The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-03
OBITUARY..

Brown-Died in Jamestown, Blue
Earth county. Minnesota, on Wednes-
day, Dec. 25th, 1901, Ester Farrell
Brown, aged SO years and 9 months.
Almost a full round century of
earthly existence was the time allotted
to Mrs. Brown, who was inferred on
Friday last at Marysburg, Mimi. She
was born in the parish Of Killcullen,
County Kildare, Ireland, on Easter
Sunday, 1914, and departed this life on
another great church holiday. Christ
mas, 1901. When still but girl in
common with so many of her fellow
countrymen, she sought the liberty
loving shores of America, landing in
New York, where within few years
she met, loved and linked her life with
her late lamented husband, Mr.. Will
liam Brown. After her marriage she
remained in the metropolis of the ma
ton until 1857, when they determined
to try their fortunes in what was then
the outpost of civilization, the terri
tory of Minnesota. This action was
probably superinduced by her brother,
Mr.. Michael B. Farrell, 80 we'll and
favorably known as one of the pioneer
residents of Blue Earth county. This
therefore, was almost half century ago
that Ester F. Brown and husband set
tied in Jamestown on the north shore
of Lake Valentine, where they have
since resided constantly, short inter-
walls of absence alone excepted. How
stupendous have been the changes
wrought in the North Star state dur
ing their residence; and what marvels
throughout the civilized world during
her life. She was destined to see the
birth and death of one of the greatest
queens of modern or ancient times.
likewise to see introduced to the use
and benefit of mankind almost every
invention of any special value or aid
| in the art of civilization, among which
are the sewing machine, reaping ma
chine, telegraph, telephone, bicycle,
automobile and hundreds of others too
numerous to mention.
When we consider events during her
life, the retrospect is even greater.
Waterloo. at her birth was still unde-
cided and unfought, and Napoleon was
rapidly changing the geography of
Europe, and the black serf was destin-
ed to remain in human bondage, even
in our own free America nearly half a
century awaiting the eloquence of
Philips and Sumner, and the life blood
of her name sake "John Brown" to
influence the nation to proper action,
eliminating in the Emancipation pro-
clamation by the great Lincoln, des-
tined soon after to be martyr to the
cause.
While individuals are as interesting
as events, to illustrate: The prince
of modern prose, Lord Macauley was
! Just sufficiently advanced in years and
| thought to indite letter from school
TO his mother Gladstone was trying
! to learn the alphabet, while O. Connell
Burke, Webster, Pope Leo, Cardinal!
Manning, Newman and Gibbons, ant
! like celebrities were still unborn, or II
. their infancy and unknown.
| But to return without too much di
erosion from the subject of this
sketch, one cannot help in contemplat
| ing the life and death of the deceased
but feel how beautiful are both wher
the proper concepts of life are properly
fulfilled, as Burns has said: Life
! is but a day at most, spring from
night, in darkness lost.
/ And yet, life Of 80 many noble
womanly attributes, 80 rich In th'
fruit of honest industry, not in vas
accumulation, but in cherished mem
cries, cannot be lost to this nor to thu
world to come. Ester Farrell Brown
name will be cherished for many
many years in the vicinity of which
she was so long a useful and deserving
number. especially noted for her kim
solicitations for all save herself.
Surrounded by her brother and hi
family with all the care that kindnes
or skill could bestow, like leaf from
the tree she quietly passed away o.
the first Christmas Of the Goth century
And two days subsequent. all tina
was mortal of her, was borne by ten
der hands of those that knew her lon
and loved her we'll, up the long sisl
!: of the religious edifce before the alta
of which she had offered her humbl
supplications scores Of years, an
thereafter to her final resting place
the cemetery.
Contemplating at the close of ne
long pure life the vastness of her deed
, of goodness and mercy, we feel JUST
fed in relying with confidence on tn
most impressive and momentous az
surance ever delivered to human race
she that believeth in me, though, d
were dead, yet shall he live; and who
soever liveth and believeth in me sha
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