The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-02-17
Obituary.

this memoir, was the son Of John W. and
Lucy W. Browning, who removed from
Woodstock, Conn.,, to Orwell, Bradford
county, Pa. in the year 1919. He was
born August 30, 1918, and died at the home
of his daughter, Mrs. Winfield Franks, at
Wellington, o., February 8, 1892, aged rs
years, months and days.
From Father Browning's own will kept
journal, begun in 1916, we learn that from
childhood he was the subject Of very deep
up Ia the old Calvinistic school and never
heard Methodist sermon till he was four
teen years of age-in 1927.
He was converted and and taken into
the M. E. church in $780, From that very
moment he felt called to preach the Cos.
pei. His father bitterly opposed him, and
apprenticed him TO learn the carriage
building trade. He tried in vain 10 throw
off the impression that he was called to
preach. After restless wanderings from
place TO place he was married on the 2Sth
day Of February, 1886, and licensed US an
exhorter September 10, 1897, while Lying
at Milford, Litchfield county, Conn. Such
was the favor with which his efforts were
received that he was offered a license TO
preach in less than three months. This he
modestly but firmly refused. but was after
wards licensed 10 preach June 30, 1888.
He removed TO Edinborough, Portage
county, o., in 1S41. Here sickness and
failure TO secure steady employment
brought him into great financial stress, |
but as health was restored he gave him.
self TO revival work and saw scores Of |
souls converted and unite with the strug.
Cling Methodist church.
In 1916 be entered the work Of travel
ing minister and was stationed at Portland,
N. Y. Here his life broadened with new
experiences, and In his diary account of
his preaching services he would often say
"God was with me and blessed me. Glory
be TO his namep
In 1859 he entered the auditors Office of
Portage county, where he worked for two
years with improving health, occupying
the pulpit on Sundays in the college town
Of Hudson. He joined the Masonic fra.
ternity about this time, and was cpp6inted
chaplain therein. He received q commits
sion from the governor as notary public
June 12, 1862; entered the railroad office
OF the Atlantic q Great Western at Kent,
o., In 1864, where he remained one year.
In 1865 lie accepted position with the Sill.
YER Creek Mining and Railroad company,
at Wadsworth, o., and in the same year
also acted as secretary Of the Farmers In
surance company and preached on Sunday
In the Methodist and Congregational
churchs Of Wadsworth. In 1860 he was
elected mayor Of Wadsworth ard also su-
perintendent Of the NJ. E. Sunday school.
February 2S, 1877, he celebrated the forty |
first anniversary Of his marriage and his |
wife's sixtyfourth birthday at the home of |
his eldest son, where the entire family was
present, with three children and seven
grandchildren. In little over onel year
from this happy event Father Browning
was called TO mourn the death OF his wife, |
the companion Of his joys and sorrows for
over iortytwo years.
He came 10 Wellington March "a, 1881,
TO make his home with his daughter, Mrs
Winfield Franks, where he lived until the
day of his death, where all that affection
and respect for his venerable years could
90 was done to make his last days comfort
able and happy.
Father Browning gave his church letter
to Rev. N. S. Albright April, 1881, and be-
came member OF the Methodist church,
of Wellington, and by virtue of his parch.
ments as an ordained local elder he be-
came a member of the quarterly confer
ence of the Methodist church of yelling.
ton. He frequently assisted in the COM
munion services Of the church, and on oc-
casion filled the pulpit with great accepta-
bility. For the last two years and more
he has not been able to be at any Of the
Sunday services, but maintained sweet
and we'll defined Christian experience In
the seclusloA Of his home. His last illness
was not Of long duration, nor did he seem
10 suffer. He was handed down 10 his last
hour very gently, and in the full triumph
oi an assuring faith. AS he said In an an
swer TO an inquiry Of his pastor, II am not
have waited long for this
hour" One was made 10 feel in his diving
presence that "The chamber where the
good man meets his fate is privileged be-
gond the common walk Of virtuous life,
quite In the verge Of heaven"
Father Browning leaves, as members OF
his immediate family, one daughter and
wo sons to mourn their loss J.F.B.
We wish 10 extend our heartfelt thanks
% the neighbors, friends, Masonic order
md singers for their kindness and sympa-
by during the sickness and death Of our
aiher, and especially those who stood by
10 during the last hours, as well rs those
who accompanied us to the burial place.
Mrs. W. 5. FRANKS,
L. Il. BROWNING,
III. M, BRoWNINo