Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-23
j. I. BROWNING
CALLED BY DEATH
Oldest Member of Rock Island
County Bar Expires at
Rock River Farm.
INJURED LAST SEPTEMBER
Fails to Rally From Effects of Fall
Leaves Fortune Of $3.50, 0O7-
DIR. J. J. Tremblay.

John L. browning, the Oldest mem
Der of the Rock Island county bar,
died at o'clock this morning at his
farm on Rock river. south of Mo-
line, where he had been confined
since last September, when he suf-
fered an injuryrin fall, from the
effects of which he never rallied full
ly.
Mr. Browning was born in Geneseo
county, New York, June IL, 1880.
He received an academic education
at Rochester, where later he was adj
mitted to the practice of law in 1861
In December of the same year, he
came west and settled in the city of
Moline, where he made his home
continuously since. He was the first
city attorney of Moline, and one of
his duties was to compile and ar
range a code Of ordinances govern
ing that city. In 1876 he formed
a partnership with the late w. ].
Entrikin. In 1874 Mr.. Browning
was elected to represent this sena-
torial district in the Illinois legisla-
ture. During Mr.. Browning's young
manhood he entertained pronounced
anti-slavery views, and was in fact
an ardent abolitionist. Upon the
formation OF the republican party in
1856 he Immediately allied himself
with that organization. Since that
time he has continued member Of
that political faith.
He was engaged In the famous
controversy between the river an0
railroad interests over the cnnstruc-
ton Of the bridge across the Missis-
sippi here at Rock Island. In this
controversy some Of the most eminent
legal talent In Illinois participated,
among whom was Abraham Lincoln.
Leaves City Playground.
Mr.. Browning. who had never mar
ried, had amassed a fortune which is
estimated to be worth $4,000 1t con-
sists chiefly in realty located In Moline
and vicinity and In Industrial and bank
stocks. In his will, of which he named
DR.. A. NJ. Beal and j. 8. Gilmore ex-
ecutors, he donates to the city of Mo
line an eight-acre tract on Fifteenth
street between Twentieth and Twenty
third avenues, the same to be known
as the John T. Browning Memorial
playground and athletic field. He
leaves $1,000 each to the Moline city
hospital and to the Moline division Of
the Salvation Army. A block Of prop
erty in Sheridan Heights. Moline, is
bequeathed to the Tri-City sanitarium.
His 40-acre farm on Rock river he
leaves to his housekeeper, Mrs. Ida
Peterson, and to Miss Sarah Reed, at
whose boarding place he took his meals
for years, he leaves $4,000. The re-
mainder of the estate is divided equal
ly between the four branches of the
family-to his only living sister. and
to the children of his two sisters and
those of his two deceased brothers.
The funeral services will be held at
the farm home tomorrow afternoon at
2 o'clock, with interment in Riverside
cemetery.
DIR. Joseph J. Tren.bIay.
DR.. Joseph ]. Tremblay died sud
denly at 7:45 this morning at his
home, 1929 Eighteenth avenue, Mo-
line. He had Just returned from a
call when he collapsed.
Heart failure was the cause. DR..
was a native of Chatham,
Ontario, Canada, where he was born
AZ years ago. He was a graduate of
the College of Physicians and Sur
geons, Chicago, and settled in Mo-
line IL years ago. He was unmar-
ried and is survived by his parents
in Canada, and three brothers and
four sisters. He was a member of
the knights OF Pythias and Elks in
MoIInA