William’s siblings were: Myron;(19 Aug 1894- 26 Sep 1917) - he served in WWI, was killed in action and is buried in France; Allen Everett, married Mildred McShane; Jessie Winifred, married John Ralston in 1927 and later moved West to Junction City, OR; and Kenneth, married Colene Barbara Wendel.

On 15 Sep 1918 William entered service at Camp Dodge and later went to Camp Beouregard, LA where he was placed in the medical corps at Base Hospital No. 121. In Nov 1918 he went to Camp Beau Desert, France where he contracted the disease (rheumatic fever) which finally ended his life. William married Gladys Ruby Huffman of Rossville, IA 16 Jun 1920. Gladys was born 25 Dec 1902 in Allamakee Co., the daughter of William Milton and Emma (Wilson) Huffman. William Huffman was born 2 Jun 1867 and Emma was born 11 Sep 1876, both in Allamakee Co. William and Emma were married 12 Sep 1894. Glady’s siblings were: Hazel Irene (Mrs. Ernest Julius Webster); Ruth Pearl (Mrs. Carl Gerhardt Smedsrud); Anna Marie (Mrs. Gilbert Leroy Roderick); Ethel Emma (Mrs. Alva H. Smith); Helen Marguerite (Mrs. Austin David Ames); and William Milton, Jr., who married Alice Helming.

William and Gladys Brooks

William farmed in Allamakee Co. until Nov 1925 when the family moved to Wisconsin where they farmed near Ladysmith until he was forced to give it up on account of failing health. William died 6 Sep 1927 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery, rural Allamakee Co.

William and Gladys had 5 children: Delmar (15 Dec 1920-28 Dec 1994); Dorothy Hazel,  married Ralph Nelson 28 Jan 1946; Dolores Mae,  married Arnold Rohm 9 Dec 1945; William Herbert, Jr., , married Dorothy Vick Brown 28 Aug 1949; and Joyce Lorene (1 Apr 1927-27 Feb 1982), married James Whalen 4 Aug 1947. (See individual family histories.)

Gladys married Oscar Theodore Tovson 5 Jan 1957, Oscar died 21 Jan 1978 and Gladys died 2 Jul 1971. They are burried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Brown, Charles and Orpha (Thias)

(Mary Svendsen)

Charles R. Brown, son of Rufus J. and Mary (Vaughn) Brown, was born 6 Sep 1892 at Arcadia, NE. He attended grade school, but did not finish the 8th grade because the family needed any financial help he could contribute. He was a soldier in the U.S. Army in World War I. Charles worked at various jobs after his discharge from the Army.

Charles married Orpha Thias 29 Jun 1927 in Aurora, IL. Orpha, the daughter of John B. and Sophie (Campbell) Thias, was born 6 Jul 1905 in Linton Twp., Allamakee Co, IA. She attended Waukon High School.

Early in their married life they moved to Orpha’s father's farm in Linton Twp. In 1937 they decided to quit farming because of health reasons. They moved to Castalia where Charlie became a service station proprietor. He built his own service station next to their home. During World War II the family moved to Burlington, IA where Charlie worked for the Murray Iron Works. When they moved back to Castalia, he bought out the tavern business of Frank Schweinefus and the former service station became a tavern and cafe. In the 1940’s they bought the Castalia Town Hall and moved the business there. In 1951 they moved to an acreage north of Rossville, IA. In 1970 they moved to Harpers Ferry, IA where they purchased a small motel.

Charles and Orpha Brown were the parents of 3 children: Mary M., Charles W. and Kay. Mary M. was born  in Aurora, IL. She graduated from Postville High School. She married Arthur Svendsen. Her profession is homemaker, Nurse Aide and Medication Aide. They farm in Bloomfield Twp. Their children are: Evelyn Einck, Larry Svendsen, Norma Koenig and David Svendsen. Charles W. attended Postville High School until the 10th grade. He married Virginia Richey. Virginia, the daughter of Allen and Beatrice (Shoot) Richey, was born  in Ashmore, IL. After serving in the Army in Germany, Chuck worked for the Winneshiek Co. Road Commission. He met an untimely death while clearing roads during a severe winter storm on 6 Jan 1971. The snow plow he was driving became stuck in the snow during the night and the exhaust fumes came up into the cab. Charles died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Charles and Virginia's children are: Sherry Whitehead, Jerry, Charles “Terry” and Gary. Sherry L. married James Whitehead. They live in Hudson, IA. . Their children are: Heather (15 Apr 1981-12 Dec 1982, died of sudden infant death), Brandon  and Taneasha. Charles “Terry" . Gary G. . Kay  graduated from Postville High School. Kay married Charles S. Grant. Their children are: Michael G., Julie M., Patricia and Dana. They