About these Brown Family Histories... (Book 1)

Books assembled and put together with much care and love by my grandmother Pearl Louise Sessions Porter.

Kept safe by my Uncle Todd Milton Hurst and transferred to a blog version by myself Tycie Alane Hurst Doyle, Granddaughter of Pearl Louise Sessions Porter.


I present three books covering the history of four generations of Brown's.

 

• BOOK ONE covers the life of Reverend William Washington and Jane Caldwell McBride-Brown of 1814, to his son John Dennis and Lillie Elsarlee Pride-Brown of 1853.
• BOOK TWO covers the life of his son, Charles McBride and Stella May McEuen-Brown of 1883.
• BOOK THREE covers the life of Ora Pearl Brown-Sessions-Sorenson 1908 (my  mother) the end of the surname "Brown".
  

     The full histories and genealogies of the children and their descendants of Ora Pearl Brown-Sessions-Sorenson is in the process of being written (1994).
     Look for it's assigned GS# in the Salt Lake City, Family History Center, Library Catalog under "Author-Title Section" Porter, Louise Sessions - Brown Family History."
     Each book presents certificates, letters, genealogy and histories of that person and their descendants.
     I have several other Allied Family Histories to these Brown's in the Salt Lake City, Family History Center that covers the same format as these Brown Histories.
McEuen Family History - GS# 1,421,955. 1 Book - over 900 pages.
Mentelle Family History - GS# 1,597,552. 1 Book - over 300 pages.
Orton Family History - GS# 1,597,957. 2 Books - over 600 pages.
     I (Louise Sessions Porter) held a recording of session with my mother (Ora Pearl Brown-Sessions-Sorenson) November 1985 and taped everything she remembered about her Brown ancestors, parents to her children.
     I quite enjoyed this taping session with mom, she has a unique personality and a quick wit, a Brown trait, she made this effort most enjoyable. My mother died this past September 1992...........how I now cherish hearing her voice on these tapes.
     My folks taught me, as I'm sure they were taught that children were to be "seen and not heard" ...As a child I was always asking questions, wanting to know about this and that and was chastised many times for asking so many questions. I think it did not annoy my mother as much as my father. Since I have grown up I have learned that it was a very desirable asset and it has been the biggest contribution towards these autobiographies.
     Coupled with this trait was my desire to impart to my children what I have learned of their ancestors. These two traits are in a great measure responsible for this history. Genealogical work is to me both attractive and fascinating. Yet I have found that it involves hour of hard work and concentration.

    It's disappointments are only surmounted by the feeling of pleasure in seeing this work progress. By profession, I am a Nurse and not all that skilled in writing, so please bear with this amateur and enjoy this study of our Brown Families.

Here's our Brown Story, page by page
Happy youth, old and middle age;
Smile and tear drop, weal and woe,

Such as all who live must know.

Here it is all written down,

Not for glory or renown.
But the hope when I am gone;
Those who bravely follow on

Meeting care, pain and grief,

Will not falter in belief.
(author, in part, unknown)

To the right is a picture of my mother and myself
taken in Salem, Utah
February 11, 1990.


1993
Louise Sessions Porter
584 North Windsor Road
Price, Utah 84501
(801) 637-5327

Castle-Browne (Page 1-Book 1)

     Castle-Browne, the quondam seat of the family of Browne-Brown, is found about a mile from Clane, County Kildare, Leinster, England.
     The Brownes obtained the estate by intermarriage with the family of Wogan. The mansion was, a number of years ago, altered, enlarged, and converted into the Jesuits' College of CLONGOWES.
    

Crest - On a wreath argent and gules standing on a mount vert of a roebuck salient or.

 

Table of Contents (Page 4-Book 1)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[BOOK ONE ONLY]

1          Brown Castle & Crest & Coat of Arms
2          About these three "Brown History Books"
4          Table of Contents
6          Our first Brown ancestors
8          Reverend William Washington Brown
10        Jane Caldwell McBride
12        Dade County Missouri
14        The Cumberland Presbyterian Ladies Pearl
20        Caseyville, Union, Kentucky
30        Portrait of Rev. W.W. Brown & Wife J.C. [McBride] Brown
36        Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary
45        Sermon notes of Rev. William Washington Brown, DD
84        I walked and listened to Grandpa Brown
86        FGR of W. W. & Margaret Brown
88        Histories & Family Group Records of the children of Rev. W.W. Brown
89        Harriet E. [Brown] Garrison
91        FGR of Margaret M. [Brown] Fike
101      FGR of Nancy Ann [Brown] Price
103      FGR of Robert W. Brown
105      FGR of Mollie E. [Brown] Gill
117      History of William J. Brown
123      FGR of William Jefferson Brown
125      History of James Logan Brown & Martha Brown
126      History of Charles Caldwell Brown
130      FGR of Charles Caldwell Brown
133      Life Graph of Rev. William Washington Brown [chronology]
136      History of John Dennis Brown
145      Mine disaster at Clay, Webster, Ky...William, Edward & Dewey Brown
151      History of William, Edward & Dewey Brown
153      John Dennis Brown, deceased
155      Letters (1944) from Lillie [Pride] Brown to great grand daughter Louise
173      Lillie Elsarlee [Pride] Brown, deceased
177      Bible Record of Lillie E. Brown
180      FGR of John Dennis Brown
181      FGR of Charles McBride Brown
183      Histories & Family Group Records: Children of John D. & Lillie Brown
185      Grace Truman [Brown] White
188      FGR of Grace T. [Brown] Baker - White
189      History of Lenna Elsarlee [Brown] Wingfield
191      FGR of Lenna E. [Brown] Wingfield
192      History of Jesse Pride Brown
193      History of Lillie Margaret [Brown] Culley
199      FGR of Lillie M. [Brown] Culley
201      Letter to Louise from Gussie [Culley] Ezelle
209      Letter to Louise from Ned Culley
211      Pedigree Chart from Louise thru the last known Brown ancestor

END OF BROWN BOOK #ONE, OF THREE BROWN BOOKS

BROWN (Page 5-Book 1)

     Who was the first man "BROWN", the very first He did create.
Who bore that name upon the earth, and where's the place that gave him birth?

     Was he a warrior, bold and brave, was he a freeman or a slave?
And did he go where others led, or blaze the way himself instead.

     And give and take the sturdy blows, that gained him friends, or made him
foes?
     T'is much we'd give these facts to know, who was the man "BROWN"
....how come he so?

     It may have been in days of old, some robber chieftain, fierce and bold.
Entrenched himself in some strong place, and levied tribute on his race!

     And when his earthly work was done, his heir was called "BROWN'S"
son.
Or else, perchance, some Robin good, like England's famous Robin Hood.

     Who spoiled the baron's herds and flocks, and gave unto the common
stock.
     Who loved him for the good he'd won, and wrought this title for his son!

 

But whether these be facts or not, upon this earthly garden spot.

     Once dwelt a man to fame unknown, the first to call this name his own.

But vain we've sought in modern lore, and musty legends long before.

     In eastern homes, in Western lands, In frozen North and Southern strands.

To try and search the fellow out; Remove the last and lingering doubt.

Of who we are, from whence we sprung, what language was our mother tongue?

 

     But whether he was Dennis or Charles, or Ken or Bob we do not know.

But we are looking for the chap---and want to get him on the map.

 

     And line him up and have it known, We've come at last into our own.

But to date he shies us still--mayhap 'twill be he ever will.

 

     But we are following back his trail, and feel assured we will not fail.

To land somewhere be it near or far, and hitch him to the family car.

 

     And trot him out and give him place, as ANCESTOR--of all BROWN'S!

Our First Brown Ancestors (Page 6-Book 1)

"The Brown Family......a large group of them sailed from Northern Ireland to Pennsylvania and made their way through Virginia into western North Carolina."
     This was told to the granddaughter of William and Jane Brown and passed to Billie Jean Brown-Hem, a 2nd great granddaughter.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

     "Along with the information that I (Charles Price Brown) copied from Grandpa William W. Brown's Bible is a set of notes that my father (Charles Caldwell Brown) gave me from memory when he was approximately 75 years old. Part of this may be correct. According to his memory, Jane Caldwell McBride, his mother, was born in Couth Carolina and his grandfather McBride was red-headed Scotchman..........Also according to dad's memory, his father William Washington Brown, was born in North Carolina, and his grandfather Brown was a Dutchman and his grandmother Brown was of Irish descent."
     This information was taken from a letter written by W.W. Brown's grandson, Charles Price Brown to Louise Sessions Porter, 4 November 1964.
     Katherine Carney, granddaughter of W.W. and Jane said that Jane was born in Scotland and came to the States with her parents when she was two years old and they settled in the opposite Carolina where the Brown family settled.
     Eleanor Booth another granddaughter said, "I cannot find where I found my McBride information.....gave away a lot of things, and now no one to ask! This is all I seem to remember." Eleanor contributed a lot of the foregoing history from the old Brown Bible she possessed at one time.........................

Reverend J.R. Brown (Page 7-Book 1)

      Reverend J.R. Brown, D.D, of Nashville, Tennessee was in several other states with our William Washington Brown, who was also a Reverend with a degree of Doctor of Deity. They worked together as editors of the "Ladies Pearl" in Missouri, a religious publication.
     Could this be William's father or brother? If so, then we might begin our research in Nashville as the possible residence of William!!!! The following information was taken from: Cumberland Presbyterian Church 1796-1887. By B.W. McDonald, Nashville, TN. Board of publication of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1888. 687 pp. Indexed.
     Page 460 - The consolidated organ was located at Nashville and the Rev. J.R. Brown D.D., was appointed editor. Among his accomplishments:
Author of "Lights On The Way" page 460
Editor of Cumberland Presbyterian, page 594
Editor of Saint Louis Observer, page 603
Editor of "The Ladies Pearl" page 603
Lights to Guide the Way was issued in 1879 by Dr. J.R. Brown.
     There is more history given concerning their editorship further into this history and other reason's to consider this relationship.

Robert & Jane (Dennis) Brown

     Robert & Jane (Dennis) Brown

     The Spring of 1999, I (Louise Sessions Porter) received a call from James (Jim) Joseph Brown (1952) , informing me that he had seen my Brown genealogy at the Salt Lake City, Family History Center.
     James is the son of Michael Charles Brown (1920) , grandson of Charles William Brown (1873) , great-grandson of John Brown (1832)  and 2nd great-grandson of Robert & Jane (Dennis) Brown (1791) .  
     Jim's great grandfather (John 1832) and my 2nd great-grandfather, William Washington Ritchey Brown (1814) are brothers.
     Until this date (1999) and researching for 40 some odd years I had found nothing on the parents or siblings of my William Brown (1814). Brown is a difficult name to search and discouragement sent me into other surnames, one that didn't have a million of the same names. My first cousin Billie Jean (Brown) Hem has taken up where I left off and has shared her finding with me. Needless to say we were most thankful when Jim contacted us.
     Included with the genealogical date are photo and headstone pictures, which I have added to my Brown Family History, [SLFHL #1598328].

    

Here are the headstones of Robert & Jane (Dennis) Brown
Robert Brown, Born 23 March 1791 & Died 16 March 1861

Jane Brown, Born 5 August 1790 & Died 3 October 1866

Resting in the Weir Cemetery (near Greenfield) Dade Co., Mo.

 

The Weir Cemetery

The Weir Cemetery

From Bill & Arline Brown - February 2002

 

 

This picture was taken at the entrance gate of the 'Weir Cemetery' located on privately owned cattle ranch. Fenced in to keep the livestock out.

This next picture is Bill Brown standing between his 3rd great grandparents. Jane (Dennis) Brown and Robert Brown.
Bill is the son of Oliver Dennis Brown from Charles McBride Brown, from William Washington Brown from Robert & Jane (Dennis) Brown.

The third picture is of the grave stones of Jane (Dennis) Brown on the left & Robert Brown on the right.

The fourth picture is the row of Brown graves beginning with Bill standing by

Jane Dennis - Robert - Nancy - John - Albina and Ala J. Brown.

The last headstone is missing.

The fifth picture is the headstone of Robert Brown,

141 years old and still in good shape.





Greenfield, Dad, Missouri Court House & Church

Bill and Arline Brown visit ancestral places (14 Feb 2002).

 

First picture is Bill in front of the court house where our 'Brown Roots' go deep.

 

 

The pictures to the right and left are a view of the Old Cumberland Presbyterian Church, established in 1839.

 

Letter of the Robert & Jane (Dennis) Brown Family

Author unknown, from James Joseph Brown (1952). This is the document used for the 'Ritchey' in William Washington Ritchey Brown (1814) name................

 

(Letter Reads)

Robert Brown was born

the 23rd day of March

1791.

Jane Brown wife of

Robert Brown was born

the 5th day of August

1790.

William Washington

Ritchey Brown was born

the 23rd day of October

1814.

Amory (?) Brown was born

the 26th of April 1817.

 

Namey(?) Dennis Brautnuas(?)
born the 13th day of October

1821.

 

 

 

 

(Upside down on the top reads)
"You will copy this with

ink as pencil will rub off"
 

(Letter Reads)
Sumril(?) Dennis Brown

was born the 12th day

of July 1826.

Eliza Brown was born

the 19th day of December

1829.

John Brown was born

the 2nd day of January

1832.

Eliza Brown departed this

life the 16th day of September 1835.

Robert Brown departed this

life the 16th day of March 1861.

Aged 71 years.

Jane Brown wife of Robert Brown

departed this life September 8th

1866. Aged 77 years.

Charles William & Catherine (Malone) Brown

Charles William & Catherine (Malone) Brown

13 November 1900

 

 

Reverend William Washington Brown (Page 8-Book 1)

     William Washington Brown was born and raised in South Carolina, 23 October 1814, according to the census reports, however, we must remember that during this era even a child could give the census enumerator this information, but the facts must be reported here even if we prove it wrong later. His grandson and granddaughter wrote that W.W. was born in North Carolina!

 the first son was named after the father's father, second son after the mother's father, the third son after the father and the forth son after his richest uncle.

    William's family was European and they had a naming custom that most adhered to until the end of the nineteenth century.......................
     The first daughter was named after the mother's mother, the second daughter after the father's mother, the third daughter after the mother and the fourth daughter after a favorite aunt.
     If they did follow this popular custom, William's father would be Robert W. Brown (perhaps Robert Washington Brown) and his mother Rachiel J., if they used this custom? Since the third son was given the father's name of William, it appears they did. This is a good research clue while tracing the parents of William and Jane.

CENSUS TAKER: "Good morning, madam; I'm taking the census."
OLD LADY: "The what?"
CENSUS TAKER: "The c-e-n-s-u-s!"
OLD LADY: "For Ian's sake! What with tramps takin' everytin they kin lay their hands on, young folks takin' fortygrafs of ye without so much as askin', an' impudent fellows coming round' as wants ter take yer senses, pretty soon there won't be nothin' left ter take, I'm thinking."

Family Group Record for Robert Brown/Jane Dennis (IMAGES ONLY)

 

 

Descendancy Chart for Robert Brown (IMAGES ONLY)

 

 

Family Group Record for John Brown/Albina Minerva Cowan (IMAGES ONLY)

John Brown Obituary

Obituary
John Brown was born in Monroe
County Tenn., Jan. 2nd 1832 and
departed this life Nov 20th 1916,
aged 84 years, 10 months and 19
days.

He came to Missouri with his
parents in 1849. He was united
in marriage to Albina M. Cowan
in 1858 and to this union were
born eight children, five boys
and three girls. One son, Albert
Brown preceded him in death at
the age of 26 years.

He leaves to mourn their loss,
a wife and seven children; Mrs.
Aley Davis, of Alden, Kansas;
Sherman Brown of Englewood,
Kansas; Robert D. Brown of
Fowler, Kansas; Mrs. Lou Boes
of Ingalls, Kansas; Jasper M.
Brown of Harper, Kansas; Chas
W. Brown of Lyons, Kansas; and
Mrs. Corda Simmons of Raymond,
Kansas; and a host of ??????????

Mr. Brown was a man who never
had an enemy or dispute ????????

John Brown enlisted as a volunteer
and was corporal in Company E
under Capt. E. Morris
15th Reg. Mo. Cavalry and served
during the war, from 1861 to 1865
and was honorably discharged
in June 1865.

He was converted in August
1900 and sanctified in December
1900. He united with the Wesleyan
Methodist church at the
Stone schoolhouse near Raymond,
Kansas. Afterward he gave the
ground for the church where it
now stands. He lived a consistent,
spirit filled Christian life until
his death.

The funeral services were held
at the Evangelical Church,
Wednesday afternoon, conducted
by Rev. A.B. Hotchkiss, assisted by
the pastor T.F. Childs.
 

William Washington Brown (Page 9-Book 1)

WILLIAM WASHINGTON BROWN'S first wife Margaret was also born in South Carolina, according to the census reports. Perhaps they grew up together, fell in love and were married in Tennessee in 1837 a young couple in their early twenties.
     If this record is correct, then William and perhaps his parents were in Tennessee before 1837 and stayed until after 1849 when his first son (Robert) was born in 1839.
     27 March 1838..........Reverent William W. Brown married a couple in Montgomery County, TN.
(Source:42062 F Tenn MIDe - pt 1 - page 2 and taken from the first index)
     It has been speculated that William and his family came to Nashville, TN., when they left the Virginia's. Nashville in Davidson, County and is a neighbor to Montgomery, County to the north. Perhaps Reverend Brown traveled there to perform the ceremony. I'm sure the marriage records of Davidson and Montgomery Counties could provide a wealth of information about our grandfather Brown.
     If Margaret's parents used the naming custom then we can calculate her mother's name to be Harriet. She didn't have a son so no clues there.
     William and Margaret had three daughters; Harriet E., Rachiel J., and Mary A., all born in Tennessee.
     Harriet was the only one to marry. Rachiel loved to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and when old enough was a constant companion with her father. One census reported her occupation as, "preaching with her father" ...............perhaps William occasionally preached the circuit.
     One of our greatest joys in life is to be a mother and watch with pride as our children grow and mature................unfortunately, Margaret was not to be so blessed. She died on a cold day, 19 February 1842 in Tennessee along with her baby, Mary A., during childbirth. Margaret was circa 29 years of age. Mother and baby are buried in Tennessee.

Map of Tennessee in 1830

Jane Caldwell McBride (Page 10-Book 1)

JANE CALDWELL McBRIDE................was born, 5 March 1821. Bible records of William Washington Brown may have recorded Jane's birthplace as South Carolina???? Her son Charles Caldwell Brown reported from memory that his mother was born in South Carolina and the census reports her as born in South Carolina. However, her granddaughter Katherine Carney said that Jane came to this county with her parents when she was 2 years old from Ireland and settled in South Carolina!
     Using the naming custom again; (as stated in the blog post: https://brownfamilyancestry.blogspot.com.brownfamilyancestors.com/2020/05/william-washington-brown.html) Jane's mother would be Margaret after their first daughter and John after her father. (A 2nd great granddaughter of this couple, Billie Jean Brown-Hem has done a study of the McBride family and has found material that indicates a John and Margaret McBride are indeed the parents of Jane) When I first started research on my Brown ancestors I thought that Jane and William had named their first daughter after his deceased wife, Margaret, which is quite charitable for a second wife to do!!! Now it's obvious that they took the maternal mother's name.
     Did the Brown and McBride family know one another in South Carolina? Did the McBride's migrate to Tennessee? One way or another, Jane and William were married in Tennessee, 18 April 1844.
     In a letter written to Louise S. Porter, 8 January 1965, Katherine Carney said, "Grandfather Wm Brown was trained as a dentist as well as a minister. For years I kept his old dentist tools."
(note by Louise;       William Washington Brown did have a degree in Doctor of Deity........and his name was written as William W. Brown, D.D., and could very easily be mistaken for Doctor of Dentistry. Maybe he did layman dentistry and these were the tools that Katherine had?)

William and Jane had three children born in Tennessee. Margaret, Nancy and Robert. (I am assuming that this information came from Grandpa's Bible, however most Bible records don't give the place of birth?) If the record is correct, then they left Tennessee after Robert was born in 1849 and before Mary (the 2nd) was born in 1851 in Greenfield, Dade, Missouri.

Dade County Missouri (Page 12&13-Book 1)

     Another church that Reverend W.W. Brown helped organize was the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Madison County, IL.  (Source: M3 - Page 325)
     In 1841 Vandalia Presbytery was divided, the new society was called Goshen. The name Goshen was changed to Columbia. This change came between 13 August 1859 and 22 May 1864. The Columbia is the present name. (There is more about his ministry in Illinois within the body of this chronology.)
     (Source: FMO 5 Pts. 1-2= Dade County, Missouri History of Hickory, Polk Cedar, DADE, and Barton Counties, Missouri) From earliest time to the present, including a department devoted to the preservations of Sunday Personal, Business, Professional and Private records, besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.. 967 pages, unindexed.

     27 February 1845 - Margaret was born in Tennessee and given the name of her maternal grandmother. (more history about Margaret and the rest of her siblings at the end of W.W. and Jane's history, covering their married life and descendants.)
     5 February 1847 Nancy Ann was born in Tennessee. Given the name of a favorite aunt or the parents just like the name. (since the first wife no doubt took care of the paternal mother's name)
     24 December 1849 Robert W. Brown, how proud, after five daughters, William finally got a son. Assuming the naming custom, he was named for his paternal grandfather. (valuable tool for research) Could it be Robert Washington Brown?
     (pt.2 - page 484) Cumberland Presbyterian Church, now of Greenfield. Two of it's ministers, among others, were W.W. Brown and B.F. Logan. (note LP - grandfather Brown carried the name of Cumberland Presbyterian Church throughout his ministry. The B.F. Logan mentioned above was also co-editor with William on the "Ladies Pearl" .........more given later about this. William also named one of his son's after Logan.)



     1850 - W.W. Brown was a minister of the Greenfield, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dade, County, MO., in 1850. His ministry was also known and taught as the "Old School". (source: MO.5 pt. 2, page 482)     10 May 1851 Mary E. Brown was born to William and Jane, in Greenfield, Dade, Missouri. She was given the name Mary from the infant Mary that William and Margaret lost. During this era in time, most religions believed that naming another child after a deceased infant, the spirit will again return and dwell in the living child.
     Mary E., is the 7th child of William and Jane's 4th. The first and only child to be born in Greenfield, Dade, Missouri.

 

DADE COUNTY MISSOURI CENSUS OF 1850

 

Brown, W.W. - Minister of Gospel - age 35 yrs., (1815) born South Carolina

Brown, Jane - Wife                            age 29 yrs., (1821) born North Carolina

Brown, Harriet - daughter                  age 12 yrs., (1838) born Tennessee

Brown, Rachel - daughter                  age 10 yrs., (1840) born Tennessee

Brown, Margaret - daughter               age 5 yrs., (1845)  born Tennessee

Brown, Nancy - daughter                   age 3 yrs., (1847) born Tennessee

Brown, Robert - son                           age 1 yr.,   (1849) born Tennessee

 

142nd house visited and the 138th person contacted.

Researched in the Salt Lake City Genealogical Library, 10 Feb 1965

Source: 3613 F MO 5, Pt. 2 and page 271 original census enumeration.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Ladies Pearl (Pages 14-19-Book 1)

    

     Sometime between 1851 and 1853, William and Jane moved from Dade, County or was moved by his ministry, to Springfield, Greene, Missouri.

The "Cumberland Presbyterian Ladies Pearl" commenced at Nashville, Tennessee. A host of sprightly writers were called out who knew mothering of their own powers till the Pearl developed them. Rev. J.R. Brown, among others, were all at one time editors of this magazine. (source; M3 - page 603)
     The Pearl was then moved from Nashville, TN., and in 1852 was set up at Lexington, MO., Next it was set up in St. Louis in 1853 for a season. In June 1855 the subscription list was sold and transferred to the Watchman and Evangelist at Louisville, KY., March 15, 1855 the Pearl started in Alton, Madison, IL., It was edited by J.B. Logan (among others), a distinguished minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and ended in 1861 because of the Civil War. (source: IL. M3 - page 212) and (IL. Pub B - vol. 6 page 7)     5 April 1853 - John Dennis Brown, the 8th child of William and second son was born in Springfield, Greene, Missouri. Traditionally was given the name of his maternal grandfather. Was Dennis also part of this?

     The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Madison County, Illinois was organized in 1856 with 17 members. The services of Rev. W.W. Brown were secured, who labored among this people until some time in 1861. During his service the society took steps toward erecting a church house of their own. Received grant of land of deed, 13 August 1859 in trust from Jefferson Fruit and wife for erecting a house of worship. Their present church building at the corner of 12th and Henry Streets, was completed in 1856. (there was more history given here but I didn't record any further. I believe there was a picture of the chapel. Source: IL 3, page 325 & 391)
     The Goshen, now Columbia Presbyterian Church on 12th Street, was first known as the Alton Mission.  (Source; IL. M3b, vol. 1, page 347. "Centennial History of Madison County, IL)
     27 February 1855 - William Jefferson Brown was born in Springfield, Greene, MO. Again following the naming custom, was named after his father William. The Jefferson must be a family name as Franklin Pierce was then president of the United States????? Jefferson was president about 50 years earlier. Of course Jefferson Davis the Confederate President was in force then........perhaps its after him?
     31 October 1857 - James Logan was born in Alton, Madison, Illinois. Perhaps he was named after the two co-editors William worked with on the Ladies Pearl?
     Eleanor Booth, granddaughter of William, "We find him editor of the Ladies Pearl, a religious publication in 1857-58 in Alton, IL., now, I think East St. Louis, under the name of Logan and Brown. There are two years subscriptions in the home of Curtis S. Booth in Greensboro, N.C., his 2nd great grandson. The papers are old and crumbling at its edges, ready to tear apart. (Eleanor gave me this information in 1965 so these papers my be a thing of the past by now)
     The Ladies Pearl was a monthly publication issued at Alton and published in the interest and under the auspices of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dr. J.B. Logan and Rev. W.W. Brown were the editors. It continued until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when it was suspended.
     The Rev. J.W. Brown was also associated with Mr. Logan editorially and was also Logan's son-in-law, Thomas H. Perrin. (was J.W. Brown the brother of our William ??? .... Source; IL. M3b, Vol. 1, Madison Co., IL, pages 107-108, 115 & 347 and IL. Pub B., vol 6, page 7)
     Missouri became a Territory in 1812 and a State in 1821. The capitol is Jefferson City.
     Dade County was formed in 1841.........Greene is the parent county of Dade. The Dade County seat is Greenfield and in 1970's there were 8 million people in MO.
     Missouri lost a ten mile strip on the northern boundary to Cedar County and nine mile strip on the southern boundary to Lawrence County, reducing it to it's present limits, 28 March 1845.
     The court house and many libraries and public buildings burned during the Civil War, but records had been removed to safety.
     June 1859 - Martha Brown was born in Alton, Madison, IL., being the 11th child of William and 7th and last daughter. Martha died very young. I found her name in the 1860 census, the one and only time she was counted. One other granddaughter of William said that there was a Martha born to them. Origin of the name unknown except for the Biblical Martha?
     10 October 1860 census of Alton City, Madison, Illinois.
Brown, Wm. W., D.D.     Minister of Presbyterian Church     age 46yrs. (1814)    born South Carolina
Brown, Jane                                       wife                                     39        (1821)           North Carolina
Brown, Rachiel                            daughter                                    20         (1840)          Tennessee
Brown, Margaret                          daughter                                    16         (1844*)        Tennessee
Brown, Nancy                              daughter                                    15         (1845*)        Tennessee
Brown, Robert*                                son                                        11         (1849)          Tennessee
Brown, Mary                                daughter                                     9          (1851)          Tennessee
Brown, John                                     son                                         7           (1853)          Missouri
Brown, Wm.                                     son                                         5           (1855)          Missouri
Brown, James                                   son                                         3            (1857)         Missouri*
Brown, Martha                             daughter                                  6/12*      (1859)          Illinois
*Margaret was born in 1845 *Nancy was born in 1847. *Robert - either the enumerator of the clerk that transcribed his listings, recorded Robert as Rebecca on this census.
*James was born in Illinois not Missouri. *Martha's birth 6/12 means she was six months old in June 1860.
William's real estate value was $1,300.00 and his personal estate was $200.00. This was a goodly sum in 1860, William would have been considered rich, both temporally and spiritually. His was the 595th home visited and the 564th person contacted.

10 October 1860 - Charles Caldwell Brown was born in Alton, Madison, IL., and was given his mother's middle name.

1861 - William W. Brown, a Chaplain in the 38th Regiment of Illinois, in the War of Rebellion 273. (source: Pub. CA-K, page 295, vol.14 and AM 89, page 603.)

     Reverend J.B. Logan began publications of the "Western Cumberland Presbyterian" at Alton. It continued under this name until November 1868.

Letter from Katherine Carney, "The family was living in Alton, Illinois at the out break of the Civil War. When the going got rough for the southerner in that northern city, William got his family out and they came back to Kentucky. Lived in Henderson, this was before Webster was formed, (between 1860 & 1868) and lived there for the rest of their lives." (Eleanor said the family went back to Missouri again in 1872, when her mother was a baby, but didn't stay very long?)
     The tax report for 1862 - 1865 in Webster County, Kentucky has; Jane Brown with one in the Militia.

11 December 1862 - Nancy Ann Brown, William's 5th daughter is the first to leave the nest....15 years of age, she married Thomas L. Price, in Webster County, KY. She will also be Jane's first child to die...


     Presbyterians were among the earliest of the religious sects to arrive in Kentucky and it was among them the revival movement first showed itself. Because of doctrinal differences they failed to profit by the revival spirit as other denominations had done, and their growth was slower in the early years. Several churches, however, were a direct outgrowth of the camp meetings held in Union County during the first quarter of the nineteenth century.  The Cumberland Presbyterian churches of Caseyville and Sturgis, developed from the yearly meetings held at Nazareth campground, two and one-half miles northwest of Sturgis, on Cypress Creek.  This camp meeting held an important place in the religious life of the community for many years. In 1833 a small frame church called Mount Ephraim was erected at Nazareth by the Cumberland Presbyterians. Members of this church, who lived at Caseyville, later organized a congregation which held services in the old Union Church of that place until about 1860, when a small frame church was erected. Reverend William Washington Brown, Doctor of Deity was here and in the general area for many years. This building is still in use. A Cumberland Presbyterian church, also a branch of the Mount Ephraim congregation, was erected at Sturgis in 1866.
     In September, 1839, the Rev. John J. Pierce, a Presbyterian minister, and B.F. Spellman organized a Presbyterian congregation in Morganfield. Services were held in a small brick building know as Union Academy, on South Morgan Street, until 1843, when a building designed to combine a church and a seminary was erected. This was used until 1972 when the present church was built. A Presbyterian congregation, organized at Uniontown in 1851, held services in a tobacco factory for several years. In 1877 a small church was erected.

     12 December 1868 - William Brown bought thirteen & three-fourths acres of land in Union County, KY. Their watercourse is Pond Fork. Recorded in county records: Book 75, page 531. (source: Ky Pub Bb #33)
     Their place in Caseyville, Union County, Kentucky is described in "History of Union County, Ky.," 1886, 100th Anniversary Edition: "In the Valley of the Tradewater, and is delightfully situated behind a grove of forest oaks that makes a charming park in the summer. He was here until 1880 when he bought property in Providence, Webster, KY."       William was in Caseyville from 1868 to 1883, ministering in the Anderson Presbytery.
     November 1868 -Rev. J.R. Brown became joint editor with W.W. Brown and joint proprietor of the Presbyterian Paper. (source:AM 89) (I wonder if this is when he returned to Missouri?)
     1870 - William and his family are not found in the 1870 census on Union or Webster Counties of Ky. Eleanor Booth said, "Grandpa Brown took his family back to Missouri and was there in 1870 when mama was a baby" This must be true as William came back from somewhere in 1880 and continued his ministry in the Boardly, Union, Ky., ministry.
     Eleanor continues to write; "I think he left Missouri in the early 1880's. I have their drop leaf table in my home. My mother said he brought it from Missouri. Then it made a trip to Oklahoma in 1907, then my grandmother's son, Thomas Fike made the trip there and back with the table.
     16 January 1873 - Robert W. Brown married Sarah Drucilla Davis and is the first son to leave the nest.