at Decorah. Merlin and Elsie were married 21 Apr 1946 at First Lutheran Church, Decorah, by Dr. I A. Hoff.

Merlene has 3 brothers, all born in Decorah: Gerald Phillip , Harold Lester  and Marc Wayne .

Wally and Merlene were married 5 May 1979 at Burr Oak Lutheran Church, Burr Oak, IA by Pastor Bernhardt Polesky. They have 3 children: Erin Michelle , Anthony Patrick “Tony”  - (Erin and Anthony were born at the Fairview Hospital, Minneapolis, MN) and Andrew Merlin ‘Andy” born  at Winneshiek Co. Memorial Hospital in Decorah.

The Wally and Marlene Brown family taken at the wedding of a niece on July 22, 1995. From left are Erin, Merlene, Andy, Waliey and Tony.

Wally attended grades K-12 at Woodbury, MN and graduated from Woodbury Senior High May 1976. Merlene was in the first class that attended grades K-12 at North Winneshiek Community School, rural Decorah. She graduated May 1977 and was salutatorian of her class.

Wally worked at Western Life Insurance Co. and Honeywell Corp., both in St. Paul, MN. Merlene worked for the Department of Natural Resources and Western Life Insurance Co. in St. Paul until 1989 when they moved to Burr Oak. Then both went to work at Luther College in Decorah. Later they worked for Sweet Computer Services in West Union, IA.

Wally, Merlene and family belong to Burr Oak Lutheran Church and the Harmony, MN Golf and Country Club. Erin and Tony belong to 4-H and Tony is also a Boy Scout. The whole family is into sports, spending time at Erin and Tony’s Little League games, along with Merlene and Wally’s co-ed softball games. In fall and winter it’s Erin's volleyball and basketball, Merlene's volleyball and Wally’s bowling. They enjoy going on family trips with their camper where they can go biking and hiking on trails. They also like to go fishing and golfing when they can. Little Andy likes to play with his kitten named “Sox” along with his 2 puppies “Kiley” and "Riley”.

Brush, Samuel and Theadotia (Grandy)

(Delinda M. Tenney)

Samuel Forbes Brush was born in Quebec, Canada 12 Jul 1819 the son of James and Sarah (Forbes) Brush. Samuel had one known brother, Ira Otis. Samuel married Theadotia Ann Grandy. She was born 29 Mar 1823 in St. Lawrence Co., NY to Levi Grandy, Sr. and Amanda Graham. Levi was born 3 Nov 1793 and Amanda was born 10 Apr 1794. Theadotia’s brothers and sisters were: Orlin Orsen, Charlotte, Samuel, Steven, Polly Bethia, Azuba Marrah, Julia, Amanda, Levi, Jr., Louisa, Levi, Jr., Lewis and John A.

Samuel and Theadotia were married 11 Jul 1842 in St. Lawrence Co. They had 7 children: Thomas Pearl, Julia Sophia, Amanda, Amza Alphonzo, Monola, Samuel and his twin. (Samuel and his twin died at birth.)

Thomas Pearl was born 10 May 1843 in St. Lawrence Co. He married Mrs. Sarah (Polley) Wray, widow of Caleb Wray, 14 Apr 1863 in Castalia, IA. Their children were: Ethra A., Ermina, Amanda, Charles E., Earl S., Glen A. and Ralph E. Thomas married Mrs Nettie Happy 6 Apr 1910. Thomas died 11 Jul 1916 and is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Brooklyn, IA. Sarah died 16 Mar 1908 and Nettie died 25 Mar 1916.

Julia Sophia is listed under the Daniel and Julia McMartin family history.

Amza ’Amzy” Alphonzo was born 25 May 1849 in Rock County, Wl. He married Eliza ‘Jennie” Jane Cole 10 Apr 1870 in Winneshiek Co., IA. Their children were: Mrs. William Ryan; S.A., E.A. and F.A. Brush; Mrs. Frank West; Mrs. William Graham; Mrs. William Smith; Elsie F., Carrie E. and Raymond A. Brush. Amzy died 6 Mar 1929 and Jennie died 2 Oct 1934. Both are buried in the Rector Cemetery at Chelsea, IA.

Theadotia Ann (Grandy) Brush died 12 Jun 1859 after giving birth to twins. She and the twins are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery near Castalia.

Samuel Forbes Brush, still grieving for his beloved wife, enlisted in Company C of the 12th IA Volunteer Infantry to fight in the Civil War. He was captured at the battle of Shiloh and sent to Libby Prison. After 7 months of sickness and hunger at Libby a “prisoner exchange" was announced. The prisoners to be exchanged were put into train cars with very little food and no water. When the train stopped somewhere along the James River in Virginia, the prisoners headed straight for the river water. Samuel drank so much that his stomach swelled and he died of internal injuries. It was 31 Oct 1862 and he was buried at sea off the coast of Virginia. After Samuel’s enlistment Ira O. Brush took Samuel’s children into his family. They lived at Grinnell, IA.

Bruvold, Harris and Lillian (Orvella)

(Lillian Bruvold)

Harris Norman Bruvold was born  in Glenwood Twp. to A. Oscar and Helma C. (Williams) Bruvold. Harris attended the Baker School in Glenwood Twp. and continued on to Decorah High School, graduating in May 1971.