MARGARET (LAPHAM) BROWN - a highly esteemed resident of Whiteside County all her lifetime, passed away at 7:30 o'clock Saturday morning (21 Jun 1930) in her home, 410 Lincolnway East, Morrison. Death followed a stroke of paralysis which Mrs. Brown suffered 10 days ago. The funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon in the family home, Rev. C. H. Becker of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment is to be made in Grove Hill Cemetery. Margaret Lapham was the daughter of Edward and Harriett Lapham, early residents in the vicinity of Morrison. She was born February 24, 1856. All her lifetime was spent in and around Morrison. She was married November 4, 1876, to George H. Brown who survives her as also do two sons, Dr. E. V. L. Brown of Chicago and Attorney L. H. Brown of Sterling, and one daughter, Mrs. Ivy Kinnaman residing in the home. One daughter, Louise Brown, preceded her mother in death three years ago. Mrs. Brown also leaves one sister, Mrs. E. S. Swigart of Champaign and two half sisters, Mrs. Paul Herrman of El Paso, Texas, and Mrs. Frank Crown of Harlington, Texas. Until her health did not permit her to attend, Mrs. Brown was an active worker in the Ladies' Industrial Society of the Presbyterian Church of which she was a member. She was also a member of the Morrison Chapter of the D.A.R. Mrs. Brown was a woman of very fine character with unusual mentality. She will be missed by a wide circle of friends in the county.
June 23, 1930 - Monday, pg 7 Funeral Services of Mrs. G. H. Brown
The funeral services of Mrs. George H. Brown were held at the family home, 410 Lincoln Way East, Morrison, Sunday afternoon at four o'clock, conducted by her pastor, Rev. C. Harrison Becker of the First Presbyterian Church of Morrison. They were attended by a large number of relatives and friends from neighboring cities and more distant points as well as those of her own community where her life was spent. Floral tributes, numerous and beautiful bore testimony to the affection and sympathy of friends. Those attending the casket were Lee Powell, J. A. Anderson, P. F. Boyd, H. J. Ludens, F. A. VanOsdol and Paul Beveroth. She was laid to rest in beautiful Grove Hill Cemetery. In the obituary sketch of Saturday, the name of an only brother of Mrs. Brown, Charles H. Lapham of Dixon, was unintentionally omitted. Knights of Pythias will attend in a body. The committal will be in Grove Hill Cemetery. Mr. Shirk was born at Oil City, Franklin County, Pa., June 22, 1852, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shirk. When he was but a child he was brought by his parents in a covered wagon to this vicinity, where he lived all the remaining days of his life. He received his early education in the district schools, and later on studied at Oberlin College. Fifty-three years ago, or in 1877, he married Miss Hattie Reynolds, at Spencer, O. Two children were born to the union, Charles Raymond Shirk of Aurora, and Miss Maude LaVerne Shirk of Chicago. Mrs. Shirk died in 1882. In 1885 Mr. Shirk married a second time, when he was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Matson, who with three children born to their union survive. These are Mrs. Carl Tein and Miss Ruth Shirk of Chicago, and Grover Shirk of near Morrison. He also leaves one grandson, Ellsworth Shirk, and a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Shafer of Chicago. In his early years, Mr. Shirk was engaged in the clothing business in Morrison. He was a long time member of the Knights of Pythias, of which order he was very proud. He was a splendid character who
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois June 21, 1930- Saturday, pg 2

MARY (HOLBROOK) BROWN - Funeral services for the late Mrs. William E. Brown were held Monday [02/20/1933] afternoon in Coleta at 1 o’clock at the home of her son, Harry Brown, and at 1:30 at the Grove Street U. B. church. The services were conducted by Rev. S. Foltz. C. L. Hurless and Mrs. E. R. Frankfother sang appropriate selections, assisted by Mrs. B. H. Kline at the piano. The following old friends and neighbors of the deceased acted as pallbearers: M. Flynn, I. V. Reecher, F. W. Anthony, S. M. Gipe, Joe Shank [?] and Charles Mock. The floral tributes were beautiful Mrs. Brown was a lifelong resident of Genesee township and it was very interesting to hear her tell of the many happenings of interest during the early days when this vicinity was first settled. Her memory was very good and very few could give dates of early happenings as well as she. She will not only be missed in her home, but by a large number of old acquaintances. Interment was in the Lutheran cemetery two miles west of Coleta. On account of illness her daughter, Mrs. Schmitt of Aurora, and a stepson, Wm. E. Brown of Waukesha, Wis., were unable to attend the funeral.
Obituary --- Mary Evelyn Holbrook Brown, daughter of Henry H. and Caroline Holbrook, was born Aug. 28, 1853, in Genesee township at the Holbrook corners, where they had made their home for the last 40 years. She spent the greater part of her life in Genesee township excepting a few years she lived in Vernon county, Wis. On June 11, 1874, she was united in marriage to Wm. E. Brown in Vernon county, Wis. To this union were born three children, Mrs. Kasper Schmitt of Aurora, W. Jess Brown of Chattanooga, Tenn. and Warren H. Brown of Coleta. Mrs. Brown died Feb. 18, 1933, at the age of 79 years, five months and 20 days. She leaves to mourn her death her husband, now 97 years of age, her three children, two step-children, Wm. E. Brown of Waukesha, Wis. And Mrs. Lyman Woods of Garwin, Ia. Also one sister, Elisa Erwin of Kelso, Wash., and two grandchildren. Mrs. Brown will be missed very much by her aged husband, relatives and many friends.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Daily Gazette, February 21, 1933, page 7, column 6

MARY PAT (MILCAREK) BROWNE , 51, of Rock Falls died Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 at Sterling Pavilion Nursing Home. She was employed by Dixon State School, KSB Hospital, Sterling Pavilion, Whiteside County Health Dept. and was director of the Y.W.C.A. Sexual Assault Program. Mrs. Browne was born May 5, 1953, in Sterling, the daughter of Dr. L.J. and Caroline (McGraw) Milcarek. She was a graduate of Sauk Valley Comm. College with an associate degree in nursing. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sterling, and the Red Hat Society. Survivors include two sons, James Milcarek Browne of San Francisco and Peter Browne of Sterling; a daughter, Caroline M. Browne of Rock Falls; her mother of Woodinville, WA; four brothers, William F. of Jersey City NJ, Michael of Palatine IL, Peter (Anne) of Vancouver WA and Timothy (Irene) of Woodinville WA. She was preceded by her father and a nephew. Burial at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Paul White, celebrant officiating.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor November 27, 2004 - Saturday, pg A5

MINNIE (BADGLEY) BROWN , 77, of Tampico passed away at 6 a.m. Monday at the home following an illness of several days. She had been in poor health for several years. Arrangements for the funeral are awaiting word from a daughter, Mrs. Amie Trump of Waverly, N.Y. Mrs. Brown was born at Tampico, March 25, 1863, a daughter of John P. and Sarah Jane Glassburn Badgley. She was married to Mr. Brown Oct. 16, 1884. She had lived in Tampico all of her life and was an active member of the Methodist church, Royal Neighbors lodge, Legion auxiliary and Morning Start chapter of the Eastern Star, as long as her health permitted. Surviving besides her husband and daughter are three grandchildren, Mrs. Irene Wood, Tampico, and Mrs. Dorothy Boyle and William Trump, Waverly: four great grandchildren, Shirley, Dorothy and Marilyn Wood, Tampico and Richard Boyle, Waverly: a sister, Mrs. Ida Jacobs, De Kalb: two brothers, Dr. John Badgley, De Kalb, and Hal Badgley in the Dakotas. She was preceded in death by the following brothers and sisters, Dr. Jed Badgley, Mrs. Mary Denison, Hettie and Perry Badgley, the later two passed away in early youth.
Contributed by Georgi DiBartolo -Sterling-Rock Falls Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois, Monday, 8 July 1942

MINNIE BELL (FRANCE) BROWN -Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie Brown, 86, were conducted Sunday afternoon at the Gardner Funeral Chapel the Rev. Nelson Chasteen, pastor of the Congregational Church, officiating. Burial was in the Riverside Cemetery. Mrs. Brown died Friday at the Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo. Flowers were cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Parker and Mr. and Mrs. Dean Sandrock. Pallbearers were grandsons, Monroe Law, John Conboy, Leo Froeliger, Terry Brown, Donald Brown and William E. McKenna. Mrs. V. R. Olmstead and Mrs. Harry Eshelman sang, accompanied by V. R. Olmstead at the organ. Minnie Bell Brown was born March 13, 1873 in Tampico township, the daughter of Solomon and Margaret France, and attended the Highland school. She was married to John Brown of Hume township in Morrison in 1891. She spent her entire lifetime in the Prophetstown community. Survivors are two sons, Sherman J. Brown, Sterling; and Monroe Brown, Prophetstown; four daughters, Mrs. Flossie McKenna, Lyndon; Mrs. Gladys Froeliger, Prophetstown; Mrs. Beatrice Redshaw, Prophetstown and Mrs. Lenora Meek, Rock Falls; 32 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, who died in 1941, one son Ernest and one daughter, Mrs. Delores Conboy, two brothers and four sisters.
Contributed by Melva Taylor from The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois June 1, 1959 - Monday, pg 2 col. 2

MINNIE (McBRIDE) BROWN

Born 14 March 1887

Died 08 April 1965

RAYMOND M. BROWN - The funeral services of Ray Brown, a former resident of Morrison, who died at his home in Chicago Sunday, (27 Apr 1930) were held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Rev. Fr. A. S. McIsaacs conducted the services, which were followed by interment in the family lot in Grove Hill Cemetery. The following members of the Masonic order served as pallbearers: O. P. Baker, Vernon Dearinger, H. J. Ludens, Leo Blass, Robert Jones and A. L. Nelson. Mrs. Brown's early life was spent in Morrison where he was born in 1882, being the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Brown, who resided for many years in the residence just west of the Christian Science Church which is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Weeks. He had been engaged in business in Chicago for a number of years. He leaves his wife, two sons residing in Elgin, a number of other relatives and many friends. Ralph Lane of Morrison is a cousin of the deceased. Later information regarding Mr. Brown's death is that it was the result of the accidental discharge of a revolver which he had kept in the store following holdups of recent weeks in that neighborhood. The flesh wound was not considered serious, but infection brought about a fatal termination.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois April 30, 1930 - Wednesday, pg 10

RICHARD D. BROWN - Word reached Albany, Ill friends the latter part of last week of the passing of Richard Brown on Thursday after several weeks, illness due to a complication of ailments. He was making his home with his son, Wm. Brown, in Clinton, Iowa. Mr. Brown was born in Naidstone, England, nearly 85 years ago; came to America in 1852, locating on a farm in Garden Plain, Ill. and making Albany, Ill. his trading point for a number of years. During the past 20 years he had retired from active business making his home with his son in Clinton, Iowa and daughter Mrs. J. C. Hansen of Canby, Minn. He is survived by one son and a daughter both of whom were with him during his last illness. Four grandchildren also survive. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon 12 March 1916 by Rev. Rendall pastor of the Presbyterian Church (in Garden Plain, Ill.) officiating and burial made in the family lot in the Garden Plain Cemetery.
Source: JoAnne M. Short at Find-A-Grave

RICHARD J. BROWN , 71, of Erie, formerly of Prophetstown, died Thursday, June 22, 2006, at home. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Gibson Funeral Home, Erie. Burial will be in Erie Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. A memorial fund has been established. Mr. Brown was born Dec. 2, 1934, in Dallas City, Ill., the son of James and Anna Licko Brown. He married Zeta Paxton on Nov. 10, 1957, in Erie. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean War. He was employed by Commercial Towel, Port Byron for 25 years, retiring in 1998. After his retirement he was employed by Cliff Warkins as a truck driver. Dick was a member of the Erie Baptist Church, the Hooppole American Legion and was active in ESDA, Prophetstown for over 30 years. He enjoyed working in his garage, watching storms, CB radio, camping and fishing. Survivors include his wife; a daughter and son-in-law, Tanya and Fred Davis, Dubuque, Iowa; a son, Larry Brown, Morrison; six grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Vera and Duane McGee, Geneseo. He was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly Ochoa.

THELMA "MARY" (RAGSDALE) BROWN , 92, of Fulton, IL, died Tuesday, December 25, 2007, at Mercy Medical Center North in Clinton, IA. Thelma was born August 21, 1915, in Santa Paula, CA, to John L. and Ada "Muzdale" (Woodford) Ragsdale. She was educated in the California grade and high schools. In 1948 she received her Master's degree from Wheaton Bible College in Wheaton, IL. She married Wallace O. Brown on June 18, 1950 in Cornettsville, KY. He died February 22, 2004. Thelma was employed as the principal at the Open Door Children's Home in Cornettsville, KY for many years, until moving to Fulton. She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Clinton, IA, where she taught Sunday school. She enjoyed restoring old toys for children at Christmas time. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Cheryl Van Zuiden of Albert Lea, MN; five sons, Lewis Brown of Bluffton, IN, David Brown of Davenport, IA, Dwight Brown of Camanche, IA, Maurice (Debra) Brown of Fulton, IL and Rayford Caudill of Bluffton, IN; ten grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace.
Source: Paula Koehler Find-A-Grave

TIM BROWN , 88, of Sterling died Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, at KSB Hospital. Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Allen-Grennan Funeral Home, First Avenue Chapel, Sterling, with the Rev. Les Funderberg of First Open Bible Church officiateing. Burial will conclude the services at Oak Knoll Memorial Park. Sterling. Mr. Brown was born March 26, 1916, in Xenia, the son of John and Minnie (McBride) Brown. He married Mary Slagel on Sept. 12, 1952, in Sterling. She died Dec. 26, 2000. He worked at Northwestern Steel and Wire as a motor winder for 45 years. He was also a member of Rock River Christian Center in Rock Falls. Survivors include one son, Claude E. Brown of Arlington, Texas; two daughters, Charlene Brown of Germantown and Kymme Jacqua of West Des Moines, Iowa; two stepsons, Leland (Nancy) Siperly of Georgia and Larry (Jan) Patton of Ransom; . one brother, John Wesley (Dorothy) Brown of Roscoe; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great­great-grandchildren; a niece, Darlane Davis; numerous other nieces and nephews; and special friends, Sue and Dick Acree of Sterling. He was preceded in death by his wife, two brothers, four sisters and a stepson.

WALLACE O. BROWN , 89, of Fulton, died Sunday at his home. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednes-day at the Evangel-ical Free Church in Clinton with the Rev. Brian Pope officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Garden Plain (Ill.) Cemetery. He was born March 24, 1914, in Hartford, Mich., to James and Mabel Brooks Brown. He married Thelma Ragsdale on June 18, 1950, in Cornettsville, Ky. He was educated at the Warren, Ohio, grade school and graduated from Warren High School. He completed three years of post high school education at various colleges and universities. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Army. He was a member of the Clinton Evangelical Free Church and assisted with Iwana's. He was employed with the Open Door Children's Home in Cornettsville for 14 years in various capacities including teaching for the home's school and lastly serving as the home's director. He most recently was employed with the J.T. Cullen Co., Fulton, from 1964 until his retirement. Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Mrs. Cheryl (Mike) Van Zuiden of Albert Lea, Minn.; five sons, Lewis Brown of Bluffton, Ind., David (Beverly) Brown of Bettendorf, Dwight Brown of Camanche, Maurice (Debbie) Brown of Fulton and Rayford (Kelly) Caudill of Silver Lake, Ind.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Clinton Herald February 24, 2004

WARREN HARRY BROWN - Funeral services for Warren Harry Brown were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Melvin Funeral Home, with Rev. Loyal Wilkinson, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Sterling, officiating. Mrs. J. H. Linn was at the organ and Gerald Pontsler sang Beyond the Sunset and Jessue Whispers Peace. Burial was in Oak Knoll Memorial Park. Pallbearers were Clarence Lubbs, Homer Stinemeyer, Elwin Rhode, Dwight Reecher, Merlyn Buhrow and Floyd Sheehan. Flowers were cared for by Mrs. Dwight Reecher, Mrs. Elwin Rhode and Mrs. Clarence Lubbs.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois December 14, 1960 - Wednesday, page 6

WILLIS L. BROWN , 84, formerly of Tampico passed away Tuesday, Dec. 18 in the home of his daughter, Mrs. C.E. Trump of Waverly, N.Y., where he had gone a year ago to reside. The body is being forwarded from Waverly to Tampico, leaving there this evening. Tentative funeral plans are for 2 p.m. Saturday in the Parent funeral home, with the Rev. Hollis Wharton of the Tampico Methodist church in charge. Burial will take place in the Tampico Memorial cemetery. Mr. Brown was born February 5, 1861, on a farm southwest of Tampico. He and Minnie Badgley were married Oct. 16, 1884, making their home on a farm first and later moving into Tampico. She passed away in July, 1940. A son, Burdette J. Brown, died in May, 1935. Mrs. Trump and three grandchildren, Mrs. John H. Woods of Sterling, Mrs. Dorothy Boyle and William Trump of Waverly, N.Y. survive.
Contributed by Georgi DiBartolo - Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois, Thursday, December 20, 1945