Esther (Barnett) Brown Obit

Mrs. Esther Brown
Esther Barnett, daughter of Isaac and Lydia (Schwartz) Barnett was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania May 27, 1837 and died at her home in Roberts, Tuesday, April 15th, 1924, aged 86 years, 10 months and 19 days.
In 1849 she came with her parents to Pike County, Illinois. Here she grew to womanhood and in 1857 she was married to William McMeans. To them was born one daughter, now Mrs. Louis Jane Koon of Salem, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. McMeans moved to Iowa where he died. She then returned to Pike County, Illinois and later to Brown County. Here she was married in 1863 to F.M. Brown. To them were born three daughters and two sons, all of whom are living. They are Mrs. Mary Hahn of Roberts, Mrs. Annie Grice of Naushua, Montana, John of Charleston, Washington, Mrs. Henrietta Miller of Chicago, and Frank of Paul's Valley, Oklahoma.
In 1874 she and Mr. Brown came to Roberts where she has spent fifty of the nearly eighty-seven years of her life. Her husband died eight years ago the 21st day of last December. After his death she went to Montana but not liking the climate and longing for the home associations of more than forty years she came back to Roberts, where she remained until called to the home eternal not made with hands.
Besides the children already mentioned she leaves one brother Levi Barnett of Hiattsville, Kansas, one sister, Mrs. Sarah Bond of Roberts, fourteen grand-children, twenty-five great-grand-children and one great-great-grand-child besides numerous other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Brown was one of the oldest members of the Roberts M. E. Church having been an active member of the organization here for the past forty-eight years. She was faithful in attendance and was a woman of many good qualities as will be testified to by the close friends who knew her best. She was strong in her convictions and never wavering though she might be misunderstood. Her span of life having been extended almost a score of years beyond the allotted three score years and ten, those now living could know but little of the events occurring during her prime. However we do know that she was of that sturdy stock which developed our state from a bleak prairie to become the garden spot of America. We who have lived only in lap of civilization can never appreciate the elements of character demanded to overcome the obstacles of these early days.
The funeral services were held at the M. E. Church Thursday afternoon April 17th, at two o'clock. The remains were then laid to rest in Lyman Cemetery.
Her daughter, Mrs. Miller of Chicago, and her son Frank of Oklahoma were among those from a distance who attended the funeral. The following also were in attendance:  Mrs. Faye Lays and Fred Brown of Chicago; Mrs. Hazel Cavanaugh of Danville, Lee Brown of Paxton and Mrs. Ruth Pru of Joliet.

--Roberts Herald.  23 April 1924.