Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-03-16
THREE PROMINENT WEST VIRGIN.
lANS DEAD.
CONGRESSMAN WIN. G. BROWN.

CONGRESSMAN VIM. G. BROWN.
The people OF this county, and indeed
of the entire State of West Virginia, were
shocked and surprised last Thursday af-
ternoon when the news was sent out from
Washington that Representative William
Gay Brown, of the second West Virginia
district, had expired at his home in that
city. Few persons knew that Mr.. Brown
had been i'll, and the report OF his death
could scarcely be credited. VIM. B. SnY-
der, OF the Register office, had been in
Washington on Monday and had seen and
talked with Mr.. Brown, who appeared to
be as we'll as he had ever been and was
especially vivacious and cheerful.
The details of Mr.. Browns death were
made public later. Monday evening he
gave dinner party at his home on Con-
necticut Avenue, which he had leased for
the season and occupied only a few weeks.
He was as we'll as usual, and there was
no indication of trouble. Tuesday morn
ing about o'clock he was stricken with
apoplexy, passing into an unconscious
state from which he never rallied. His
serious condition was not made public,
though his relatives were summoned to
his bedside. He died Thursday a few
pnnr hour
Both the Senate and the House adjourn
ed Thursday upon receipt OF the intelli-
gence OF his death, after passing resolu-
tons OF regret and appointing committees
TO attend the funeral. Friday night a
special train left Washington at midnight
for Kingwood, bearing the body OF the
Congressman, his relatives and friends
and the committees of the two houses Of
Congress. The House committee was as
follows: Representatives Nicely, Suther-
land, Littlepage, Cooper and Moss, of
West Virginia; Glass and Sanders, OF
Virginia; Gambler, OF Mississippi; Foster,
of Illinois; Rucker and Russell, OF Mis-
souri,; Phelan, of Massachusetts, Woods,
of Iowa; Linderbergh, OF Minnesota;
Porter, OF Pennsylvania; Wilson, ofFlor-
ida; Taylor, of Arkansas; TilSon, OF
Connecticut; Riordan, Conroy and Plat,
of New York and Hayes, OF California.
The Senate committee was composed
OF Senators Chiffon and Golf, OF West
Virginia; Underwood, OF Alabama; Gal
linger, OF New Hampshire; James OF
Kentucky; Cummins, OF Iowa; Robinson,
OF Arkansas; Clapp, OF Minnesota; Ash
urst, OF New Mexico; and MARITIME, OF
New Jersey.
Mr.. Brown, who was in the Goth year
of his age, was born and reared in King
wood. His father, VIM. 6. Brown,
served his district in Congress and it was
Juniors" highest ambition TO follow in
his fathers steps. This ambition was
first gratiied in 1910, when he was nomi-
mated on the Democratic ticket and elect
ed. He was reelected again in 1912 and
1914, and had announced his intention OF
running again this year. Mr.. Brown was
lawyer by profession, but most OF his
time was given TO his banking business.
He was very rich, his fortune being eStl-
mated at over 81 100000. He was mar
ried three times-first in 1883 to Miss
Jessie Thomas, OF Tyrone, Pa, who died
in 1886; again in 1902 to Miss Flora
Martin, OF Kingwood, who died in 1912;
and on December 5, 1914, he gave sur
prise TO his friends by marrying Miss
Izetta Jewel Kennedy, of Babylon, Long
Island, a talented and popular actress who
had played for some years in stock COM
pany in Washington. The latter survives
him, together with baby daughter born
January II, 1916. The only other child
is Mrs Robert L. Bro wn, OF Kingwood. a
daughter by his first wife.
Mr.. Brown was one OF West Virginia's
best-known and most popular men. He
was known personally 10 more OF his
constituents, probably, than any other
Congressman who has ever represented
this State. His popularity was shown by
the fact that though this is normally a
Republican district, he was three times
elected TO Congress as Democrat.
Genial and approachable and generous,
he was ever ready TO do favor, and as a
mixer he was remarkable. He had many
warm friends in Jefferson county who
will deeply regret his death-indeed he
will be mourned all over the State. The
Democratic party will seriously feel his
loss.