Brown Surname

Our Browns are Scottish and the earliest Browns we can trace are from North Carolina and they were probably related to a family that settled in South Carolina. Our Browns were probably Scotch-Irish. This meant that they were originally Scottish people invited by the government to settle on confiscated Irish Catholic lands in Ireland. They were hated by the Irish people and conditions were not improved in Ireland so thousands of them migrated to America in the early 1700's.

Our specific Brown family probably came to Virginia in the early 1700's, and have been found in North Carolina and South Carolina before moving out west to Tennessee.

John Brown was born at an unknown date, probably in North Carolina. He died sometime between March and May of 1816 in Christian (now Trigg) Co., Kentucky.

We know very little about the life of John Brown. He was a farmer and lived somewhere in North Carolina before moving to Christian Co., Kentucky in 1799 or 1800. He lived there until his death in 1816. John and his family lived in the part of Christian County that became Trigg County in 1820. There, he owned land on the Muddy Fork of the Little River, which is in what is now the northern part of Trigg County.

John wrote his will on March 1, 1816. The will was then proven in court in May 1816. In his will, he named his wife and his nine children. He described owning two hundred acres of land in Christian County, which he left to his son-in-law James Blassingame, his son William Brown and his granddaughter Milly Brown [Clarke?]. His son-in-law James Blassingame was appointed executor and was given the task of providing a home for his widow Betsy after his death.

We do not know the birthdates of most of John's children, nor the order of their birth. The order shown below is the order that they were listed in his will.

While living in North Carolina, John was probably in the south-central part of the state, perhaps in the vicinity of Anson or Montgomery Counties. John might have been related to other Browns, including:

• David Brown The 200 acres that John settled in about 1799 in Christian (now Trigg) County, Kentucky was originally surveyed for a David Brown, which was later assigned to our John Brown. It's a guess that John and David were related. And it's possible that this David Brown was the same David Brown who married Margaret Tibbs, and lived in York Co., South Carolina before moving to Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
• Lockey Brown lived in Virginia before settling in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. His son Robert L. Brown was married to John's granddaughter Mary Brown - and family history has assumed they were cousins.
• Spill C. Brown lived in North Carolina and later settled in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. There, he lived next to Leonard Brown (probable son of John).

In John's will of 1816, her name is spelled as both Betsy and Betsey. She might have been the Elizabeth Brown who was listed as purchasing a few items from John's estate in August 1816. We have no clues to her origins nor do we have any proof that she was the mother of the children listed below. All we know is that she was John's wife at the time of his death.

Many online family trees list her as Betsy Sharpe. However that is a reference to a Betsy Sharpe who married a John Brown in 1802 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. John was already living in Kentucky by that time, but this marriage did occur in the general part of North Carolina where he probably lived until about 1799. Perhaps he traveled home to marry in 1802? (Note that John was absent from the 1802 tax list in Christian County, Kentucky.) But if so, then Betsy was a later wife and not the mother of any of his children. There might be some substance to this theory because of the language in his 1816 will, in which he directed that his son-in-law provide a home for and support his wife. That doesn't seem too remarkable, and there could have been many reasons for it. But if Betsy was Milly's stepmother, rather than mother, it might make sense that John needed to ask one of his children to support her. In addition, in his will he refers to "my children" and "the children", rather than our or her children (again, this language is unremarkable, but could be a clue).

1	Margaret "Peggy" Brown died after 1816. She was married to a Mr. Farmer. She was listed as "Peggy Farmer" in her father's 1816 will. We have so far been unable to definitively identify her husband. My guess is that she was the wife of John Farmer of Stokes Co., North Carolina and later Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Strangely enough, that John had a son named John who married Margaret Brown (daughter of Jeremiah Brown, see below). A marriage between cousins would have been normal, and perhaps just a coincidence that they had the same names. Many family histories though claim that John Farmer Sr. was married to Rebecca Askew. That apparently derives from a documented marriage for a John Farmer to Rebecca Askew in Goochland County, Virginia in 1795. However "our" John Farmer was in North Carolina at the time, and not anywhere near that part of Virginia. There is also no yet identified source that provides the name of his wife.
2	Jeremiah Brown
3	Mary "Polly" Brown died after 1816. She married to a Mr. Mathias. She was most likely the wife of Josiah Mathis of Rowan County, North Carolina, and later of Christian/Trigg County, Kentucky. Josiah died in about 1824 and they had children including: James, Malinda, John, William, Jesse, Thomas, Leonard, Josiah, Elizabeth and Daniel. Most Mathis family histories indicate that Josiah's wife was named Mary Harmon, which derives from a 1790 marriage record between "Isaiah Mathis" and "Mary Harmon" in Perquimans County, North Carolina. Yet there is no reason to believe that they were the same people.
4	Rachel Brown died after 1816. She was married to a Mr. Herring. We have not been able to determine the identity of Rachel's husband or any information on her other than the 1816 will.
5	William Brown died after 1819. In his father's will of 1816, William was left 100 acres of land in Christian Co., Kentucky to be divided between him and his niece Milly. In October 1818 and March 1819, William was described as a resident of Washington County, Indiana, when he appointed his brother Jeremiah as his attorney regarding the land in Christian (Trigg) County that he inherited from their father, and then later sold that land.
6	John Brown died after 1816. In 1810, he was probably the John Brown who was enumerated in Christian Co., Kentucky, near the household of his parents. Some researchers list him with a middle initial "B".
7	Betsy Brown died after 1816. She was married to Richard Clarke on January 7, 1813 in Christian Co., Kentucky 14 They had at least one child: Milly Clarke (c. 1815-???) She was listed as "Betsey Clarke" in her father's will. Yet in another section of the will, John left land to "Milly Brown the daughter of my daughter Betsey Brown". It is assumed that is an error and the will should have read Clarke instead of Brown. It is possible though that Milly may have been an illegitimate daughter of Betsey born prior to her marriage in 1813.
8	Leonard Brown died after 1816. He was most likely the Leonard Brown who married Sarah "Sally" Cartwright in 1817 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He later lived in Hopkins County and Caldwell County, and died after 1850. He had children including: Melinda, Henry, Jane, Mary, Martha and Patrick.
9	Milly Brown was born circa 1790 in North Carolina 3. She died after 1870 in DeSoto Co., Mississippi. She married James Blassingame on February 12, 1811 in Caldwell Co., Kentucky 13. (He was born circa 1787 in South Carolina 3 and died between 1850-1860 in DeSoto Co., Mississippi.) They had at least the following children: Washington Blassingame (c. 1818-???) md. Laura Ann Boren Thomas C. Blassingame (c. 1824-???) James Monroe Blassingame (c. 1825-???) md. Columbia Ann Cobb Sarah E. Blassingame (c. 1831-1877) md. 1st. Charles N. Matlock md. 2nd. A. G. Smith Leonora Blassingame (c. 1835-???) md. John M. Lane When John Brown died in 1816, Milly and her husband inherited 100 acres of John's land in Christian Co., Kentucky. They were still living in Kentucky as late as 1824. Sometime during the 1820s, they moved to Tennessee. By 1830, they had moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where they remained for several years. Then sometime between 1842 and 1850, they moved to DeSoto County, Mississippi, where they remained.

Jeremiah Brown was born on February 18, 1771 in North Carolina. He died on October 8, 1838 near Charleston, in Tywappity Twp., Scott (now Mississippi) Co., Missouri.

Father: John Brown
Mother: Betsy

Jeremiah was a farmer and a tavern keeper. After marriage, he lived with his family in Montgomery County, North Carolina. Sometime between 1804 and 1808, they moved to Montgomery County, Tennessee. Sometime between 1820 and 1830, Jeremiah moved by himself from Tennessee to Scott County, Missouri, where he apparently married Eleanor Stuart. (Jeremiah was still married to his first wife Mary - he was a bigamist.) He died on October 8, 1838 near Charleston, Missouri and his family in Tennessee executed his estate.

* Family history indicates that her name was Mary Ann Ballard, yet no contemporary record provides any middle name or initial for her, on all known records she is listed as Mary or Polly.

They had the following children:

1	James Brown was born on August 27, 1793 in North Carolina 8. He died on July 22, 1848 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 8. He is buried in the James Brown Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He married Susanna Staley circa 1815. (She was born circa 1790 in North Carolina and died on July 14, 1868 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She is buried in the James Brown Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. They had the following children: Mary Brown (1817-1898) md. Wylie F. Crotzer Mahala Brown (1819-1895) md. Jesse L. Crozter William G. Brown (1820-1895) Jacob Brown (1823-1901) md. Nancy Funk Riley Mathew Brown (1825-1910) md. Nancy Andrew J. Brown (1828-1860)
2	Sarah Brown was born circa 1794 in North Carolina 8. She died after 1860 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 8. She married Philip Short circa 1815. (He was born circa 1780's and died sometime between 1841-1860.) They had no children.
3	Mary Brown was born circa 1795 in North Carolina 8. She died after 1850. She married to Robert L. Brown circa 1820-1825 in Tennessee. He was born circa 1795 in Tennessee and died after 1850. They had the following children: William Riley Brown (c. 1825-1873) md. Sarah J. Welker David Nelson Brown (c. 1830-???) Nancy Catherine Brown (c. 1832-???) Joel K. Brown (c. 1833-???) Green Sheldon Brown (c. 1839-???)
4	Margaret Brown was born circa 1796 in North Carolina 8. She died on October 30, 1878 in White Co., Illinois 8. She married John Samuel Farmer circa 1821. (He was born circa 1802 in Stokes Co., North Carolina and died sometime between 1850-1860.) They had the following children: William Farmer (1822-???) Elizabeth Farmer (c. 1823-???) md. 1st. Alsey Caston Pace md. 2nd. George Graves Henrietta Farmer (c. 1824-) md. Christopher Shaffer Margaret Farmer (c. 1825-???) md. David Nelson Brown John Samuel Farmer (1828-???) md. Caroline Brown Rebecca Farmer (c. 1833-1871) md. 1st. Abraham Hastend md. 2nd. Nelson Graves Mary Farmer (c. 1834-???) Thomas Farmer (c. 1839-???) David Farmer (c. 1841-???) Arminda Farmer (c. 1845-???)
5	Archibald Brown was born on March 9, 1797 in Montgomery Co., North Carolina 8. He died on March 8, 1872 in White Co., Illinois 8. He was married first Rachel Starkey in 1817 in White Co., Illinois 8. They had the following children: Elijah Brown (c. 1818-???) Sarah Brown (1822-1876) Greenberry Brown (c. 1823-???) Nelson Brown (1827-1890) He married second to Elizabeth Staley Whitsett in about 1835. (She was born circa 1803 in Tennessee 8 and died in 1888 in White Co., Illinois 8.) They had the following children: Henry Craw Brown (c. 1837-???) Mary Ann Brown (1839-???) md. James Green Stokes
6	David Brown was born on December 27, 1803 in Anson or Montgomery Co., North Carolina. He died on October 15, 1887 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the David Brown Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He married Anna Moody circa 1824 in Tennessee. (She was born on April 16, 1803 in North Carolina and died on August 15, 1882 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She is buried in the David Brown Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Caroline G. Brown (1825-aft. 1880) md. Washington George Smith Minerva Brown (c. 1828-???) Mary Jane Brown (c. 1830-???) Elizabeth Jane Brown (c. 1833-???) md. Edward D. Smith Louisa Brown (c. 1836-???) George W. Brown (1841-1881) Jeremiah Brown (1842-1900) Benjamin Franklin Brown (1843-1912) md. Mary C. Trotter Angeline Brown (1846-1921)
7	Nelson Brown
8	Elijah Brown was born on October 22, 1810 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He died on September 10, 1877 in White Co., Illinois. He is buried in the Bryant Cemetery, White Co., Illinois. He married Elender Stack circa 1833 in Tennessee. (She was born circa 1805 in South Carolina and died in 1870 in Illinois.) They had the following children: James R. Brown (c. 1834-???) Carolina Brown (c. 1836-???) Mary A. Brown (c. 1838-???) William Brown (c. 1840-???)
9	Nancy Brown was born circa 1812 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 8. She died circa 1886 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She is buried in the Welker Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She married John "Jack" C. Burney on December 29, 1847 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 8. (He was born in 1807 and died in 1886 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the Welker Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Jeremiah Burney (1848-1859) J. K. Burney (c. 1852-???) Luvenia D. Burney (1852-1932) md. James William Smith John Nedon Burney (c. 1856-c. 1893) md. 1st. Nancy W. Edlin md. 2nd. Josephine Minerva Craig Betty Ann Missouri Burney (1857-1859) Neither John or Nancy have surviving tombstones in the Welker Cemetery.

3rd Generation: Nelson Brown was born on August 13, 1808 in Montgomery County, Tennessee 6. He died on January 14, 1885 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6,7. He is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Father: Jeremiah Brown Mother: Mary Ann Ballard Nelson was born in Montgomery County, Tennessee shortly after his family moved there from North Carolina. He spent his whole life on farms east of Clarksville. In 1838, Nelson purchased several items from his deceased father's estate. Then in 1840, Nelson and his brother David travelled to Missouri to help settle their father's estate. Nelson was a farmer (and produce broker per the 1870 census) in Montgomery County and owned a few slaves over the years. He was also a faithful Mason. In 1848, the location of Nelson's home is listed as being at the Excell community, which is southeast of Clarksville. When he and his wife died, they were listed as being residents of the "Rudolph neighborhood", which was apparently a few miles northeast of Excell. Nelson was married to Mary Foust circa 1828 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee.

1	Henry Brown was born on August 1, 1829 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. He died on July 29, 1909 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. He is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He married first to Emeline at an unknown date. They had no children. He married second to Hattie Grant Bettes on November 27, 1867 in Davidson Co., Tennessee 6. (She was born on May 30, 1846 6 and died on July 30, 1928 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. She is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had no children, but adopted one daughter, Anna Dowdy, who was born in 1875. Henry was a farmer.
2	Green S(helton?) Brown was born on May 23, 1831 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. He died on August 5, 1891 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. He is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He was married to Mary Gabriella King, widow of John T. Albright, on October 18, 1867 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 18. (She was born in 1838 6 and died on October 28, 1896 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. She is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Finis Montgomery Brown (1868-1938) md. Margaret Belle Ransdell George Obediah Brown (1871-1933) md. Melvina C. Stack Joseph Hezekiah Brown (1871-1951) md. Hattie Susan Robert Nelson Brown (1874-1935) md. Lou Litchie Adkins Green was a farmer. He also helped to raise two stepchildren, William and Dixie Albright. The Leaf Chronicle, Aug 6, 1891, Pg. 4: "Killed by a Wagon. Green Brown, one of the substantial farmers of the fourteenth district, was killed in a horrible manner near his home yesterday. He was engaged in hauling saw-logs and went to scotch one of the wheels to rest his team on a hill. The wagon started down the hill, running backwards, and caught Mr. Brown's foot under it, throwing him to the ground and running over his body, producing internal injuries from which he died in a few hours. He was about 40 years old and was a member of the well know (sic) Brown family of the McAdoo neighborhood."
3	William Riley Brown
4	Sarah Elizabeth Brown was born on June 26, 1836 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She died on December 21, 1881 in Marshall Co., Kentucky. She married Wilson Chumbler on January 20, 1855 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 10. (He was born on August 11, 1827 in Tennessee and died on February 28, 1876 in Marshall Co., Kentucky.) They had the following children: William Jack Chumbler (1855-1932) md. Dora Bell Covington Mandy Elizabeth Chumbler (1857-1857) Charles Thomas Chumbler (1858-1924) md. Nannie Tennie Bagwell John Houston Chumbler (1860-1862) Andrew Loring Chumbler (1861-1906) md. 1st. Dora Etta Dycus md. 2nd. Nora Moore James Ruphus Chumbler (1863-1881) Finis Ewing Chumbler (1866-1936) md. 1st. Annie Ambrose Fields md. 2nd. Fannie Almira Spight Mary Ada Chumbler (1868-1920's) md. Carl L. Coleman George Marshall Chumbler (1870-1951) md. Julia Dordenay Covington Ainey Ann Chumbler (1872-1957) md. William M. Butler David Nelson Chumbler (1874-1904) md. Minerva A. Boatwright	Bert Chumbler at bandcchumbler@sbcglobal.net is a researcher/descendant of this line. Sarah and her family apparently moved from Montgomery Co., Tennessee to Marshall Co., Kentucky sometime in the year 1870.
5	Eliza Ann Brown was born circa 1837 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 3. She died on January 4, 1875 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 20. She was probably buried in the Sango Cemetery, yet no tombstone exists. Clarksville Weekly Chronicle, Feb. 20, 1875, Pg. 3: "DIED, in this county, Jan. 4th, 1875, ELIZA ANN, daughter of Nelson and Mary Brown, after several months of painful affliction. She was about 37 years old. She was a dutiful child. It was her pleasure to please her parents, whom she loved most earnestly. Her attachment to brothers and sisters was warm and constant. She was quiet and reserved in her manners, yet kind and social in her associations..."
6	Mary A. Brown was born on November 11, 1843 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. She died on July 15, 1911 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. She is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. The Tennessean [Nashville, TN], Jul 18, 1911, Pg. 12: "Miss Mary Brown Clarksville, Tenn., July 17. (Special.) - Miss Mary Brown, sister of Finis E. Brown, died suddenly Saturday afternoon at the home of Mr. McCoy, who lives at the former home of Henry Brown, on the Nashville pike."
7	Finis Ewing Brown was born on November 30, 1848 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6,16. He died on March 16, 1935 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 16. He is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He was married first to Alice T. Farmer on January 12, 1872 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (She was born January 12, 1849 6 and died on March 29, 1924 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. She is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had no children. He married second to Hattie Grant Bettes, widow of his brother Henry, in September 1924 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (See above) They had no children. He married third to Eddie Farmer on January 11, 1929 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (She was born circa 1887 in Tennessee and died after 1935.) They had no children. The Leaf-Chronicle, Mar. 18, 1935, Pg. 1: "FINIS E. BROWN BURIED SUNDAY Retired Farmer Succumbed Saturday at Home Here Funeral Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the Bethel Sango church by the Rev. J. W. West for Finis E. Brown, 87 years of age, whose death occurred at his home, 125 Seventh street, at 6:30 Saturday afternoon. Burial was in the church cemetery. Paullbearers were R. S., R. M., J. H., F. M. Brown and George and Fred Chambler. A group composed of Mrs. Herman Davis, J. W. West, Miss Lucy Smith, Milton Jones, Lurton Bagwell, and Virgil Flowers sang "Rock of Ages," "It Is Well With My Soul" and "Asleep in Jesus" at the church. They were accompanied at the organ by Miss Juanita West. At the grave they sang "Meet Me There" and "Gathering Home." Mr. Brown was the son of the late Nelson and Sarah Foust Brown and was a native of the Excell community. He had been a farmer until later years when he retired because of impaired health. Mr. Brown was thrice married, first on January 12, 1872 to Miss Alice Farmer, whose death occurred March 29, 1924. In September of 1924 he married Mrs. Hattie G. Brown, who died January 29, 1928, and on January 11, 1929, he married Miss Eddie Farmer, who survives. Mr. Brown was the uncle of C. C. and R. S. Brown of this city. Mr. Brown was a member of the McAdoo Presbyterian church and was best known throughout the Southeast section of Montgomery county, where he lived for many qears (sic). Being a kind and jovial disposition, he leaves a host of friends who mourn his passing."
8	Indiana Brown was born on June 23, 1854 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. She died on September 22, 1887 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 6. She is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She married to James David Wall(s) on December 18, 1884 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 17. (He was born on June 1, 1854 in Tennessee and died on September 27, 1927 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Clayton W. Wall(s) (1885-1962) md. 1st Marye Croslin (divorced) infant male Wall (1887-1888)

William Riley Brown was born on May 5, 1834 in Montgomery County, Tennessee ⁵. He died on December 1, 1904 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee ⁵. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.

Father: Nelson Brown
Mother: Mary Foust

William was born and raised in rural Montgomery County, Tennessee; where they were farmers. They lived in a rural area southeast of Clarksville (the neighborhood was variously referred to as McAdoo, Rudolph and Excell) and were members of the McAdoo Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In December 1859, William Brown married Amanda Stephens, who lived on a neighboring farm; she was about 2 months pregnant with their first child. In November 1860, William and his wife and child were still living in his parents' household. Sometime during the 1860s, they moved into their own household on land nearby. William remained there until his death.

William was a tobacco farmer. In older age went into business with his sons selling tobacco. In an 1895 directory, William is listed as owning 134 acres. William remained a member of the McAdoo Cumberland Presbyterian Church for the duration of his life. He wrote his will on November 18, 1899; in which he left all of his property to his wife Amanda and appointed his son Jesse as the executor.

Note that during his life he was sometimes listed as "W. R. Brown, Jr." This designation was to differentiate him from his first cousin, also named William R. Brown (c. 1825-1873), who was older than him.

They had the following children:

1	Jesse Bailey Brown was born on July 26, 1860 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 16. He died on January 18, 1933 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 16. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Jesse married Lillian R. Brown on October 26, 1904 in Madisonville, Hopkins Co., Kentucky. (She was born in June 1879 in Christian Co., Kentucky and died on August 20, 1941 in Clackamas Co., Oregon.) They had the following children: William Dudley Brown (1905-1925) Charles Bailey Brown (1909-1964) md. Alice Lorraine Bennett Sarah Elizabeth Brown (1911-1980) md. 1st George Edward Johnson md. 2nd Byron Barnum Peetz Jesse was a tobacco farmer and buyer. Jesse and his wife were apparently separated in old age, and Jesse lived with his brother Robert until his death.
2	Christopher Columbus Brown
3	Elizabeth "Lizzie" Brown was born on July 18, 1863 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 19. She died on August 27, 1942 in Hawthorne Twp., White Co., Illinois 4,19. She is buried in the Brown Cemetery, Crossville, White Co., Illinois. She married Levi Alonzo Brown on October 23, 1894 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (He was born on June 1, 1858 in Illinois 19. He died on August 26, 1918 Hawthorne Twp., White Co., Illinois 19. He is buried in the Brown Cemetery, Crossville, White Co., Illinois.) They had the following children: Etna Brown (1896-1972) md. Henry James Alford John Brown (1897-1956) md. Harriet I. Kuykendall Elizabeth and Levi were second cousins, both descendants of Jeremiah Brown and Mary Ballard. After their marriage, they both lived in White County, Illinois until their deaths.
4	Sue Ella Brown was born on December 16, 1864 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She died on March 11, 1928 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She married William J. Crotzer on January 7, 1909 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (He was born in 1859 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 5 and died in 1929 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 5. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had no children, but Sue Ella helped raise a stepson Eddie Crotzer.
5	Robert Samuel Brown was born on December 18, 1866 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He died on May 29, 1943 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He married Ruth Elizabeth Ussery on October 29, 1919 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (She was born on August 29, 1898 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee and died on February 4, 1994 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had one child: Mary Helen Brown (1927-2010) md. Laurence M. McMillan
6	Mary Virginia Brown was born on September 15, 1870 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She died on April 21, 1902 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
7	Frances "Fannie" Elizabeth Brown was born on December 26, 1871 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 16. She died on August 15, 1931 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 16. She married first Hervey Minor Collier on November 8, 1901. (He was born c. 1852 in Tennessee and died on October 20, 1911 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 15.) They had the following children: Mary Frances Collier (1902-1988) md. James Luckett Powell Geneva Collier (1903-1964) md. Lonnie Vernon Lockert Hugh Minor Collier (1905-1984) md. Florence L. Johnson Amanda Ann Collier (1907-1998) md. Joseph Baxter William Luther Collier (1909-1979) md. Pauline Johnson James Hervey Collier (1911-1997) md. Dorothy She married second Victor S. Wallace on Feruary 25, 1915 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (He was born on November 2, 1868 in Sumner Co., Tennessee and died on December 11, 1920 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had no children. She married third Steward Dick Tinsley on September 2, 1925 in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee. (He was born on January 5, 1851 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee and died on June 2, 1936 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the Southside Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had no children.
8	Arthur Thomas Brown was born on August 24, 1876 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He died on July 5, 1901 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
9	Gus Brown was born circa 1880 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He died on August 4, 1882 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee.

5th Generation: Christopher Columbus Brown was born on February 8, 1862 in Montgomery County, Tennessee 2. He died on October 10, 1938 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 2. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Father: William Riley Brown Mother: Amanda Ann Stephens Christopher was born on his parents' farm near the community once known as McAdoo (rural area southeast of Clarksville) where his family were successful tobacco farmers. Christopher was obviously named after the famous explorer, yet rarely went by that name. He was usually called "Lum" or "C.C." As a youth with his family, he joined the nearby McAdoo Presbyterian Church and remained a member for many years. As a young man he and his brothers and father decided to go into business together where they operated a successful tobacco business called Brown Bros. Sometime after this, he and James Adams created the firm Adams and Brown and operated a factory in Clarksville for many years. C.C. was financially successful and a pillar of his community. He was co-founder and later vice president of the First Trust and Savings Bank of Clarksville. In 1894, 32-year old C.C. married a young woman named Georgia Current, who lived in Clarksville. During their first 7 years of land they lived on the same Brown family land southeast of Clarksville. It is not entirely clear where the Browns lived for the first 6 or 7 years of marriage, but probably on family land southeast of Clarksville. In October 1901, C.C. and his wife sold their land and moved with their children to Duarte, California. It is said that they moved there for the benefit of C.C.'s health (it is not known what was wrong at the time). For whatever the reason, they did not like it in California and returned to Tennessee about 8 months later. In June 1902, C.C. purchased a spacious home on Madison Extension east of Clarksville (now within the city's limits) for $5,500 from the McKeage family. Sadly, his beloved wife Georgia died in 1910 from a battle with pneumonia. Four years later, C.C. married for a second time to Dayse Dalton. They had one daughter together. In that same year (1914) he transferred his membership from the Presbyterian church in McAdoo to Clarksville. C.C. spent the rest of his life at his home near Clarksville. In 1927, tragedy struck when the beautiful Brown home burned to the ground. It was rebuilt the following year. C.C. was known as having been a jovial and a charitable man, well loved by all who knew him. Christopher was married first to Georgia Current on December 20, 1894 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 9.

1	Pauline Rebecca Brown was born on December 17, 1895 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 1. She died on January 16, 1975 in Oakland, Alameda Co., California. She married Ephraim Porter Russell circa 1916-1917. (He was born circa 1886 in Kentucky 3 and died January 1, 1927 in DeKalb Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Joseph Porter Russell (1917-1918) George Lee Russell (1919-1984) md. Arthula Jones David Porter Russell (1922-1987) md. Joan Russell James Ephriam Russell (1925-1970) Harold Brown Russell (1927-2003) md. Rozella
2	Irl Christopher Brown was born on March 6, 1897 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He died on June 28, 1951 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He married Ruby Ethel Winn on March 16, 1920 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (She was born on January 10, 1902 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee and died on April 18, 1968 in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Donald Christopher Brown (1920-2012) md. Lillian Pearl Gray William Robert Brown (1922-2017) md. Living Irl Kenneth Brown (1923-2012) md. Winifred Stringfellow Anne Elizabeth Brown (1924-2011) md. Jerry Leigh Barker Living
3	Newell Boone Brown

They had one child:

1

Dorothy Lillian Brown was born on August 1, 1916 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She died on February 22, 2011 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She married Asbury Jefferson Head on June 14, 1941 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. (He was born on February 20, 1914 in Sadlersville, Robertson Co., Tennessee and died on June 11, 2004 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Living Living Living

Newell Boone Brown was born on October 31, 1898 in Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee 1,11. He died on June 4, 1963 in Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana 12. He is buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana. Father: Christopher Columbus Brown Mother: Georgia Current According to Newell's daughter, his middle name - Boone - came from the doctor who delivered him. In reality Boone was the last name of the minister who married his parents in 1894. Newell spent his earliest years in the family's farmhouse in a rural part of Montgomery County, Tennessee; southeast of Clarksville. Then in 1901, when he was not quite 3, his family decided to uproot their lives and move to California. They settled in Duarte, near Los Angeles, but only remained there for one year. In 1902, they returned to Tennessee and bought a large house in what is now Clarksville, Tennessee. Newell grew up in this house and spent the rest of his youth there. Newell was apparently a well-behaved child. He was on more than one list for having perfect attendance in school and was also a member of the Boy Scouts. He also apparently inherited his mother's love of theater and acted in at least one play in his youth. In 1915, when he was 16, he went on a trip to Dallas, Texas. He probably graduated from Clarksville High School in about 1916. In October 1918, he entered in the Student Army Training Corps during World War I, but never served overseas. He served for 3 months in Indiana doing mechanical work for the army and afterwards returned home to Clarksville, Tennessee. During the war, Newell also worked as a "material man" for the Dupont Engineering Company, where he helped with the manufacture of gun powder and explosives for the war effort. Newell spent the summer of 1919 working as a farmer in Kansas. He continued living in his father's house in Clarksville until his marriage in 1922. Newell was married to Louetha Jones Hosse on March 14, 1922 in Louisville, Kentucky. They had probably known each other since childhood. Louetha was born in raised in nearby Christian County, Kentucky; but had moved to Louisville in 1921 after the death of her first husband. At the time of their marriage, they intended to live together in Clarksville, Tennessee. However they apparently never lived in Clarksville together, or only did very briefly. Their whereabouts between 1922 and 1924 are unknown. Then by January 1925, they had moved to Helena, Arkansas, when their only child Bettye was born. They lived in Helena for a year or two. In 1927, they moved to Enid, Oklahoma, where they remained until 1930. Then they lived in Nashville, Tennessee from 1930 to 1931; Chattanooga, Tennessee from 1931 to 1932; Detroit, Michigan from 1932 to 1935; and Chicago, Illinois from 1935 and 1937. In 1937, they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where they remained. Newell was raised as a tobacco farmer and also apparently had skill or training as an auto mechanic in his youth. Eventually though he began working for the insurance industry. Newell was an employee of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company. He was a manager for that company, and was transferred to many different locations during his early employment, which explains the frequent moves throughout the 1920s and 1930s. He retired from that company in 1962. Newell was called "Boo" by his daughter and grandchildren. He was a lover of fishing. He died from the effects of lung cancer just 11 days after his wife Louetha. Newell was married to Louetha Jones on March 14, 1922 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky.

1	Bettye Boone Brown

Bettye Boone Brown [identifying information on living individual is withheld] Father: Newell Boone Brown Mother: Louetha Jones Bettye was an only child. Because of her father's job, she and her parents moved frequently during her childhood. Prior to 1932, they lived in Helena, Arkansas; Enid, Oklahoma; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Nashville, Tennessee. They then lived in Detroit, Michigan from 1932 to 1935 and in Chicago, Illinois from 1935 to 1937. In December 1937, Bettye and her family moved permanently to Indianapolis, Indiana. As a child, Bettye acquired the nickname "Moe" which she has carried into adulthood as her preferred name. In 1938, Bettye went on a trip with her mother to Europe, and they sailed on the famous Queen Mary II. In Indianapolis, Moe attended Grade School #60 and then Shortridge High School, where she graduated in 1943. After this, she attended the Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi (all-female college) and graduated in about 1946 with an Associates degree. Meanwhile, Moe was engaged to Paul Wadleigh who was away in service in the Navy. They were married and began to raise a family. Because of his military service and different colleges and teaching positions, the family moved around quite a bit. In Indiana, they lived in Indianapolis, Washington and Bloomington. They also lived briefly in Long Beach, California and spent a summer in South Carolina. During the early years of their marriage, Moe also worked as a secretary to help support the family. In 1961, the family moved to Bellingham, Washington and then to Pullman, Washington in 1965. In 1971, Moe and Paul were divorced. She remarried to John Staley. John and Moe were involved in a real estate business after this. Their slogan was "get Moe for your money with John." Moe (Bettye) and John have since lived in Washington, California, Idaho, and Arizona.

For information on their children, see his page.

They had no children.

1. Social Security Death Index
2. Obituary of C.C. Brown, Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, October 11, 1938
3. Assorted US Federal Census records
4. Illinois Death Index
5. Tombstone inscriptions, Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Tennessee
6. Tombstone inscriptions, Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee
7. Obituary of Nelson Brown, Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, January 16, 1885
8. Brown genealogy, compiled by Avery Brown, 1974
9. Marriage records, Montgomery Co., Tennessee
10. Tennessee Marriages, 1851-1900. (Ancestry.com)
11. World War I Draft Registration Card
12. Death certificate of Newell Brown, 1963, Marion Co., IN
13. Research of Carolyn Smithfield, Feb. 23, 1997
14. Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850. (Ancestry.com)
15. Tennessee Death Index, 1908-1912.
16. Tennesee Deaths and Burials, 1874-1955. http://www.familysearch.org.
17. Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950. http://www.familysearch.org
18. Marriage record of Green Brown and Mary Albright, Montgomery Co., TN, 1867, #3117.
19. Tombstone inscriptions, Brown Cemetery, Crossville, White Co., Illinois
20. Death notice of Eliza A. Brown, Clarksville Weekly Chronicle, Feb. 20, 1875, Pg. 3

For research on this page, thank you:

Carolyn Smithfield
Bert and Margaret Chumbler