The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-22
REV. ". W. BROWNEDEAD
REMARKABLE CAREER OF THE
WELL-KNOWy NEGRO.
Started Dat as Temperance Reformer
He Founded a Unique and success
full Banking Institution


Information reached this city yesterday
OF the death OF Rev. william Washington
Browne, coIored, who was al the head OF
the Grand Fountain OF True Reiormers
here. and perhaps the wealthiest negro In
Virginia. His death occurred at o clock
yesterday morning at No. 2lli Pcnnsylva-
MA Avenue. Washington. ID. c.
The remains will be brought here
today by special car over the Chess
apeake and Ohio route. and the funeral
arrangements will DO decided later.
lie was taken III nearly year ago, and
Drs. ROSS and Slower attended him
Cancer of the arm developed. and the pa
tlent went TO Winchester Philadelphia.
Mt. Holly and Washington for relief and
treatment, and in the latter place. where
he went a little over two weeks ago. he
improved for a while, but subsequently
grew weaker until the end came
a REMARKABLE CAREER.
William Washington Browne was born
in Habcrsham county. Georgia. I'm 1919.
He was born OF slave parents. At the age
OF six years he was sold and carried 10
Rome. Georgia, where he remained a few
years until again sold and carried 10
Memphis Tenn His new master trained
him as a race-rider and he was thus given
an opportunity 10 travel and see the con-
ditions Of slavery fin many places. After
the beginning of the war he was sent by
HIS owners into Mississippi for safe-keep-
ing. but he found q way 90 escape and in
company with others tramped back TO
Memphis where he engaged as waiting
boy 20 captain IN the sixth Missouri
regiment. HIS master having traced him
10 Memphis he took fright and secured
passage as a stowaway in tho hold Of n
Mississippi steamer bound for Cairo. H.
Arriving at Cairo he secured employment
in "a family only 20 leave IL and join the
United States Navy. lie became a gum
ner on the United states gunboat Ma
tionnl
After the surrender ~ Vicksburg he re-
turned 10 Illinois but learning that he
could go 20 school IN Wisconsin ne went
there and remained I'm school un,il 1861.
A white man I'm Wisconsin was drafted
for the army but Browne took his place
and was enlisted I'm the Eighteenth United
states Infantry Tie took part in several
battles and was mustered ont 20 g. Louis,
Mo. with tho rank Of Sergeant Major
Tie returned 90 Wisconsin and remained
until 1869 az which time ne returned 90
Rome. Ga. lie was ono Of tho leading
orators In the movements which led to
the abolition OF tho "Kukux" clans I'm
Georgia. a price was often place upon
his head as DE was a daring and aggres-
sive fighter Hc was n school teacher I'm
Georgia for some time. but finally pur-
sued tho Same callinc in Alabama. II
was I'm Alabama that ne mot and married
Mary Graham. one of his pupils
AS A REFORMER.
Finding that thousands OF the members
Of his race were being practically dis
franchised ana reduced 70 paupcrism an
nua'iy through the influence OF strong
drink be entered The temperance cause
and w1ged war against whiskey. As a
temperance lecturer he was "A success and
associated with such men as j. j. HEX
man.
In tho moan while Browne he'd Joined
the Methodist church ana become o. lead
ing divine in his community He first
became identified with tho True Reform
ers in Alabama and is said 10 have been
one # "a committee who secured the right
to operate under that title from the Good
lemplars He first served as deputy
under Mr.. Alouzo Elliot. white mar APP
pointed as ch'cf orsanizer by tho Good
Trmplars Whom the work went in>o the
hands Of the cO,orDd people themselves
be was elected Grand Worthy Secretary
in which capacity he served until 1871
when he was elected Grand Master lie
introduced many ncw features into the
work especially 20 plan Of mutual benefits
by which at the death OF member there
would De paid 90 that members famaily
"a stipulated sum OF money 90 Doe raised
10y am assessment On the treasures OF tho
whole brotherhood This plan was not
acceptable in Alabama and Browne was
nor very popular there as a leader He
became associate editor Of newspaper
known rs the Rcformcr This paper had
circulation In Virginia and was read by
many persons OF tho Tcue Reformcrs
hcrc.
In ISL Browne received an invitation 10
| give MP his work in Alabama and come
10 Virginia. lie accepted the offer Of the
change Of fields and landed IN Richmond
| I'm January 1s>l Here ne found the rem
nant Of am organization under the Good
| Temrars known as The Grand United
order of True Reformcrs. lie was elect.
| ca Grand Master OF the same and was
| given one hundred and fifty dollars on
| which 10 commence work in Virginia.
lie introduced the plan OF mutual bene-
| fits. which DE had attempted 10 Introduce
| in Alabama and IL was adopted. lie sue.
| ceedcd well with his new work securing
| az the very outset the services of a Young
| lad. w. u. Burrell. wEO acted in the ca
| pacity Of private secretary and general
| advisor OF Rev. Browne and who has
| been for thirteen years the Grand Worthy
| Secretary. and probably knows moro Of
| his affairs than any living person and
| certainly more Of tho internal workings
Of the vast machinery Of business which
he put .U motion.
HIS WORK IN THIS CITY.
Browne came 20 Virginia as stated
above and az once went 10 work. His
| opposition he did not succeed 50 well UNI
| I'll 1883 at which time the organization
was Incorporated. Several new depart
mcnts have been added 10 the business
| from time 10 time On order 10 carry out
| his various ideas.
They We're added IN the following order:
| I'm 1855 the Class Department and the
| Rose Bud Departments were added. The
| Class Department having as its object
| tho paying OF more money 10 heirs and
relatives OF deceased members. I'm the
| Rose Bud Department the children are
cared for and taught ideas Of business
IT, 1855 the Savings Bank u the Grand
| Fountain was Incorporated and has since
| that time been probably the most widely
| talked OF part Of his business. The man
agoment OF this department IS so arranged
| that it IS not affected by the various
changes which bother most OF our banks.
| and business corporations
In the panicky times OF lS3 this bank
was the only bank IN the city OF Rich.
| mOnd that did not cease 20 pay currency
| over iis counter an any time. Not only
were the checks Of this bank taken up
| when preseLted but the checks OF other
banks were often Cashed. and when
no money could be gotten by Dir. Rady.
| the Supervisor Of the School Board, 20
complete his payroll Brownies bank