West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-09-15
BROWN FAMILY REUNION.
Fourth Annual Convention Of the
Association Held on the ''0ld
Homestead" In Valley
District, Saturday,
Sept. 10th.

IfHk
in Valley district along the county
road about hair way between the
Bethlehem Church and Browns
Mill. 1t was the fourth annual
gathering OF the numerous Brown
Tribe, or descendants and connec
tons of Col. Thomas Brown, the
pioneer OF the family in this sec
ton. He came over the mountains
from East Virginia in 1906 and
settled on a tract of nearly 600
acres OF land that had been pur
chased for him by Col. John Far.
fax, his friend and benefactor. Col.
Fairfax had moved to this county
in 1890 and took up a lot of land
between Reedsville and Browns
Mill, and reaching bgck southeast
to the tract he purchased for Brown,
and the two having been friends
and neighbors in old Virginia, Col.
Fairfax persuaded him to come out
here aud settle along side of him.
The deed for the Brown tract was
made In 1902, three years before
Brown moved out. He came with
his family and several slaves and
hounds and guns, for he was a
great hunter, and this, as much as
anything, induced him to settle
where he did, as it was a fine game
preserve. He built a large, old
fashioned double log house just
this side of the big stone house now
occupied by Lloyd Brand, and
which was built later on by William
Brown, n Of Col. Toms boys.
With the houses of the colored
folks and numerous outbuildings,
the old homestead made quite u
collection of buildings, like a small
village. Nothing now remains ex-
cept a pile of stones from the big
old fashioned chimney, ana the
land has gone into other hands.
The I'd folks and some of the fam
lly an~ slaves lie buried IN a pri.
yate graveyard OH the place.
So it was particularly appropriate
that a reunion be held on the old
historic homestead. A speakers
stand, seats and table were erected
in a grove along side Of the site of
the old house, and the crowd began
to assemble early In the day. and
kept on coming till two O'Clock
before they were all there, when
the number reached fully two hum
dred, and there was a small field
full of wagons and buggies.
The regular program was taken
up about eleven o'clock, when the
meeting was called to order by the
President, DIR. Ashford Brown, Of
Webster. The session was opened
with prayer by Rev. George W.
Bent, of Wadestown. A short ad-
dress Of welcome was delivered by
A. w. Brown, and responded to by
Charles Nj. Brown, of West Graf
ton. All joined in singing Gamer.
iea," and the venerable President
delivered his annual address. The
audience then sang "The West
Virginia Hills" and took a recess
for refreshments, the mar per-
formauce Of the day. 1t was a
regular ''Sham Battle" and the
charge Of the Brown Brigade on
Gen. Grubbs' headquarters was a
very spirited one. The ordinance
department was first ordered up to
place the ammunition in position,
winch was accomplished in a highly
satisfactory manner. A table so
feet long had been erected. and it
was literally loaded down from one
end to the other with the good
things Of life. In fact, il was so
heavily loaded that it broke down
and had to be propped several
times to hold it up in after the
crowd got at it awhile. and then
the table rested easy, but the seats
began to break down. We got a
good place in tho middle Of the
table. so we could reach both ways.
and after an hours hard work. the
table was cleared OF like q patch Of
new ground ~ a clearing. then we
moved TO q fresh position and re-
newed the assault. The breast
works Of grub that had been piled
up on the table were finally carried
and the fight Was over. We
bad 70 get - monkey wreuch 20
inhibition our vest With, and We
can make out now till buckwhoat