13 Sep 2019 Update:
My Scholar Mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, had 5 Dec 1869 for his Birth Date. A fellow findagraver (Japan resident - S. A Jones, 3 years # 48860468) stated that his birthday was 5 Dec 1870. I just looked at his Passport Application, as the only record with his full birth date on it. It is 5 Dec 1870. Does anyone have a New York State Birth Record? Cousin, Debra Rausch shared the dates written in Samuel Newton Brown's Family Bible: 5 Dec 1870. Why then did the family place 1869 on his crypt?
Detroit Industrialist that owned ACME paint and developed the Model T Ford "Black Japan" paint in the 1920's! ACME paint is still enjoyed by car enthusisasts today!
"Tampa Bay History", Volume 25, 2011 Pages 36 and 37 a magazine reveals the most information on Robert S. Brown than anywhere else that I found. The author took his time with footnotes to research this exclusive Florida development and of Robert Brown!
The section is entitled "Robert S. Brown and Japan Black Paint". Black paint was used on Ford's Model T's from the late 1914-1925. 11.5 million black Model T's were produced. The decision to paint the cars only one color was because of the quick drying time, it was cheap and it was durable. The process was actually a varnishing process.
During this time more than 30 different types of black paint were experimented with. It was called a ‘brushing, dipping and flowing" process. Spray painting did not come into existence until 1926, which is still used today in 2013. The special black paint that was chosen had a chemical called ‘asphaltum' and it had better damp-proofing properties than other paint of the time.
Our Robert Sanford Brown had his own paint company in Detroit named the "ACME Quality Paint Company. This company supplied paint to automotive companies including Ford.
It was Brown who formulated one of these two formulas of black paint. The process was coded F-101 and F-102. In the paint industry it was called "Japan Black" assuming after the prized Japanese lacquer-ware that was and is still used in Japan. "Japan Black" is a lacquer varnish with asphalt based dissolved in turpentine or naptha.
Brown's company was purchased in 1920 by Sherwin-Williams, Inc* of Cleveland, Ohio.
In trying to piece together our family history through news articles, internet sources, censuses and even a passport application - we know that sometime before the early 1920's Robert developed the paint for Ford automobiles which propelled him into his wealth.
He sold his ACME Paint Company to Sherwin-Williams 1920. He took a "leisure trip to Havana, Cuba" in 1921(Passport Application) and in 1922 purchased the eight room, two-storied Florida house in 1922 from developer Dean Alvord, and he added two additional wings to the home and the lush gardens.
Here he collected art and music from Rembrandt paintings to the 32 bells from the New York State World's Fair which he placed in a tower and played music weekly for the surrounding area. Neighbors loved hearing "Indian Love Call". He had a large organ with pipes and had charcoal shoveled in under the room to keep the room dry! He employed a Japanese Landscape architect named only Kawa to develop his many gardens. His estate grounds held large Japanese-inspired gardens tended by three Japanese servants/gardeners listed in the various censuses. He always had family staying with him in this large home. Medieval amour stood in the halls. Ornate tapestries on the walls.
His surname is either Scotch or Irish.
His parents:
Samuel Newton Brown
Birth: 15 Feb 1831, Valatie, Columbia, New York, USA
Death: 27 Mar 1898, Kinderhook, Columbia, New York, USA
Jane L. Sloan
Birth: abt 1831, Ireland
Death: 22 Nov 1894, Kinderhook, Columbia, NY, USA
(Need her parent's names, dates and cemetery.)
Family stories through my mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, and cousins Joyce Streu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey and in one newspaper article on 25 Sep 1955 the Brown estate is listed at 2 million dollars and was willed to Clearwater's St. Cecelia Church. All of the contents inside were auctioned off for the church's benefit.
The father determined to Will the estate to the church to perhaps save his children the burden of such a large piece of property. I am sure that each of the three living children inherited a sizeable amount of money.
The church held onto this for possibly thirty years and for the same reason of not being able to pay the county taxes sold the estate to unknown person(s). In 1988 there is a newspaper that rumors this sale of three parcels.
Sometime around 1988 there is another news article that claims a "mystery sale". The large property must have been divided into three parcels at this time. Because by 1991, an English race car driver Nigel Mansell, bought the house. He bought all ‘three parts of the land'. One held a cottage on it. He added another wing to the house. The house was listed for sale in 1994 for $13.9 million dollars for the entire land and homes and also could be sub-divided down into three parcels.
The house was listed for sale in 1994 and was sub-divided down into three parcels, again.
The "last sale found on-line" was 2 Feb 1996 for $5,500.00. It was listed as 18 baths, 23, 159 square feet and a lot size of 150, 478 square feet. No buyer's name was listed. Was this for one parcel or all three?
2010 owners interviewed for an article were Constantine and Elaine Chambers.
The 2012 assessed value was $7,369,038. Taxes were $153, 138.00. Was this for one parcel or all three?
$$$$$$$$$
The smaller home that the son Raymond owned is currently up for sale on 429 Magnolia in the same developement in April 2013 for under $800,000.00.
My dad and mom, Dick and Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, visited them at this esate in 1944 while dad was stationed at MacDill Airforce base in Clearwater. Mom took many photographs which are all posted on ancestry.com on the "Leyes-Corcoran" family tree. She also saved many newspaper clippings of the estate, not found on-line.
Joyce Steu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey, God-daughter of Raymond and Edna Gerber Brown helped to contribute to this story. Thank you, cousins and mom!
His son, Raymond Sanford Brown married our Edna Minnie Gerber. Our Gerber line has been taken back to 1535 by Christian Gerber living in Switzerland and my mom who has spent 74 years doing genealogy, with many trips to Europe to gain stamped archive records.
Family lore is there is a large mausoleum at this cemetery that our living relatives had never found. This is so exciting for us to have such grand help in locating the cemetery, the plot numbers and the mausoleum!! Thank you all! God-daughter, Dolores said that Robert bought this plot in 1928.
Thank you to kind findagrave participants we now have a list of 15 family members. Chris Moran, our findagrave.com photographer, is going to photograph the entire crypt for us this weekend with family permission! 17 May 2013
Thank you very much for taking their headstone photograph, Chris! With persistence we all worked collectively to make this inside of the locked mausoleum happen--cousins helping to figure out the right cemetery, findagrave.com ladies who called various cemeteries to make sure of the correct cemetery and the plot numbers. To Chris Moran for calling the cemetery. My sending "written permission" (via Dolores Demmer Gailey, the God daughter of the son Raymond -their only "child") to have Chris gain entry into the locked mausoleum to photograph all 15 family members inside. I, Wendy, who added every person to both ancestry.com and to findagrave.com to always remember our "our family roots"!
+++++
Would love for family input or from the current owners of this house. There are several grandchildren that we would like to get in touch with, as well.
Aug 2014 update:
I really wish the grandchildren would contact me directly, as direct family (the God child) gave us permission to gain access to take the mausoleum photographs. How sad that our family feels the inside of this building should not be shared to our larger family. The inside is just stunningly beautiful. We all loved looking at the stain glass and altar, it was breath taking. All of the seniors who have graciously given me names, dates and pictures were delighted to see such a part of their past. They knew these people in person!
Gary Snyder (Schulte line) and Dolores Demmer Gailey--and all of the Gerber side of this line do NOT object to the photographs. This complaining person was given my name and phone number to contact; they refused to talk to me in person. I will have some of the photographs removed but not the ones that are OUR direct line.
Sept 2014 update, to photographer Chris Moran:
Morning Chris, After discussing at length with family, we decided to take down - on findagrave.com - the mauseleum photographs for seven people. We do this with sadness and regret that the other side refuse to talk with us; or, to add any photographs of their own to our family line.
This would be the other side of the four children from Robert Sanford Brown --the two living female lines.
We represent Raymond Brown's one male line and one female line - two of their four children. One son never had children. We will not take these pictures down. Our cousin from the other son contacted me a long time ago and was greatful that that line had been developed, cemeteries found and headstones photos taken. HE appreciated our efforts.
Mary Mayalta Brown Savage # 110665445 (photo deleted)
John Michael Savage # 110665470
Mary Kathleen Savage Russell # 111101423
Albert Charles Russell # 110667063
Richard Charles Russell # 110667041
Cecelia Delores Savage Theisen # 110667010 (photo deleted)
Donald C. Theisen # 110665481
May 2015 update:
Thank you cousin Debra Rasch for sharing Robert's lovely photograph. We all appreciate your kindness and the spirit of sharing!
My Scholar Mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, had 5 Dec 1869 for his Birth Date. A fellow findagraver (Japan resident - S. A Jones, 3 years # 48860468) stated that his birthday was 5 Dec 1870. I just looked at his Passport Application, as the only record with his full birth date on it. It is 5 Dec 1870. Does anyone have a New York State Birth Record? Cousin, Debra Rausch shared the dates written in Samuel Newton Brown's Family Bible: 5 Dec 1870. Why then did the family place 1869 on his crypt?
Detroit Industrialist that owned ACME paint and developed the Model T Ford "Black Japan" paint in the 1920's! ACME paint is still enjoyed by car enthusisasts today!
"Tampa Bay History", Volume 25, 2011 Pages 36 and 37 a magazine reveals the most information on Robert S. Brown than anywhere else that I found. The author took his time with footnotes to research this exclusive Florida development and of Robert Brown!
The section is entitled "Robert S. Brown and Japan Black Paint". Black paint was used on Ford's Model T's from the late 1914-1925. 11.5 million black Model T's were produced. The decision to paint the cars only one color was because of the quick drying time, it was cheap and it was durable. The process was actually a varnishing process.
During this time more than 30 different types of black paint were experimented with. It was called a ‘brushing, dipping and flowing" process. Spray painting did not come into existence until 1926, which is still used today in 2013. The special black paint that was chosen had a chemical called ‘asphaltum' and it had better damp-proofing properties than other paint of the time.
Our Robert Sanford Brown had his own paint company in Detroit named the "ACME Quality Paint Company. This company supplied paint to automotive companies including Ford.
It was Brown who formulated one of these two formulas of black paint. The process was coded F-101 and F-102. In the paint industry it was called "Japan Black" assuming after the prized Japanese lacquer-ware that was and is still used in Japan. "Japan Black" is a lacquer varnish with asphalt based dissolved in turpentine or naptha.
Brown's company was purchased in 1920 by Sherwin-Williams, Inc* of Cleveland, Ohio.
In trying to piece together our family history through news articles, internet sources, censuses and even a passport application - we know that sometime before the early 1920's Robert developed the paint for Ford automobiles which propelled him into his wealth.
He sold his ACME Paint Company to Sherwin-Williams 1920. He took a "leisure trip to Havana, Cuba" in 1921(Passport Application) and in 1922 purchased the eight room, two-storied Florida house in 1922 from developer Dean Alvord, and he added two additional wings to the home and the lush gardens.
Here he collected art and music from Rembrandt paintings to the 32 bells from the New York State World's Fair which he placed in a tower and played music weekly for the surrounding area. Neighbors loved hearing "Indian Love Call". He had a large organ with pipes and had charcoal shoveled in under the room to keep the room dry! He employed a Japanese Landscape architect named only Kawa to develop his many gardens. His estate grounds held large Japanese-inspired gardens tended by three Japanese servants/gardeners listed in the various censuses. He always had family staying with him in this large home. Medieval amour stood in the halls. Ornate tapestries on the walls.
His surname is either Scotch or Irish.
His parents:
Samuel Newton Brown
Birth: 15 Feb 1831, Valatie, Columbia, New York, USA
Death: 27 Mar 1898, Kinderhook, Columbia, New York, USA
Jane L. Sloan
Birth: abt 1831, Ireland
Death: 22 Nov 1894, Kinderhook, Columbia, NY, USA
(Need her parent's names, dates and cemetery.)
Family stories through my mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, and cousins Joyce Streu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey and in one newspaper article on 25 Sep 1955 the Brown estate is listed at 2 million dollars and was willed to Clearwater's St. Cecelia Church. All of the contents inside were auctioned off for the church's benefit.
The father determined to Will the estate to the church to perhaps save his children the burden of such a large piece of property. I am sure that each of the three living children inherited a sizeable amount of money.
The church held onto this for possibly thirty years and for the same reason of not being able to pay the county taxes sold the estate to unknown person(s). In 1988 there is a newspaper that rumors this sale of three parcels.
Sometime around 1988 there is another news article that claims a "mystery sale". The large property must have been divided into three parcels at this time. Because by 1991, an English race car driver Nigel Mansell, bought the house. He bought all ‘three parts of the land'. One held a cottage on it. He added another wing to the house. The house was listed for sale in 1994 for $13.9 million dollars for the entire land and homes and also could be sub-divided down into three parcels.
The house was listed for sale in 1994 and was sub-divided down into three parcels, again.
The "last sale found on-line" was 2 Feb 1996 for $5,500.00. It was listed as 18 baths, 23, 159 square feet and a lot size of 150, 478 square feet. No buyer's name was listed. Was this for one parcel or all three?
2010 owners interviewed for an article were Constantine and Elaine Chambers.
The 2012 assessed value was $7,369,038. Taxes were $153, 138.00. Was this for one parcel or all three?
$$$$$$$$$
The smaller home that the son Raymond owned is currently up for sale on 429 Magnolia in the same developement in April 2013 for under $800,000.00.
My dad and mom, Dick and Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, visited them at this esate in 1944 while dad was stationed at MacDill Airforce base in Clearwater. Mom took many photographs which are all posted on ancestry.com on the "Leyes-Corcoran" family tree. She also saved many newspaper clippings of the estate, not found on-line.
Joyce Steu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey, God-daughter of Raymond and Edna Gerber Brown helped to contribute to this story. Thank you, cousins and mom!
His son, Raymond Sanford Brown married our Edna Minnie Gerber. Our Gerber line has been taken back to 1535 by Christian Gerber living in Switzerland and my mom who has spent 74 years doing genealogy, with many trips to Europe to gain stamped archive records.
Family lore is there is a large mausoleum at this cemetery that our living relatives had never found. This is so exciting for us to have such grand help in locating the cemetery, the plot numbers and the mausoleum!! Thank you all! God-daughter, Dolores said that Robert bought this plot in 1928.
Thank you to kind findagrave participants we now have a list of 15 family members. Chris Moran, our findagrave.com photographer, is going to photograph the entire crypt for us this weekend with family permission! 17 May 2013
Thank you very much for taking their headstone photograph, Chris! With persistence we all worked collectively to make this inside of the locked mausoleum happen--cousins helping to figure out the right cemetery, findagrave.com ladies who called various cemeteries to make sure of the correct cemetery and the plot numbers. To Chris Moran for calling the cemetery. My sending "written permission" (via Dolores Demmer Gailey, the God daughter of the son Raymond -their only "child") to have Chris gain entry into the locked mausoleum to photograph all 15 family members inside. I, Wendy, who added every person to both ancestry.com and to findagrave.com to always remember our "our family roots"!
+++++
Would love for family input or from the current owners of this house. There are several grandchildren that we would like to get in touch with, as well.
Aug 2014 update:
I really wish the grandchildren would contact me directly, as direct family (the God child) gave us permission to gain access to take the mausoleum photographs. How sad that our family feels the inside of this building should not be shared to our larger family. The inside is just stunningly beautiful. We all loved looking at the stain glass and altar, it was breath taking. All of the seniors who have graciously given me names, dates and pictures were delighted to see such a part of their past. They knew these people in person!
Gary Snyder (Schulte line) and Dolores Demmer Gailey--and all of the Gerber side of this line do NOT object to the photographs. This complaining person was given my name and phone number to contact; they refused to talk to me in person. I will have some of the photographs removed but not the ones that are OUR direct line.
Sept 2014 update, to photographer Chris Moran:
Morning Chris, After discussing at length with family, we decided to take down - on findagrave.com - the mauseleum photographs for seven people. We do this with sadness and regret that the other side refuse to talk with us; or, to add any photographs of their own to our family line.
This would be the other side of the four children from Robert Sanford Brown --the two living female lines.
We represent Raymond Brown's one male line and one female line - two of their four children. One son never had children. We will not take these pictures down. Our cousin from the other son contacted me a long time ago and was greatful that that line had been developed, cemeteries found and headstones photos taken. HE appreciated our efforts.
Mary Mayalta Brown Savage # 110665445 (photo deleted)
John Michael Savage # 110665470
Mary Kathleen Savage Russell # 111101423
Albert Charles Russell # 110667063
Richard Charles Russell # 110667041
Cecelia Delores Savage Theisen # 110667010 (photo deleted)
Donald C. Theisen # 110665481
May 2015 update:
Thank you cousin Debra Rasch for sharing Robert's lovely photograph. We all appreciate your kindness and the spirit of sharing!
13 Sep 2019 Update:
My Scholar Mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, had 5 Dec 1869 for his Birth Date. A fellow findagraver (Japan resident - S. A Jones, 3 years # 48860468) stated that his birthday was 5 Dec 1870. I just looked at his Passport Application, as the only record with his full birth date on it. It is 5 Dec 1870. Does anyone have a New York State Birth Record? Cousin, Debra Rausch shared the dates written in Samuel Newton Brown's Family Bible: 5 Dec 1870. Why then did the family place 1869 on his crypt?
Detroit Industrialist that owned ACME paint and developed the Model T Ford "Black Japan" paint in the 1920's! ACME paint is still enjoyed by car enthusisasts today!
"Tampa Bay History", Volume 25, 2011 Pages 36 and 37 a magazine reveals the most information on Robert S. Brown than anywhere else that I found. The author took his time with footnotes to research this exclusive Florida development and of Robert Brown!
The section is entitled "Robert S. Brown and Japan Black Paint". Black paint was used on Ford's Model T's from the late 1914-1925. 11.5 million black Model T's were produced. The decision to paint the cars only one color was because of the quick drying time, it was cheap and it was durable. The process was actually a varnishing process.
During this time more than 30 different types of black paint were experimented with. It was called a ‘brushing, dipping and flowing" process. Spray painting did not come into existence until 1926, which is still used today in 2013. The special black paint that was chosen had a chemical called ‘asphaltum' and it had better damp-proofing properties than other paint of the time.
Our Robert Sanford Brown had his own paint company in Detroit named the "ACME Quality Paint Company. This company supplied paint to automotive companies including Ford.
It was Brown who formulated one of these two formulas of black paint. The process was coded F-101 and F-102. In the paint industry it was called "Japan Black" assuming after the prized Japanese lacquer-ware that was and is still used in Japan. "Japan Black" is a lacquer varnish with asphalt based dissolved in turpentine or naptha.
Brown's company was purchased in 1920 by Sherwin-Williams, Inc* of Cleveland, Ohio.
In trying to piece together our family history through news articles, internet sources, censuses and even a passport application - we know that sometime before the early 1920's Robert developed the paint for Ford automobiles which propelled him into his wealth.
He sold his ACME Paint Company to Sherwin-Williams 1920. He took a "leisure trip to Havana, Cuba" in 1921(Passport Application) and in 1922 purchased the eight room, two-storied Florida house in 1922 from developer Dean Alvord, and he added two additional wings to the home and the lush gardens.
Here he collected art and music from Rembrandt paintings to the 32 bells from the New York State World's Fair which he placed in a tower and played music weekly for the surrounding area. Neighbors loved hearing "Indian Love Call". He had a large organ with pipes and had charcoal shoveled in under the room to keep the room dry! He employed a Japanese Landscape architect named only Kawa to develop his many gardens. His estate grounds held large Japanese-inspired gardens tended by three Japanese servants/gardeners listed in the various censuses. He always had family staying with him in this large home. Medieval amour stood in the halls. Ornate tapestries on the walls.
His surname is either Scotch or Irish.
His parents:
Samuel Newton Brown
Birth: 15 Feb 1831, Valatie, Columbia, New York, USA
Death: 27 Mar 1898, Kinderhook, Columbia, New York, USA
Jane L. Sloan
Birth: abt 1831, Ireland
Death: 22 Nov 1894, Kinderhook, Columbia, NY, USA
(Need her parent's names, dates and cemetery.)
Family stories through my mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, and cousins Joyce Streu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey and in one newspaper article on 25 Sep 1955 the Brown estate is listed at 2 million dollars and was willed to Clearwater's St. Cecelia Church. All of the contents inside were auctioned off for the church's benefit.
The father determined to Will the estate to the church to perhaps save his children the burden of such a large piece of property. I am sure that each of the three living children inherited a sizeable amount of money.
The church held onto this for possibly thirty years and for the same reason of not being able to pay the county taxes sold the estate to unknown person(s). In 1988 there is a newspaper that rumors this sale of three parcels.
Sometime around 1988 there is another news article that claims a "mystery sale". The large property must have been divided into three parcels at this time. Because by 1991, an English race car driver Nigel Mansell, bought the house. He bought all ‘three parts of the land'. One held a cottage on it. He added another wing to the house. The house was listed for sale in 1994 for $13.9 million dollars for the entire land and homes and also could be sub-divided down into three parcels.
The house was listed for sale in 1994 and was sub-divided down into three parcels, again.
The "last sale found on-line" was 2 Feb 1996 for $5,500.00. It was listed as 18 baths, 23, 159 square feet and a lot size of 150, 478 square feet. No buyer's name was listed. Was this for one parcel or all three?
2010 owners interviewed for an article were Constantine and Elaine Chambers.
The 2012 assessed value was $7,369,038. Taxes were $153, 138.00. Was this for one parcel or all three?
$$$$$$$$$
The smaller home that the son Raymond owned is currently up for sale on 429 Magnolia in the same developement in April 2013 for under $800,000.00.
My dad and mom, Dick and Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, visited them at this esate in 1944 while dad was stationed at MacDill Airforce base in Clearwater. Mom took many photographs which are all posted on ancestry.com on the "Leyes-Corcoran" family tree. She also saved many newspaper clippings of the estate, not found on-line.
Joyce Steu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey, God-daughter of Raymond and Edna Gerber Brown helped to contribute to this story. Thank you, cousins and mom!
His son, Raymond Sanford Brown married our Edna Minnie Gerber. Our Gerber line has been taken back to 1535 by Christian Gerber living in Switzerland and my mom who has spent 74 years doing genealogy, with many trips to Europe to gain stamped archive records.
Family lore is there is a large mausoleum at this cemetery that our living relatives had never found. This is so exciting for us to have such grand help in locating the cemetery, the plot numbers and the mausoleum!! Thank you all! God-daughter, Dolores said that Robert bought this plot in 1928.
Thank you to kind findagrave participants we now have a list of 15 family members. Chris Moran, our findagrave.com photographer, is going to photograph the entire crypt for us this weekend with family permission! 17 May 2013
Thank you very much for taking their headstone photograph, Chris! With persistence we all worked collectively to make this inside of the locked mausoleum happen--cousins helping to figure out the right cemetery, findagrave.com ladies who called various cemeteries to make sure of the correct cemetery and the plot numbers. To Chris Moran for calling the cemetery. My sending "written permission" (via Dolores Demmer Gailey, the God daughter of the son Raymond -their only "child") to have Chris gain entry into the locked mausoleum to photograph all 15 family members inside. I, Wendy, who added every person to both ancestry.com and to findagrave.com to always remember our "our family roots"!
+++++
Would love for family input or from the current owners of this house. There are several grandchildren that we would like to get in touch with, as well.
Aug 2014 update:
I really wish the grandchildren would contact me directly, as direct family (the God child) gave us permission to gain access to take the mausoleum photographs. How sad that our family feels the inside of this building should not be shared to our larger family. The inside is just stunningly beautiful. We all loved looking at the stain glass and altar, it was breath taking. All of the seniors who have graciously given me names, dates and pictures were delighted to see such a part of their past. They knew these people in person!
Gary Snyder (Schulte line) and Dolores Demmer Gailey--and all of the Gerber side of this line do NOT object to the photographs. This complaining person was given my name and phone number to contact; they refused to talk to me in person. I will have some of the photographs removed but not the ones that are OUR direct line.
Sept 2014 update, to photographer Chris Moran:
Morning Chris, After discussing at length with family, we decided to take down - on findagrave.com - the mauseleum photographs for seven people. We do this with sadness and regret that the other side refuse to talk with us; or, to add any photographs of their own to our family line.
This would be the other side of the four children from Robert Sanford Brown --the two living female lines.
We represent Raymond Brown's one male line and one female line - two of their four children. One son never had children. We will not take these pictures down. Our cousin from the other son contacted me a long time ago and was greatful that that line had been developed, cemeteries found and headstones photos taken. HE appreciated our efforts.
Mary Mayalta Brown Savage # 110665445 (photo deleted)
John Michael Savage # 110665470
Mary Kathleen Savage Russell # 111101423
Albert Charles Russell # 110667063
Richard Charles Russell # 110667041
Cecelia Delores Savage Theisen # 110667010 (photo deleted)
Donald C. Theisen # 110665481
May 2015 update:
Thank you cousin Debra Rasch for sharing Robert's lovely photograph. We all appreciate your kindness and the spirit of sharing!
My Scholar Mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, had 5 Dec 1869 for his Birth Date. A fellow findagraver (Japan resident - S. A Jones, 3 years # 48860468) stated that his birthday was 5 Dec 1870. I just looked at his Passport Application, as the only record with his full birth date on it. It is 5 Dec 1870. Does anyone have a New York State Birth Record? Cousin, Debra Rausch shared the dates written in Samuel Newton Brown's Family Bible: 5 Dec 1870. Why then did the family place 1869 on his crypt?
Detroit Industrialist that owned ACME paint and developed the Model T Ford "Black Japan" paint in the 1920's! ACME paint is still enjoyed by car enthusisasts today!
"Tampa Bay History", Volume 25, 2011 Pages 36 and 37 a magazine reveals the most information on Robert S. Brown than anywhere else that I found. The author took his time with footnotes to research this exclusive Florida development and of Robert Brown!
The section is entitled "Robert S. Brown and Japan Black Paint". Black paint was used on Ford's Model T's from the late 1914-1925. 11.5 million black Model T's were produced. The decision to paint the cars only one color was because of the quick drying time, it was cheap and it was durable. The process was actually a varnishing process.
During this time more than 30 different types of black paint were experimented with. It was called a ‘brushing, dipping and flowing" process. Spray painting did not come into existence until 1926, which is still used today in 2013. The special black paint that was chosen had a chemical called ‘asphaltum' and it had better damp-proofing properties than other paint of the time.
Our Robert Sanford Brown had his own paint company in Detroit named the "ACME Quality Paint Company. This company supplied paint to automotive companies including Ford.
It was Brown who formulated one of these two formulas of black paint. The process was coded F-101 and F-102. In the paint industry it was called "Japan Black" assuming after the prized Japanese lacquer-ware that was and is still used in Japan. "Japan Black" is a lacquer varnish with asphalt based dissolved in turpentine or naptha.
Brown's company was purchased in 1920 by Sherwin-Williams, Inc* of Cleveland, Ohio.
In trying to piece together our family history through news articles, internet sources, censuses and even a passport application - we know that sometime before the early 1920's Robert developed the paint for Ford automobiles which propelled him into his wealth.
He sold his ACME Paint Company to Sherwin-Williams 1920. He took a "leisure trip to Havana, Cuba" in 1921(Passport Application) and in 1922 purchased the eight room, two-storied Florida house in 1922 from developer Dean Alvord, and he added two additional wings to the home and the lush gardens.
Here he collected art and music from Rembrandt paintings to the 32 bells from the New York State World's Fair which he placed in a tower and played music weekly for the surrounding area. Neighbors loved hearing "Indian Love Call". He had a large organ with pipes and had charcoal shoveled in under the room to keep the room dry! He employed a Japanese Landscape architect named only Kawa to develop his many gardens. His estate grounds held large Japanese-inspired gardens tended by three Japanese servants/gardeners listed in the various censuses. He always had family staying with him in this large home. Medieval amour stood in the halls. Ornate tapestries on the walls.
His surname is either Scotch or Irish.
His parents:
Samuel Newton Brown
Birth: 15 Feb 1831, Valatie, Columbia, New York, USA
Death: 27 Mar 1898, Kinderhook, Columbia, New York, USA
Jane L. Sloan
Birth: abt 1831, Ireland
Death: 22 Nov 1894, Kinderhook, Columbia, NY, USA
(Need her parent's names, dates and cemetery.)
Family stories through my mom, Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, and cousins Joyce Streu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey and in one newspaper article on 25 Sep 1955 the Brown estate is listed at 2 million dollars and was willed to Clearwater's St. Cecelia Church. All of the contents inside were auctioned off for the church's benefit.
The father determined to Will the estate to the church to perhaps save his children the burden of such a large piece of property. I am sure that each of the three living children inherited a sizeable amount of money.
The church held onto this for possibly thirty years and for the same reason of not being able to pay the county taxes sold the estate to unknown person(s). In 1988 there is a newspaper that rumors this sale of three parcels.
Sometime around 1988 there is another news article that claims a "mystery sale". The large property must have been divided into three parcels at this time. Because by 1991, an English race car driver Nigel Mansell, bought the house. He bought all ‘three parts of the land'. One held a cottage on it. He added another wing to the house. The house was listed for sale in 1994 for $13.9 million dollars for the entire land and homes and also could be sub-divided down into three parcels.
The house was listed for sale in 1994 and was sub-divided down into three parcels, again.
The "last sale found on-line" was 2 Feb 1996 for $5,500.00. It was listed as 18 baths, 23, 159 square feet and a lot size of 150, 478 square feet. No buyer's name was listed. Was this for one parcel or all three?
2010 owners interviewed for an article were Constantine and Elaine Chambers.
The 2012 assessed value was $7,369,038. Taxes were $153, 138.00. Was this for one parcel or all three?
$$$$$$$$$
The smaller home that the son Raymond owned is currently up for sale on 429 Magnolia in the same developement in April 2013 for under $800,000.00.
My dad and mom, Dick and Elnora Seifferlein Leyes, visited them at this esate in 1944 while dad was stationed at MacDill Airforce base in Clearwater. Mom took many photographs which are all posted on ancestry.com on the "Leyes-Corcoran" family tree. She also saved many newspaper clippings of the estate, not found on-line.
Joyce Steu Chapel and Dolores Demmer Gailey, God-daughter of Raymond and Edna Gerber Brown helped to contribute to this story. Thank you, cousins and mom!
His son, Raymond Sanford Brown married our Edna Minnie Gerber. Our Gerber line has been taken back to 1535 by Christian Gerber living in Switzerland and my mom who has spent 74 years doing genealogy, with many trips to Europe to gain stamped archive records.
Family lore is there is a large mausoleum at this cemetery that our living relatives had never found. This is so exciting for us to have such grand help in locating the cemetery, the plot numbers and the mausoleum!! Thank you all! God-daughter, Dolores said that Robert bought this plot in 1928.
Thank you to kind findagrave participants we now have a list of 15 family members. Chris Moran, our findagrave.com photographer, is going to photograph the entire crypt for us this weekend with family permission! 17 May 2013
Thank you very much for taking their headstone photograph, Chris! With persistence we all worked collectively to make this inside of the locked mausoleum happen--cousins helping to figure out the right cemetery, findagrave.com ladies who called various cemeteries to make sure of the correct cemetery and the plot numbers. To Chris Moran for calling the cemetery. My sending "written permission" (via Dolores Demmer Gailey, the God daughter of the son Raymond -their only "child") to have Chris gain entry into the locked mausoleum to photograph all 15 family members inside. I, Wendy, who added every person to both ancestry.com and to findagrave.com to always remember our "our family roots"!
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Would love for family input or from the current owners of this house. There are several grandchildren that we would like to get in touch with, as well.
Aug 2014 update:
I really wish the grandchildren would contact me directly, as direct family (the God child) gave us permission to gain access to take the mausoleum photographs. How sad that our family feels the inside of this building should not be shared to our larger family. The inside is just stunningly beautiful. We all loved looking at the stain glass and altar, it was breath taking. All of the seniors who have graciously given me names, dates and pictures were delighted to see such a part of their past. They knew these people in person!
Gary Snyder (Schulte line) and Dolores Demmer Gailey--and all of the Gerber side of this line do NOT object to the photographs. This complaining person was given my name and phone number to contact; they refused to talk to me in person. I will have some of the photographs removed but not the ones that are OUR direct line.
Sept 2014 update, to photographer Chris Moran:
Morning Chris, After discussing at length with family, we decided to take down - on findagrave.com - the mauseleum photographs for seven people. We do this with sadness and regret that the other side refuse to talk with us; or, to add any photographs of their own to our family line.
This would be the other side of the four children from Robert Sanford Brown --the two living female lines.
We represent Raymond Brown's one male line and one female line - two of their four children. One son never had children. We will not take these pictures down. Our cousin from the other son contacted me a long time ago and was greatful that that line had been developed, cemeteries found and headstones photos taken. HE appreciated our efforts.
Mary Mayalta Brown Savage # 110665445 (photo deleted)
John Michael Savage # 110665470
Mary Kathleen Savage Russell # 111101423
Albert Charles Russell # 110667063
Richard Charles Russell # 110667041
Cecelia Delores Savage Theisen # 110667010 (photo deleted)
Donald C. Theisen # 110665481
May 2015 update:
Thank you cousin Debra Rasch for sharing Robert's lovely photograph. We all appreciate your kindness and the spirit of sharing!
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