Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Brown, Ira L. 1920
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Marilyn Ransom mransom311@gmail.com June 1, 2014, 3:23 pm

The Portland Observer, Thursday, July 8, 1920


More than a year of torture and suffering ended, Tuesday, for Ira Brown of 
Sebewa, whose hopeless affliction, caused by a sarcoma or malignant tumor, 
created much sympathy hereabouts.  Death closed the young sufferer’s eyes at 
1:30 o’clock Tuesday and, under the circumstances, even his nearest relatives 
were glad that the struggle had come to a close.  

Mr. Brown’s unusual affliction was brought on in a very peculiar way, a year 
ago last month, at a roller skating rink in Muskegon, when a small lad, with 
whom Brown was tussling, twisted the young man’s arm behind his back and 
sprained it.  This sprain brought on all of Browns’ trouble.  A large growth 
began to develop on his left shoulder soon after the incident and after 
Muskegon physicians had treated him for several weeks, only to give up in 
despair, Brown consulted the Mayo brothers, at Rochester, Min.  Here the 
sarcoma was cut open and portions of it analyzed under the microscope.  The 
Mayos told Brown they could do nothing to save him and the unfortunate young 
man then came to the home of his sister, Mrs. George A. Holton, at Sebewa 
corners, where he had since been patiently awaiting his turn to die.  The tumor 
grew steadily and at the time of Mr. Brown’s death had attained gigantic 
proportions, having measured 46 inches from tip to tip.  It began at the breast 
bone, extended across the chest to the shoulder and down to the left elbow, the 
infected part of the arm having grown to four or five times its normal size.  
Mr. Brown had been bedfast at the home of his sister for the past four months 
and notwithstanding his intense suffering he bore his lot patiently.

Brown was 22 years of age last September.  He was born at Sebewa corners and 
had lived there steadily until the last four years, during which time he had 
been employed at Muskegon.  His mother, Mrs. Julia Spangler, resides at Sebewa 
corners.  His sisters are Mrs. Queenie Holton, of Charlotte, and Mrs. Bertha 
Holton, of Sebewa, and his brothers are Hiram Brown, of Olivet, Will, Norris 
and Allie Brown, of Muskegon.

Funeral services were held at the Holton residence, at Sebewa corners, at 10:00 
o’clock this (Thursday) morning, and the remains were buried in the Danby 
township cemetery.

George J. VanHorn, Portland Photographer, took a picture of Brown as he lay in 
his bed, several weeks ago, and for some time had had the picture on display in 
his window, where it had attracted much attention and aroused much sympathy for 
the unfortunate sufferer.  Mr. VanHorn started a little purse for Brown by 
means of a little card in the window, inviting contributions of 25˘ each, and 
by the time Brown died a fund of $16 had been raised to help defray the expense 
of his sickness and burial.


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