West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-09-22
The Brown Family.
An Interesting sketch On Their Past
Record, Present Condition aud
Future Prospects.


stead" i'm Valley District Sept 10th.
II WAS written 10y James Edgar Brown,
a prominent young attorney of Chicago.
who was on the Program. but being
unable to Toe present sent his contribu-
tiou to his brother Prof. samuel Il.
Brown. OF Morgantown. who read IL
before the Association aud on motion
the Secretary was requested to haye it
published.
CHICAGO. Angus, 30th 1898.
DEAR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
had hoped To present and partici-
pate in the festivities of the annual
Reunion of the Brown Family. but ur-
gent business detained me aud / can
only send you my greeting.
Veneratiou for the memories of nv
deceased ancestors, the renewals Of
friendships with the living and the
formation of new friendships are mo-
tives sufficiently strong To induce me
TO travel one thousand miles-going
and returnIng-were IL not that L am
detained by professional duties
The birds of the air return season
after season To the home nests where
first they saw the light
The fishes OF the sea seek the river
channels and shallow places where
their lives began. Animals return
again and again 10 the dens where
they were born. Add so In man, the
higher animal, Is the homing instinct
strong. He loves, first his home and
next his country. and thus 10 IL the be-
ginning of patriotism. 1t Is n histori-
cal fact that patriotism develops and
thrives in those regions diversified by
naturc-that she choose her bode and
makes her home among the noun tains.
The home of ones childhood and
that OF his ancestors draws him as n
magnet periodically 10 that spot whore
his early life was spent.
He holds it in reverence sacred
ness attaches TO ito him IL is hal
lowed ground.
In the History OF the Brown Family.
recently pm ublished, l dwelt upon only
one division of genealogy. namely. the
historical part. Neither my time nor
the PATRONAGE extended enabled me 20
develop the philosophical phase of the
subject which is much more important
In the historical portion published
have told you of the deeds and actions
OF our ancestors and their desce ndaut -.
their occupations. politics, religion and
military rccor Is.
In the other division, philosophical
genealogy, we have TO do with their
physical characteristics. traits OF char.
acter. mental and moral, and matters
OF kindred interest The general
characteristics of n family are perpet-
uated through successive generations
Races. families and individuals differ.
bnt each has some DISTINGUISHING trait
or characteristics something differen-
tiating il from other races, families or
individuals, yet something in common
with those most nearly related TO IL.
whereby it can be classified and lo-
ca ted.
As regards families.-some are re-
markable for their muscular power.
their ind' sty, energy perseverance,
and physical endurance. Others for
their intellectual superiority and
moral natures.
study OF the size. form. weight,
height, complexion. color OF hair and
eyes, and other matters relating TO the
conformation of family is OF in terest.
Some families have predispoSition TO
certain diseases, which are trans
mitted from generation TO generation,
sometimes skipping one or two genera
tions and appearing later on. Hersde-
tary traits linger in the blood and crop
out from generation to generation.
In my Investigations concerning the
Brown Family the following questions
have suggested themselves Who were
our ancestors ? OF what nationality
were they ? What we're their names {?
Where did they live7 What was
their personal appearance What Of
physical, mental and moral endow-
81
constitutions ? Were they rich or poor /;
men ofinhuencs in the community or
nononities7 What marriage alliances
did they form anc what effect have
these alliances had on the family stock?
We're they predis posed TO any hersdi.
tary diseases, and IL so how can their de-
scendsnts best avoid and prevent their
Development How may we escape
the evils, the disasters and the nisfor-
tunes that bsfell them? If any of
them were wrecked in character or
fortune how can We best search out
the cause and discover the rock on
which they foundered and mark tin
order that future generations may es
cspep
Families. like nations and individuals,
have their rise and fall. their periods
Of growth and decay. their ups and
downs, physically mentally, morally,
and intellectually. On which side OF
the meridian is our family7 Are its
achievements dons and is IL now in
state Of cecadence and senility or is
IL still in its youth ana vigor. just en-
tering on a period OF physical. intel
lectual and moral growth and power
What percentage OF the children OF
our family lived TO maturity2 What
percentage were males and what
females? How many married How
long did they live after marriage ?
What percentage were twins? What
Of the longevity OF the family1 What
diseases caused death7 Has there ever
been trace Of insanity ia the family
To answer all these questions fully
and satisfactorily would require a vast
~ greater amount OF data than / DOS
sess or than is now is existence.
A few Of these questions, however.
can be answered from the data con-
tsined 10 the family book recently
published