Person:Elizabeth Minger (2)

OBITUARY: GUTTENBERG PRESS, Guttenberg, Iowa, March 2, 1943.

PIONEER OF COMMUNITY DIES MONDAY. MRS. ELIZABETH BROWN STRICKEN AT MEETING. RITES THURSDAY.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon from the Goshen church for Mrs. Elizabeth C. Brown, 86, pioneer resident of Millville township. The services will be held at 2:00 o'clock at the church and will be preceded by services at the home at 1:30 o'clock.

IN GOOD HEALTH. Mrs. Brown was apparently in good health and was attending a meeting of the Royal Neighbors Lodge at Millville. While at the meeting, Mrs. Brown was stricken with a heart attack and died within a short time, passing at 10:00 p.m.

Mrs. Brown, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Minger, was born December 19, 1857. She was married to John W. Brown on May 8, 1879 at Cassville, Wisconsin.They made their home in the community throughout their entire lifetime.

SEVEN CHILDREN. To this union seven children were born, two of which, along with Mr. Brown preceded her in death. One died in infancy and another, John Henry, died at the age of two years. Mrs. Brown had long been a leader in the activities of the United Brethren church at Goshen and had spent much time in keeping the little church active, along with the --- society. She was a charter member of the Royal Neighbors at Millville and had for many years held an office of service.

FIVE CHILDREN SURVIVE. Mrs. Brown is survived by five children: Mrs. Nellie White, George and Arthur Brown of Guttenberg, Mrs. Bertha Moser of Colesburg and Charles Brown of West Bend. Thirteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren also survive. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Ella White and Mrs. Susie Kenyon and four brothers, John, Frank, Henry and Charley Minger, all of Guttenberg.

Mrs. Brown has enjoyed good health until the evening of her death with the exception of several years ago when she was ill for a short time. Pallbearers for the services will be Messrs. Brian, Harry, Kenneth Palmer, Arthur Graybill, Al---- Penhollow and _____ Becker.

BIOGRAPHY: Written by Mae Brown Siemers Rand

CAROLINE ELISABETH (MINGER) BROWN, 1857-1944, and JOHN WILLIAM HUGH GIBBONS BROWN, 1856-1901

Caroline Elisabeth Minger, born on Saturday, 19 December 1857, was the third child of Johann and Elisabeth (Hassig) Minger. Her baptism record in St. John's Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, Iowa reads: Caroline Elisabeth Minger, daughter of Johann Minger and Elisabeth Hesseck, born 19 December 1857; baptized 11 July 1858. The sponsors were Benedict Minger and Barbara Jaberg (brother and sister of Johann Minger). Caroline Elisabeth, known as Elisabeth or Lizzie, lived her childhood years on her parent's farm. At the age of eight she had scarlet fever from which she nearly died. This could well have been at the same time that her younger sister Sarah died at age 7. Since there was not a school in the area where her parents lived, Elisabeth stayed with her grandparents in Jefferson Township for about three months during the winter months so that she could attend Jolly Ridge near their farm home. She walked about 1 1/2 miles to school and in later years she told of how terribly cold it was and that she did not have warm enough clothing. In place of overshoes she had to wrap strips of cloth around her feet. On one occasion she was chased home from school by a wild animal.

We can believe that, as the oldest daughter in the family Elisabeth had to work very hard in her growing-up years, and that she must have been a big help to her mother in caring for her eleven younger brothers and sisters. Thomas Henry Brown and his wife, who had immigrated to America from England, also had a farm in Millville Township and lived not far from the Mingers. Thomas and Sarah had one child, a son named John William who was about 1 1/2 years older than Elisabeth.