FAMILY HISTORY FOR NORMAN L. BROWN FAMILY 1800 – 2000 A.D.
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY CAROLYN RUTH HUNT – GRANDDAUGHTER
FOREWORD
It is ironic that the family member who has no children ended up with the Brown/Patterson Family Bible, but that is exactly what happened. Perhaps it was fortuitous, because I had to decide how best to preserve both the Bible and the information in it for posterity. That decision is what precipitated this whole project.
How I came into possession of the Bible is interesting. Apparently, the Bible was started 1848, when John S. Brown and Sarah Jane Patterson were married, and started their own Family Bible. In it they also recorded Sarah Jane Patterson’s parents, as well as all the births, deaths, marriages of the Brown children. Loose addenda pages were added giving Patterson family history back to 1803, and Candis Brown added family history about John S. Brown and his parents on loose pages inserted into the Bible. Norman L. Brown was the ‘baby’, youngest, of the family, and that, apparently, is how he ended up with the Bible. After he died, at some point, Candis Brown gave the Bible to my mother, Ruth Lucille Brown Hunt. And before Ruth died in 1971, she passed the Bible on to me, her only child and daughter, Carolyn Ruth.
The Bible sat lovingly on my rare books bookshelf for over 20 years. Occasionally, I would get it out and look through it. As I reached 60 years of age in 1990, and marveled at how well this 140 year old book had held up, I began to wonder how much longer it would last, was I storing it correctly, and what would happen to it should I die suddenly. Beyond that, I felt it was important that other members of the family should have access to this important document; but how? Thus it came that I called the Montgomery County Library in Dayton, Ohio and asked if they would or could accept a donation of this Bible for their Rare Books Collection. When they learned that the Bible had belonged to a Patterson (Norman Brown’s mother), they were thrilled to accept it. At that time, a man was researching the entire genealogy of THE Patterson Family of Dayton (i.e. the Patterson’s of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, NCR, etc). They were sure that Sarah would have some connection to them. I have never followed up the results of that search. Whatever the result, Our Family Bible now resides in the Rare Book Room of the main Library in Dayton, Ohio, and is available for anyone in our family to go and look at.
Knowing how to handle old and rare books, the library made copies for me of all the pages in the Bible containing anything relating to our family history. I made copies of these pages on acid free paper (which should last as long as the Bible has) and distributed them to ‘primary’ level family members in 1992. A copy was given to Lee Elbert Brown just one month before he died, as well as Bruce Shue, Fred Munier, Glenn Charles Brown. And thus ended Phase One of this project.
Phase Two occurred 2 years later when I compiled a history in pictures culled from my extensive collection of family pictures, going back into the 1800’s. I created a Candid Calendar with pictures from 1914 to 1954 and again got original copies made for Glenn & his 3 children, Fred Munier, Cary Brown (son of Lee), and Bruce Shue.
I have now started Phase Three including: reproducing the Bible entries on the computer so they are easily readable; making copies of the original Bible entries, the computer reproduction, and cheap copies of the Candid Calendar picture history 1914-1954, along with a title page and this foreword. Over 30 copies of this material are being made and distributed to second, third, and some- times even fourth generation family.
The rest of the project phases I plan to do are completely dependent on the cooperation of all the branches of family members. 1. Collect ALL complete names, birth, marriage (and divorce) dates, children, and deaths with dates for all 6 Brown branches of the family: Florence, Walter, Ruth, Gladys, Lee, and Glenn. 2. Facts of names and dates next need to ‘come alive’ with key pictures from each family unit of each branch. I have a software package that will allow me to com- bine the name – date facts with pictures. 3. These can further come alive with ‘family stories’ from each family unit. I am especially trying to collect ‘family stories’ of the Norman Brown Family from 1890’s to 1930, which I will then arrange and publish. Bruce has a wonderful one about his father, Riley, courting his mother, Florence; I have one about Ruth eloping with Ennis; I hope, with the help of Fred (and anyone who can remember) I can reconstruct one Ruth used to tell about a practical joke the Brown family played on Earl Munier at the family dinner table. And each of you can tell special stories from your own mother/father/children family unit to fill out your part of the oral history in print. 4. Finally, each family unit has artifacts and antiques from the past. These should be photographed, identified by their connection to the family, and dated. This could help keep important family antiques from getting lost out of the family.
While the lineage of Norman Brown is extensive and complete, ironically, the lineage of his wife, Candis Victoria Michael Brown, seems to have gotten lost. Cary and Lindsay Brown have tried to trace the Michael side of the family with no success. I have some pictures of Grandmother Michael, I have her wedding ring, I have pictures of Elizabeth and Benjamin Nye – apparently Elizabeth Nye was Candis Michael Brown’s sister. I don’t even know Grandmother Michael’s first or maiden name. Any information or factual tidbit about this side of the family would be greatly appreciated.
Someday, this foreword will be rewritten or added to — with Thanks given to all of you who help in compiling the mountain of information necessary to complete this project. Perhaps Candis Michael’s history is lost. I don’t want that to happen to the rest of the family history, and with your help, it won’t be lost, but richly preserved for posterity and all our progeny to enjoy.
Brown Family Bible Entry Reproduction
If you’re having difficulty reading this, scroll down to the document version below.
REPRODUCTION OF ENTRIES
AS WRITTEN IN
FAMILY BIBLE OF NORMAN BROWN
John Patterson was born in the year of our Lord 1803, Sept. 3.
Hannah Witham Patterson was born in the year of our Lord 180(6 or 4? writing not clear), May 22.
John Patterson and Hannah Witham was joined in marriage in the year of our lord 1826, February 7.
Sarah Jane Patterson was born in the year of our lord) 1827, February 22.
James Oliphunt Patterson Was Born in the year of our Lord 1829, August 28
Martha Caroline Patterson Born January 15th, 1833
Mary Elizabeth Patterson Born January 5) 1835.
Hannah Ann Patterson Was Born October the 19) 1836.
Eliza Jane Patterson was Born March the (24) 1838
John Mote Patterson was born November the 22) 1842 (This entry was erased and written over so the “Mote” is not clear. ‘Mo’ is dark and clear; the next letter or letters, in script of the day blend into the erasure and are very difficult to interpret.)
PARENTS RECORD
Father: John S. Brown was born March 25, 1828
Mother: Sarah Jane (Patterson) Brown was born February 22nd 1827
Children’s Births: (the following children are listed on the same page and under the mother and father (2 each) names on that page; and they are written in the handwriting of Candace Brown, Norman L.
Brown’s wife. It seems they are out of place. It looks like they ran out of space on the births page, and no longer were births recorded in that handwriting (Sarah’s?), at least in this Bible.
Then possibly Candace wrote in the following 4 entries under the parents name later to complete the family record in this Bible.
Nellie Brown was born March 11th 1864
Libbie Brown was born August 22nd 1866
Nina Brown and Eddie Brown was Born October 3rd 1868, twins
Norman Brown was born December 15th 1871
Page 2 – Brown Bible & History
B I R T H S
(Children of John S. & Sarah Patterson Brown:
James Milton Brown was born January 7th 1849
Mary Jane Brown was born Juen 13th 1850
Ellenora C. Brown was born February 22nd 1852.
John Franklin Brown was born September 3rd 1853
George Washington Brown was Born February (Febuary) 18th 1855
Julia Brown was Born March 13th 1857
Elbert Brown Was Born February 24th 1858
Doretta Brown Was Born April 1st 1860
Arthur Brown Was Born May 7th 1862
(Apparently, Sarah Jane Patterson Brown gave birth to 14 children)
MARRIAGES
John S. Brown and Sarah Jane Patterson was Joined in Marriage August17th 1848
Children’s Marriages:
Mary Jane Brown was Married to William Ibach February 3rd 1870
Ellenora Brown was Married to Samuel Barkalow February 13th 1873
John Franklin Brown was Married to Martha Jane Wests November 15th 1877
Libbie Brown was Married to Granville D. Shields December 23rd 1883
Arthur Brown was Married to Julia T. Sharp December 20th 1884
Doretta Brown was Married to Thomas Hayes March 21st 1886
Norman Brown was Married to Candace Michael January 29th 1893
Page 3 – Brown Bible & History
DEATHS
Julia Brown Died April 1st 1857 Aged 20 days
James Milton Brown Died January 25th 1869 Aged 20 years 18 days
George Washington Brown Died March 16th 1869 Aged 14 years 26 days
Eddie Brown Died May 28th 1869 Aged 7 mo 25 days
Nellie Brown Died August 12th 1869 Aged 5 years 5 months 1 day
Nina Brown Died April 30th 1870 Aged 1 year 6 months 27 days
Mary Jane Brown Ibach Died July 12th 1870 Aged 20 years 29 days
Elbert Brown Died October 21st 1871 Aged 13 years 7 months 27 days
Comment by Carolyn Ruth Hunt (grandaughter of Norman L. Brown). As I typed this, it hit me that John & Sarah Brown lost SEVEN children to death between January, 1869 and October, 1871 – a period of
only 21 months. What a terrible family tragedy it must have been for them; some horrible disease epidemic must have been rampant at that time. It makes me curious to find out! This ends the official Brown Family Bible record written directly in the Bible, mostly by Sarah Jane Patterson Brown, I assume. The following information was written by Candace Michael Brown (who only went to school through the 4th grade!) in a running script covering 3 separate 8 1/2 x 11” loose pages inserted (i.e. – just stuck ) into the Family Bible. It is first reproduced in the exact form and spelling used by Candace. Some of it repeats information listed above in the official Family Bible. Later I will take the material and reorganize it into more of an outline form showing development of family history.
BROWN FAMILY HISTORY AS WRITTEN BY CANDACE MICHAEL BROWN
John S Brown farm P. O. Gorden one of old Settlers of Darke Co. he was born in Warren Co. Ohio
March 25.-1828 is a son of joseph and Mary Brown: his father was born in Virginia 1800, & removed to
Warren Co. in 1811 and was one of early Pioneers of the Miami Valley! he learned & blacksmith traid at the
age of 18! wich business he followed there and removed to Dark Co. in this township in 1830 & was one of the sturdy ones who gave improvement started in the wilderness of Ohio. he followed farming and blacksmithing Died Aug. 30 1874. he was united in marriage with Sarah J daughter of John and Hannah Patterson gug(Aug) 17-1848 – her father was born in Pennsylvania in 1803 and boved (moved) to cincinnati with his parents when he was 7 years old from there to Montgomery Co. weare (where) he got married (to)
Miss Hannah Witham and resided there up there of thirty-years then moved to West Baltimore, now Verona, and resided hear till his death wich occurred Jan 17-1874. Mrs. Patterson died in Montgomery Co.
May 12. 1861 aged 58 years. after his marriage our subject engaged in farming in this township for three years, when he removed to Preble Co. carried on a farm for a short time. Thence back to the place wear he
now resides he settled on 80 acres of land, partley in woods, but by hard labor, and good, management he cleared it and he has since in 1858 purched (purchased) 80 more land and now owns 160 acers hear in a
body farm land. (end of page 1)
Page 4 – Brown Bible & History
(Candace History – Page 2) His large brick hous presents a striking contest (contrast) to the little cabin that stands in the yard Mr. Brown is a example of one of ore self-maid men having begun life with no capital but by hard work industry and good management – he has ben nobly assisted by his industrious wife has both are enjoying the fruits of there hard earent there are the parents of four-teen children Viz–
James M born Jan 7 – 1849; Mary J: june 13,-1850 Ellen C Feb 22-1852 — John sept 3-1853; George W
Feb 18-1855.–Julia March 13. 1857, albert Feb 24 – 1858, Dora E april 1 – 1860, arthur May 7. 1862,
Nellie March 11. 1864 Libbie august 22 – 1866 Nina and Eddie (twins) Oct 3 – 1864 Norman L. Dec 15
1871 the baby of the family.
Julia died april. 1857. james M. died Jan 25-(1869)
George W. died March 16-(1869)
Eddie died March 28 (1869)
Nellie died Aug- 12 (1869)
Nina died April 30 (1870)
Mary J nee Mrs. William Iback died July 12-1870
Elbert died Oct 21-1871 — John F married, Marth werts Nov 15- 1877 Ellen \
marred – Sam Barklow Feb 13-1873. Mary J. united in marriage to William Iback Feb 30 1870, Mrs
Sarah Patterson Brown Mother of the 14 children Mr. Brown has lots of hardships. but ben good helth all his
life. has ben fram of irn will (iron will) good luck and bad luck.
Norman Brown brothers and Sisters
(page 3) Mrs Hannah Withem – mother ove
John & Hannah (daughter) Patterson
Sarah Patterson Mother ove Norman and all,
Sarah Brown Augest 17, 1848 maried
John Brown father ove Norman and all.
Julia died April 1 1857
James M died Jan 25 1869
Gorge W died March 16 1869
Eddie —- March 28 1869
Nellie —- Aug 12 1869
Nina —- April 30 1870
Mary —- July 12 1870
Albert —- Octobr 21 1871
John Brown married Martha Werts —-1877
Ellen Brown married Sam Barklow —- 1873
Mary Brown J William Iback Feb 3 – 1870
Feb 22 Marth Mother Brown was born 1827 (end of Candace Brown History)
NOTE: Regarding Candace (Candis) Brown name:
The name as recorded in the Brown Family Bible by Sarah Jane Patterson Brown is spelled “Candace”. However, Candis only attended formal schooling through the 4 th grade and throughout her life, SHE spelled her name, and signed her name as “Candis”. The two different spellings are used interchangably throughout the Brown Family genealogy and history.