deceased, but still
remembered in Winchester as one of its
most prominent merchants and also
venerable elder in the Presbyterian
church in that town.
The excellent educational advantages
Mrs. Brown enjoyed were diligently i'm
proved In some of the best schools in this
country among which may be mentioned
that of the Rev. G. G. Beatty, D. D., in
Steubenville, Ohio. But it was chiefly
under the personal instruction of her
own father, himself an accomplished
teacher, that she made her best attain
ments, wisely conducted as they were
with reference more to what was sub
stantial than merely ornamental, thus
laying the foundation of that eminently
practical career for which she was so dis
tinguished in after life.
When about thirteen years of age she
was received into the full communion of
the Church. In 1841, while her father
was residing in Frederick City, Mary
land, she was united in marriage with
the Rev. William Brown, D. D., then pas
tor of Augusta church, Virginia, and thus
in the heart of the beautiful Valley, she
found the happy home where she spent
about twenty years of her life. Here, at
the early age of nineteen, those traits of
character which subsequently won for
her so much respect and honor began at
once to make their impression That
methodical industry and benevolent in
genuity in devising ways and means of
doing good, which have long made her
Gas a wonder unto many" were more
and more unfolded in strength and
beauty as the years went on. Probably
no pastors wife in our day has done
more to relieve her husband of worldly
care so as to enable him to devote time
and thought to the duties of his spiritual
calling, or so to deport herself in her
intercourse with his people as to win
from them more implicit confidence.
Such was her tact and talent in inter
e',ting others in her plans Of useful labor
and in inducing others to cooperate with
her in every good work, united with. a
prudence that never failed under any
circumstances however perplexing, that
upon the removal Of her husband to an
other sphere of labor while her de-
parture was lamented as loss, nor soon
to be supplied, she was followed by the
benedictions Of all who knew her.
This removal took place in 1860, when
DIR. Brown became the Editor Of the
Central Presbyterian, in Richmond.
Here new duties, new cares and new
avenues Of usefulness awaited her. Only
those whose opportunities made them &C
quainted with her daily life, have any
&c Al II.