Individual Details

Elizabeth Thompson LANG

(20 May 1876 - 3 May 1968)

Elizabeth was born in Madison Twp. north of Brooklyn, Ia. She attended local rural schools and Brooklyn High School. She joined the Methodist Church in Madison Township when she was ten years old. When she was sixteen she moved with her parents to the city of Brooklyn. She was the youngest of the Lang children, was 20 years younger than her oldest sister, so she was the last one to marry and leave home.
When she was about 16 or so, she painted several pictures, all of which were framed and still exist. Known to me are pictures in the possession of Betty Breniman Tice (granddaughter ) Judy Vostal (granddaughter), Dorothy Windust (daughter), Helen Maylon (granddaughter), Deann Evans (great-granddaughter), and Marion Ormiston Otto (grand-niece). When Dorothy Windust and Helen Maylon passed away, I do not know who got those two pictures. I suspect that Wallis Windust has them, but I'm not sure. Marion Otto, in 1997, told me that Elizabeth's cousin, Bessie Lang Breckenridge taught her how to paint. I have 35mm pictures of all but one of these pictures my grandmother painted...PR
Elizabeth, in later life, had arthritis very bad. Her hands curled so much from this affliction. Looking back to when I was small and visiting their home, I do not believe in later years that she and Edward were very happy in their lives together. I do not remember seeing her laugh or even smile. I have one wonderful picture of them both laughing.
It is believed that Elizabeth had a miscarriage that was never recorded. Wallace, her son, remembers being sent outside to play. He was a fairly small child and this took place at the Lang house on East Des Moines St. in Brooklyn. Years later, his sister, Dorothy told him about the miscarriage.
A few months after Edward died, Dorothy and Jean came to Iowa and helped their mother clear out the home, packed up most of her things and shipped them to Dorothys home in California and Jeans home in Chicago. Dorothy took her mother back to California to live with her for a few years. One day Wallace went to a farm sale, and there someone told him that his mother had been brought back to Iowa and put into a nursing home in Marengo, Ia. Over these few years there had been hard feelings between Dorothy, Jean and Wallace about the handling of Edwards estate and Elizabeths care and this did not make matters any better. Wallace was so hurt and angry over the disputes that he never spoke to his sisters to the day he died, 20 years later.
Elizabeth died at the Marengo Memorial Hospital of bronchial pneumonia. She had bronchial asthma.

Events

Birth	20 May 1876	Madison, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Birth	20 May 1876	Brooklyn, Poweshiek Co., IA
Marriage	30 Aug 1905	Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA - Edward Everett BRENIMAN
Marriage	30 Aug 1905	Brooklyn, Poweshiek Co., IA - Edward Everett BRENIMAN
Alt name	30 Aug 1905	Elizabeth Thompson BRENIMAN
Death	3 May 1968	Marengo Memorial Hospital, Marengo, Iowa, Iowa, USA
Death	3 May 1968	Marengo Memorial Hospital, Marengo, Iowa Co., IA
Burial	Aft 3 May 1968	IOOF Cemetery, Brooklyn, Poweshiek Co., IA
Burial	6 May 1968	Brooklyn I.O.O.F. Memorial Cemetery, Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Alt name		Elizabeth Thomson "Lizzie" LANG
Reference No		1100
ChildParent
Reference No		P5

Families

Spouse	Edward Everett BRENIMAN (1878 - 1961)
Child	Dorothy Lang BRENIMAN (1906 - 1997)
Child	Wallace Lang BRENIMAN (1910 - 1988)
Child	Jean Lang BRENIMAN (1912 - 1998)

Father	Gavin LANG ( - )
Mother	Jane THOMSON ( - )

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)