George Atwood Brown (1841-1932) Obituary

OBITUARY as printed in the Ogle County Reporter:

LAST OREGON CIVIL WAR VETERAN HAS ANSWERED "TAPS"

Death of Rev. George Atwood Brown, Worthy Man, Citizen and Soldier
The passing, Saturday morning, April 2, of Rev. George A. Brown, venerable and highly esteemed resident of this community, removes another strand in the rapidly disintegrating fabric that contacts present generation cycles, with those of an almost remote earlier period. Rev. Brown attained his ninety-first birth anniversary, February 19 of this year. He was the last civil war veteran, resident of Oregon.
He was born near Russelltown, Canada, February 19, 1841 and came to Ogle county at the age of ten, following the death of his parents, to make his home with a sister here. In 1859 he made the trip west at a time when the frontier of civilization was virtually the Mississippi River, first visiting the Pike's Peak region and later pressing on to California in the quest of gold that has persevered following discovery of the precious metal in 1849.
As a Californian, he enlisted for service in the civil war, enrolling August 29, 1864, in the Second regiment, Company F. He was stationed in California during the remaining period of the war and after receiving honorable discharge from the service, June 27, 1866, he returned to Ogle county.
At the age of thirty, Rev. Brown became a minister of the Chrisitan church, filling pastorates at Woodhall in McHenry county, North Grove, Lindenwood, Leaf River and Industry. During his service with the Lindenwood charge, the membership of the church was increased from eight to thirty-five persons.
Throughout his long and useful career, Mr Brown's interest in religious and civic affairs was of effectual demonstration. He was keenly alert to matters germane to the public life of community, state and nation, never failing to exercise the faculty of citizenship. He was beloved in all realms and was regarded as a solacing refuge in time of sorrow and bereavement, responding to frequent calls to conduct the funerals of deceased friends.
He was a loyal and efficient member of the Oregon Grand Army post and filled with credit at various times, every office in the post allotment. When the local post was abandoned because of a vanishing quota, summoned by death, he affiliated with the Dixon post. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows for seventy years. During a period of hears, he served as magistrate discharging the duties of that post with ability.
There survive to mourn his passing, three daughters, Mrs. Charles Jacobsen of Oregon, Mrs. G. W. Blocker of Franklin Grove and Mrs. R. L. Godfrey of River Forest; also seven grandchildren.
The funeral service was held Tuesday afternoon, from the Oregon municipal coliseum, the obsequies being in charge of Rev. G. Eldred Marsh, pastor of the Church of God and Rev. R. W. Pitman, pastor of the Leaf River Christian Church. In token of the high esteem in which the deceased was held and in tribute to the passing of Oregon's last civil war veteran, flags were placed at half-mast, on public buildings of the county and city, the day of the funeral and businesses of the community suspended during the funeral interval. The final rites in Washington Cemetery, included military honors, accorded a loyal soldier in the service of God, country and humanity.

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