Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-06
oBITuARY.
Mr.. Ruth erownfisld l.raeI.


20, 1910, at the home Of her son Geo
p. Israel Con the old homestead) IN
washington township. Wapeilo county
Iowa, and was at the time OF her death
e5 years, 10 months and Is days OF age:
Mrs. Israel was the daughter OF
Robert and Sarah Brownfield and Went
with her parents from Pennsylvaniaa
into Indiana In 1876 when she was ~
years Of age. Her fathers family con-
sisted of ten children, three Of whom
were boys and seven girls. All Of the
family are now dead except F.. r.
Browntield who Is now In Arkansas
and Mrs. Rebecca Gould OF Birmins-
ham, Ia. 9 q.
She was married August "a, 1885,, "
Moses g. Israel In Decatur county, lnu'
whose devoted helpmate and compan-
ion she was until the day Of his death,
Feb. IL, 1907-63 years.
In 1916 her parents and family
moved to the territory OF Iowa and To-
Gated In Van Buren, county. She ana
her husband remained in Indiana un-
til the fall of the year 1S4S during
which period two children-Jos. a
and Sarah e. had. been born to them:
The former was three years old and
the latter but few months, when they
with all their earthly possessions load
ed in a wagon and drawn by TWO
horses started on the journey to the
Iowa frontier. This was no easy Task
then, when we consider the long dis
lance and many obstacles m the way
of travel and sparse settlement OF the
country, forests, prairies, swamps, riv-
ers, etc, to be crossed. The journey
was long, tedious and tiresome to
saw nothing Of the dangers of the way.
They finally landed and located at
Utica In Van Buren, county, where
1ney remained until the spring OF 1854.
During this period their daughter, MIS-.
Mary McNicholson was born.
They then moved to and located on
the place where she passed away. It
was here that the remaining children
Of her family were born, viz: Robert
r.. Hiram j., and George p. Here also
the hand Of death was laid heavily
upon her In the taking away Of three OF
her children, viz: Sarah, Margaret and
John, the first in 1854, the second IN
1854 and the third in 1855.
Early in life she was converted and
united with the Baptist church, and
has for more than 70 years been a con-
sistent and devoted follower of the
s'meek and lowly' The tongue that u
now stilled by death has sung the
praises of Him In the hymns OF the
long ago in such way as to reach the
10Y and gladness to herself and Family
around her own f1reside.
She was one of the original members
of the Ashland Baptist church which
was organized in the year 1857 IN tho
old seminary building with eleven
members, all of whom with one, excep-
ton have now passed on to the better
land.
Although she never made loud pro-
LESSONS, yet in her family circle, In the
church, in the neighborhood and with
all whom she came in contact, her
earnest effort was always and every
where for good Christian citizenship,
and a purer and better life. Her heart
melted in sympathy for those who
were in sorrow or distressed ana
with her PRAYER was the souls sim
cere desire unuttered or Expressed"
Her devotion to her family, her neigh
bors and her friends is evidenced by
the esteem in which she is held by all
Of them. u,
For several of the last years of his
life her husband was sorely afflicted
and during this time her care of and
devotion to him, without naurnnur OF
character No sacrifice was too great
for her to make. II by so doing she
could relieve suffering In others al
ways forgetting herself In trying to
make those dear to her comfortable or
happy.
In her death another of the old land
marks has been removed. For nifty
seven years her life in this community
has been as an open book and has been
read by nearly all who have lived In
1t. Most of her early associates, neigh
bors and friends have gone on before
and she has only been waiting for the
time to come when she would be called
to Join them and again enjoy their
company and their songs in the New
Jerusalem.
Her ancestors were among those who
gave us our liberty in the war of the
revolution and defended our flag in the
war Of 1912.
She belonged to the class designated
as pioneers, and never had the advan--
tares of education or what is called
In these days society. But by hard labor
reared her family and was not ashamed
Of honest toll, neither in producing
out of the earth what was necessary
to sustain life, nor to have wrought
with her own hands and the sweat OF
her brow the fabrics necessary ia
clothA the bodies Of herself and family.
Nor to aid in building the structures
necessary to shelter herself and OFF
springs from the elements or to add
in any way she could to their happt-
ness or comfort.
She has aided in her way the practice
nf eccneuax e-.her than extravaganza,