The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-03-03
I0LDER THAN
THE STATE!
He Had Lived Under Every
President But Washington.
Jehu Brown Was Not, Because God
Took Him.

Brown passed from earbn, a6 nls homo III
z sneefield, aged SO years, months and
2 days.
Friends who were watching, left him
alone some fifteen minutes, and return
ing, found his life had gone out without
q pain or a. struggle. He had run his
race and had reached his goal.
His father, who came to Z,nesield
with him, died at Jehu's home many
years ago, aged 96 years.
The funeral of Jehu Brown was held
Wednesday afternoon at the home, and
was attended by many friends and neigh
bors, several of whom were over eighty
years of age, and one, Mrs. Rsbecca
Scott, is in her 91st year.
The aged pioneer had been kindly
cared for by friends, and as he lay in his
casket, looked not more than eighty
having a good head of hair. his face
being full, and the expression of his
countenance as natural as in life.
Prayer was offered and the following
paper, which had been prepared at the
request of friends, by the editor of the
REPUBLICAN, was read, and this was all
there was of the funeral services except
the silent communion of Friends with
their Maker. The remains were followed
to the grave by large number of friends
and neighbors and the honored man now
sleeps with the friends of his earlier
manhood, in the graveyard at the little
brick church.
JEHU BROWN was born in Pennsyl-
vania, July 25. 1899. George Washing
ton was then living and John Adams
was President of the United States.
Ohio was then but sparsely settled and
was not made State till four years later.
The life of Jehu Brown covered more
than the period of the entire existence
of our State, and he lived under every
President but Washington.
In boyhood, Jehu Brown moved with
his parents to Maryland, but We know
nothing further of bis early life. His
parents were members of the Society oi
Friends and he held his birthright and
membership in the church of his fathers
till he wakened in the church of the
redeemed above.
He came to Logan county in 1888, and
April 10, 1887, he was married in the
little brick church southeast of Zines
field, to Susannah Michener, who jour
neyed side by side with him, through
life's ever varying scenes, for over 81
years, dying June "a, 1888, aged n years
After marriage, Jehu and Sus,nnah
lived on the George Baker farm north oi
Zanesfeld, until 1864, when they moved
into the village, where they peacefully
and happily spent their days amonG
kindly neighbors and loving friends
bearing the burdens of life and drinking
of its sweetness, in tender companion.
ship.
| In early days, many members of the
Society of Friends, avoiding or fleeing
the land of slavery, bearing good will tt
the child of the forest, and seeking quie
homes, came to these beautiful valleys
which 80 much reflected their quiet
peaceable dispositions and were herr
content to build their homes and rea
their families and act their humble par
in life, while they waited the call t.
even more pleasant scenes and NOR
beautiful valleys.
Here, in the midst of these beautifu
valleys, among these magnificent forests
by these clear streams, in this pur
liberty inspiring air, in the midst Q
their homes, they early built the littl
meeting house where Jehu and Susanna
took their solemn vows, where they 8
often sat reverently and quietly in th
presence of God, waiting the il fuenc
of his Spirit, and where she in the littl
graveyard was laid away eleven year
J ago, where Jehu, no longer separate
from her, will soon be laid by her side.
To this worthy couple the blessing {
} children was denied. But to the father
less they were more than seven time
father and mother, rearing two or thre
children at time, whom they took int
their hearts and home.
The nearest relatives of Uncle Jeh
living, are q niece, Margaret William
who lives at Kenton, and Esther Fav
cett, another niec who lives in Z,nel
! field.
The companions of Jehu snd Susanna
have nearly all gone on before, but thel
. were always warm friends and kin
> neighbors to look after his interests an
care for his wants, when his footstel
grew feeble and the shadows of evenir
fell upon his path.
o Jehu Brown was man of lovely cha
, acter. While he was firm in his prime
q Piles and resolute in maintaining tt
Q right, he was ever charitable toward b
o fellow men. He was a man of INTEL
a gence and kept we'll read in the affai
: of the world. But he was as modest al
y unassuming as the flowers that grew
Q his path, and his life was a part of Il
wonderful beauty of these valleys.
q As we remember the beauty of b
q palli face and the peaceful going out
y his life, let US emulate his virtuep, tn
o our last end may be like his.
Like the placid rivers flow
% Was his sweet life here below;
Mirroring the earth and sky,
al As the waters glided by,
Making sweeter, flowers that grew,
Making brighter, heavens dew;
q Sunshine brought him CLINT of geld,
10 Kept his heart from growing old,
AMI the channe1 of his life