In physical appearance she was under medium height (5 ft. 3 1/2 in.) and her usual weight was 133 pounds. Her hair was medium brown and her eyes were yellow-blue-gray. He complexion was medium dark. She was right handed. Temperament intermediate, rather quiet and reserved.

She was brought by her parents to Peoria, Ill. in 1839 and to Osceola Township, Stark Co., Ill. in 1841. Moved to farm east of Buda, Ill. in 1875. Moved to Buda in 1883, to Urbana, Ill. in 1893 and to Los Angeles, Calif. in 1899 [actually late 1900 or early 1901] where she lived the remainder of her life.

Her education in schools was confined to attendance at a country school between the ages of twelve and nineteen. [But she had previously had some education at home.] She was fond of reading and kept up an active interest in books and papers in many lines all her life. She was good at memorizing and could repeat much of her early reading books in later life. SHe was skilful in many lines of domestic economy and was fond of flowers. She was a good manager and had much responsibility for matters outside as well as inside the house.

She had high standards of religion and morality and was active in maintaining religious life in the home. She was a reader and a thinker in religious matters and never lost her interest in religion and its application to the social life of the community. She was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church at the age of 20 and has maintained her interest in various activities in the church throughout her life as circumstances would permit.

Her general health was good, not being inclined to any special troubles except at times having some pain in the back of the nature of lumbago. She had no defects of eyes or ears and had full use of all her senses and faculties to old age.

At times during her life she had some accidents and contagious diseases. She was bitten by a rattlesnake at about the age of twelve years. She had a severe attack of typhoid fever at seventeen, erysipelas at 36, and measles at 39. Near the end of her life she had an attack of gall bladder trouble which eventually led to her death.

She died in Los Angeles, Cal. on Sunday morning, August 16, 1925.

[HSB also wrote a longer, more personal and detailed piece about his mother Sarah Brode, which I'll post in the future. Sarah wrote letters roughly once or twice a month from 1905 to 1925 to HSB, which he saved and are still extant.]