Individual Details

Edward Everett BRENIMAN

(30 Aug 1878 - 13 Jun 1961)

Edward Breniman was born on a farm southwest of Brooklyn, Iowa, where he lived most of his life with the exception of about eighteen years when he lived in Brooklyn. He attended rural school near Brooklyn, and Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Ia. Early in his life he was active in IOOF, K.P. Lodge, and the Masonic Lodge. While living in Brooklyn he was a member of the Brooklyn Board of Education and Brooklyn Town Council and Patron of O.E.S. Besides being a farmer, he was also a skilled electrician.
In 1951 Edward fell and broke his hip and was kept at the Community Hospital at Grinnell for some time, more than a month. He was not well for a while before he died, but did not go to the hospital. He had Dropsie and died of a heart attack. (I was later told that it was believed that Grandpa had cancer, but it was never confirmed. PR)
I remember.....Grandpa sitting in the rocker by the kitchen window...how tall Grandpa seemed when I was little...Grandma's big kitchen cook stove...the home canned pork Grandma fixed us...Grandpa giving me pennies when we went to visit, wrapped in paper...the little room to the west of the kitchen where a "chamber pot" was kept...the outhouse...the apple orchard...getting to explore the unused upstairs part of the house...Grandma's sewing machine...the piano in the living room, the leather sofa, the rocker near the oil stove...the can of "peanuts" Grandpa always tricked us with...the water pump down the long sidewalk...staying overnight only one time, when my sister, Betty, was born...the starfish and unusual rocks in Grandpas bookcase...Grandma and Grandpa's 50th Anniversary when I got to leave school early...Daddy leaving home so often to go check on them...the day Grandpa died...taking care of Grandma for two weeks after I graduated from school...PR
Pat Breniman Rowell has in her possession many original land deeds and mortgage papers between Edward and his father, Christian D. Breniman. She has many papers with original signatures of Edward, Elizabeth and Christian Breniman. She also has old membership cards of Edwards for the Royal Masons of Iowa, Scottish Rite, Corinthian Lodge, and certificates from various other organizations he belonged to.
Her biggest treasure is a 3 pc. bedroom set that once belonged to the Brenimans. She also has a rug beater, small dresser, "Sleepy Eye" pitcher, and many photos relating to them.

Events

Birth	30 Aug 1878	Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Birth	30 Aug 1878	Brooklyn, Poweshiek Co., IA
Marriage	30 Aug 1905	Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA - Elizabeth Thompson LANG
Marriage	30 Aug 1905	Brooklyn, Poweshiek Co., IA - Elizabeth Thompson LANG
Death	13 Jun 1961	Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Death	13 Jun 1961	Brooklyn, Poweshiek Co., IA
Burial	Aft 13 Jun 1961	Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery, Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Burial	16 Jun 1961	IOOF Cemetery, Brooklyn, Poweshiek Co., IA
Education		State Normal School, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
Reference No		1099
ChildParent
Reference No		P4

Families

Spouse	Elizabeth Thompson LANG (1876 - 1968)
Child	Dorothy Lang BRENIMAN (1906 - 1997)
Child	Wallace Lang BRENIMAN (1910 - 1988)
Child	Jean Lang BRENIMAN (1912 - 1998)

Father	Christian Durig BRENIMAN ( - 1924)
Mother	Julia Annah "Annah" PIERCE (1845 - 1916)
Sibling	Bertha Annah BRENIMAN (1868 - 1952)
Sibling	Barbara Irene BRENIMAN (1870 - 1930)
Sibling	Dr. Elbridge Maxwell BRENIMAN (1871 - 1944)
Sibling	Frances Julia "Fanny" BRENIMAN (1874 - 1911)
Sibling	Marie Elizabeth BRENIMAN (1876 - 1941)
Sibling	Carolina Virginia "Callie" "Virginia" BRENIMAN (1883 - 1969)

Notes

Marriage

Notice in the newspaper.....Edward Everett Breniman of Lincoln Twp.,Brooklyn, Iowa, and Miss Elizabeth Thomson Lang of Brooklyn, Iowa were married Wednesday eve at 8 o'clock 30 August 1905, at the home of the brides' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gavin Lang on Des Moines Street in Brooklyn, Iowa. The Rev. Dr. E. Benson of the Presbyterian Church officiated.
I have a copy of their Marriage Record. It lists the witnesses as Thomas Graham (brother-in-law to Elizabeth) and H.T. Lang (brother to Elizabeth). I also have a copy of the colored Certificate of Marriage (original is in the possession of Dorothy L. Breniman Windust) and the witnesses are Guy Ormiston and Virginia Breniman. Their actual marriage record spells Edward's last name with 2 n's, rather than one.
Newspaper article...A lovely wedding took place at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Gavin Lang on Des Moines Street Wednesday evening August 30th, at 8 o'clock, when their youngest daughter Elizabeth was united to Edward Everett Breniman.
The ceremony was performed by Dr. Benson, the happy couple standing in front of the large window in the east parlor, which was hung with smilax, roses and pink chrysanthemums, the lace curtains being used as a foundation. The company was composed almost exclusively of relatives of the contracting parties, and was very congenial. Three sisters of the bride, Mrs. Wilson of Marshalltown, Mrs. Israel Ormiston and Mrs. Thomas Graham and her sister-in-law Mrs. Hugh Lang presided over the supper which was served in exquisite taste.
The bridal gifts were numerous and beautiful and there were a half dozen envelopes containing money. The match is a most happy one and the congratulations sincere.
The bride wore a lovely white gown with a fall of finest lace about nine inches deep around the shoulders and a yoke of embroidered filmy net. She is one of Brooklyn's fairest and best daughters, as her husband is one of it's handsomest and best young men. They start out under propitious circumstances, and their friends wish and expect for them a happy life journey.
They took the morning through train for Denver where they will stay two weeks, after which they will keep house at the groom's home south-east of town.
Edward and Elizabeth "Lizzie" celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1955. There was an evening dinner party held at their farm home with Dorothy Windust of California, Jean McIlrath and her family of Chicago, Wallace Breniman and his family of Montezuma, Virginia Breniman of Grinnell, John A. Lang and Agnes Lang of Brooklyn present. ( I remember that evening very clearly, remember being able to leave school early to go and even remember the dress I was wearing. I have a group of pictures that were taken that evening. I still have the little sugar cubes from that evening. PR)