West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-08-31
THE ELEVENTH REUNION
or the Brown Family or Preston
County.

IN Valley district. IL was an ideal
day for picnic, the rain the day
before settled all the dust and cool.
ed the AIR and with a fine breeze
string, the day was very pleasant
for an outing. The reunion was
held in a grove on land now owned
by Senator III. M. Grimes just west
of the old stone house, built in 1897.
This reunion was the Centennial
Anniversary of the Brownies in
Preston county, as the pioneer Col.
Thomas Brown came over TIE
mountain from East Virginia in the
spring of 1905 aud settled in a log
house Southeast of where the stone
house stands now. He came from
Stafford county (now Prince Will
liam) and came at the urgent solici.
tation of his Old friend and neigh
Dor, Col. John Fairfax, who bad
moved over here in 1890 and who
had secured tract of 57S acres of
land for Col. Brown In 1902, ad-
joining his (Fairfax's) land. Col.
Brown came over the mountain with
his family and slaves and goods and
chattels, including several dogs and
guns, as he was very fond of hunt
ing. The first season they lived in
a temporary shack and bought grain
at the old Osborne place, out toward
Morgantown, until they could raise
crop. He then built the "Old
Homestead" a large double log
house, with long porch in front
running the full length of the house
and two big stone chimneys, with
the slaye-quarters in semi circle in
the rear and the out-buildings furth-
er back. These buildings stood In
the corner of the fleld next the road,
east of the stone house. Burnt work
drawings of the Old Homestead, on
brown paper with appropriate selec-
tons from the poem on the "Old
Homestead" and tied with brown
ribbons were distributed at the re-
union to every one as souvenirs of
the hundreth anniversary. These
were prepared by the daughters of
William Il. Brown of Grafton, and
were very artistic and appropriate.
Splendid music was furnished by a
string band of brownies" from
Halleck, with violin, guitar etc.
Also several vocal selections were
rendered.
The following program was rem
dered
Singing "AmericaJ
Prayer, Rev. G. w. Bent
Annual Address Prof. S. b. Brown
Our Centennial Anniversary X. b. Brown
Singing "The Old Homestead"
ton County, c. NJ. Brown
| Addresses, A. w. Brown, John Farrell, John
Newman, DIR, Charles Brown.
Singing "Old Oaken Bucket"
One Hundred Years of Brown Family His
tory ] Slidell Brown.
Some "Reminiscences of the Brown Family,
DIR. A. w. Brown, Granville Brown,
William +. Brown.
Recitation, Tom Brown, lila Bent, Aura
Farrell, Sara Marie Brown.
The Future Of the Brown Family Rev. Bent
Singing "Blest be the Tie that Binds"
Report of Officers and Committees.
Election of Officers.
Appointment of Committees and next Place
of Meeting
Singing "God be With You"
Hon. James f. Brown from Chi
cago was present and was called
upon and delivered a splendid adj
dress. All the talks and speeches
were good and we'll received. But
the crowning event of the occasion
was the "festal board" loaded down
with all the best the season and
hospitality of the Browns affords and
this latter is far.famed. There were
about so at the first two tables and
a few stragglers after that and with
quite a number Of others who came,
Immediately after dinner, so that
there were about 400 present. We
regret to say that we lost the belt at
the table this year which was clearly
won by Col. c. w. Wolfe our bro.
ther-in law. We were a little "off
our feed" that day and Col. Wolfe
as we found out afterwards from
his wife, had not eaten anything for
two days before. At one time we
counted four pieces of spring chick
en- on his plate at once and a few
moments later heard him calling
for chicken. Another time we OBJ.
served piece each of apple, Gus
tard and lemon pie on his plate at
one time and later on he was telling
a lady who waited on the table that
he was ready for desert and would
like some pie to start with. We
gave up then and retired from the
table. However we we're awarded
the blue-ribbon prize for having
the youngest Brownie there, 1.-TWO
months old) and we we're satisfied.