The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-10-19
DEATH COMES TO
R. 7. BROWNING
After An Illness of Several Weeks
Dissolution Results.

day evening, Garrett county has lost
one of its best known and highest es-
teemed residents. Mr.. Browning was
taken Ill early in August of the present
year up to which time he had enioved
most excellent health. His demise was
the result of complication of diseases,
which, coupled, with advancing years,
failed to respond to treatment and he
died as he had lived, a true man to
every conviction. He was true to his
friends, his country and his Maker.
Mr.. Browning was member of one
of the PIONEER families of Western
Maryland, being grandson of the
famous hunter of the Alleghanies.
Meshack Browning, who, late In life.
wrote the story of his personal remi-
niscences during the days when this sec
ton was vast wilderness, and which
are set forth in an interesting and en-
PERTAINING manner in the we'll known
book 'Forty-Four Years a Hunter. 4"
His father was William Browning, who
was born in the famous Glade cabin.
near McHenry, in 1904, and who was
one of the leading men of his genera
ton in this section and an important
factor in local Democratic politics. He
served two terms as county commits
sioner and was justice of the peace for
fifteen years. His mother was Eliza
beth Anne, only daughter of James
Drane, who moved from Prince Georges
county in the year 1900 and settled at
Accident. She and William Browning
were married in 1929, and lived on the
old homestead at Sang Run, where the
birth of Mr.. Browning occurred on Nav
%, 1889, when he went to Missouri. In
the fall of 1861 he returned home and on
September %, 1861, enlisted in the
Union army with Company |, Second
Maryland Infantry. He was gradually
promoted until he was a sergeant. and
was honorably discharged at New
Creek. now Keyser) w. Va, in Feb
ruary, 1864, re- enlsting soon there
after in the same regiment, and was
made second lieutenant of his company
March %, 1865 He was severely
wounded by musket ball at Lynch
burg, Va, in June 1861, and after be-
ing in the hospital for several weeks.
rejoined his regiment at c mberland.
and was finally mustered out of service
at Baltimore, May %, 1865.
At the close of the war Mr.. Brown.
ing returned to Cumberland, ard in the
summer of 1869 settled on the Promised
Land farm, near Oakland. Later he
located on the Frank Sebold farm, near
JohnstOWn, and in the fall of 1867, the
family took up their residence on the
Skyles homestead About this time he
was enrolling officer for the Maryland
National Guard, and in 1868 was ap-
pointed deputy tax collector for ALE
ganY county, in which capacity he serv-
ed until 1871. In the spring of that
year he came to Oakland. and six years
thereafter was engaged in the hotel
business and other enterprises, when
he sold out again with the intention of
moving west, but, owing to the poor
health of Mrs. Browning, he yielded to
her wishes and those of numerous
friends, and remained in this county.
The following two years he engaged in
The mercantile business at Hutton, re-
turning to Oakland in 1884 when he
was appointed tax collector for this
county.
Mr.. Browning took leading part in
the formation Of Garrett county out
of the Western section of Alleganv
county, and it was largely through his
efforts that the division of Allegany
county was effected. The: plan was
strongly supported by the majority of
the best people of this section, and no
one perhaps was more generous in con-
tributions Of time, work and means to
the furtherance of the desired object
than he. A certain bitter sectional
feeling was created by the opponents Of
the plan, and this was increased when
the question Of the location Of the county
seat came before the public, but this
sentiment gradually died away, and at
the present time is entirely forgotten.
In the fall of 1873, Mr.. Browning was
elected on the Democratic ticket to the
House of Delegates, and during the
succeeding winter an effort was made
to reopen the question in regard to
Oakland as the county seat by her op-
ponents, by re-submitting the question
to the people, and through the advocates
of this measure eloquently and earnest
ly pleaded in its behalf, Mr.. Browning
succeeded in turning the tide back to
the old channels and Oakland was saved
In 1885 he was elected to the State
Senate, serving three years, resigning
his place in that honorable body in the
spring of 1888 to accept the appoint
ment of State inspector of mines for
Allegany and Garrett counties, which
office he acceptablY filled for four years
At the close of this period he was an