Elizabeth Brady Ekengren, 1841-1923

Mrs. Elizabeth Brady Ekengren who died at the home of her son, Frank D. Ekengren on last Tuesday, was born in Sutton, Va., in 1841. She came with her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. F. Fisher to Kansas in 1856. They located near Gardner on a farm.

In 1865 Elizabeth Brady was married to C. W. Ekengren. They had four children, Harry who died in 1889, William F., who died in 1922, Fred living in the state of Washington, and Frank D., of Olathe. C.W. Ekengren passed away in 1897.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Ekengren maintained her own home until recent months when she went to live for the winter,. as she expected, with her son Frank.

The funeral was held last thursday afternoon at the First Community Church, burial was made in the Olathe cemetery.

At the service, the pastor of the church,. spoke of the coming of this old settler into Johnson County, suggesting that the women, ho were home builders, were real pioneers and builders of the state.

That Mrs. Ekengren and her husband were among a small group of people who were charter members of the old Congregational Church, now merged into the First Community Church. She was the last of these charter members.

The service at the church, and the larger number who were there to pay their respect to her memory, including members of the Women"s Relief Corps, was a fitting tribute to this little woman who rounded out years of beautiful, useful life.

It was a privilege for her to have spent the last few weeks of her life in the family of her son Frank, and have the care of her daughter-in-law, and her grandchildren, and other close relatives and friends.

The following tribute sent to the family and coming from Mrs. M.V.B. Parker and daughters will interest many who knew this woman who left old Virginia as a girl and cast in her lot with those ho commence the settlement of Olathe in 1856.