This short biography is taken from the obituary written about Joanna Osborne Brody, who was kin to my GGG-grandmother Emma Jane Osborn Harrison and to the family of James Brice Harrison & Mahala Osborn Harrison of Benton County, Iowa.

September 1921
"SPENT 78 YEARS ON SAME FARM"

Eighty-one years a resident of Benton County, and seventy-eight of these lived on the same farm, is the record of Mrs. Joanna Brody, who died Saturday at 5:15 A.M., at the old Brody homestead in Polk Township, two miles South of Urbana. Had she lived until November 22, this year, she would have reached her 95th birthday. Her death was due to the ailments of old age, and she was confined to her bed about a week.

Joanna Osborne, daughter of Jonathan and Susanna Osborne, was born Nov. 22, 1826, in Indiana. In 1840 the Osborne family came West to Iowa, making the trip by wagon, and they landed in Center Point on July 4, 1840. March 2, 1843, Miss Osborne was married to Hugh Brody, who was born in Ohio, in 1817, settled in Polk Township in 1840. They went to housekeeping on land, which Mr. Brody entered from the government and this land, with many acres added to it, remains in the family today.

MOTHER OF ELEVEN
Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brody, of whom six are living. Samuel, the eldest son, is 77 years of age and is credited with being the first white child born in Polk Township. The other children are John Brody, who lives on the old homestead, and with whom the mother had made her home for some time; Alex Brody of Urbana; William Brody, of Vinton; Mrs. Chas. Kirkland, of Atkinson, Neb., and Mrs. David Shepherd, of Ontario, Calif. There is also one brother, J. H. Osborne, of Marion.

In addition to holding the record as the oldest settler in Benton County, Mrs. Brody held a record in number of descendents. Her grandchildren number 50, her great-grandchildren number 90, and in the fifth generation, the great great grandchildren, there are 19 living. For several annual reunions of the Brody family have been held at the Samuel Brody farm near Urbana, the last one having been held during the past month, and which was attended by about 121 members of the family. The aged mother, who has always been the guest of honor on these occasions, was unable to be present this year.

WAS WELL EDUCATED
Although having reached an advanced age, Mrs. Brody retained her mental faculties to a remarkable degree and kept well posted on the events of the day. It was her especial delight to tell of the early days in this county and she had an interesting way of telling them. This county was opened to settlers the year that she was married to Mr. Brody. While the Sac and Fox Indians ceded a portion of the county to the United States in 1832 and the balance in 1843, they continued to rove over the county as late as 1854, and Mrs. Brody can remember when Indians were frequent callers at their home. The first town established in the county was laid out within two miles of the Brody homestead in 1847. It was called Marysville, which name was later changed to Urbana.

TRAVELED IN LATE YEARS
Up to the time of the death of Mr. Brody eighteen years ago this month, Mrs. Brody had never gotten very far from home. The frugal habits which they acquired in the pioneer days and later when they were rearing their large family clung to them throughout life. Even after they had acquired a competence and their days of labor were over, they elected to stay by the old homestead. In the past eighteen years Ms. Brody has made three trips to California, and two or three to Minnesota. On one trip to California she remained almost a year.

Mrs. Brody had been a member of the Free Methodist Church for 45 years, and lived a consistent Christian life. She was held in highest esteem by her many descendents, as well as by all who knew her, and the closing days of her life were happy by having many members of her family around her.

Funeral services for Mrs. Brody were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the old home in Polk Township, with Rev. Mr. McKee, of Brandon, in charge, and interment will be in the Kisling Cemetery.