Cumberland Presbyterian Minister.

Browne.--The Rev. Sloman Browne was born in Logan county, Ky. [Other sources say Bedford County, Virginia], July 4, 1799, and died February 16, 1888. A long and eventful life! Eighty-eight years, eight months, and twelve days! Although obscure, in a measure, he was a remarkable man in some respects. He was a father of a family and somewhat advanced in life before he made a profession of religion. A man of strong convictions and resolute purpose, he was happily converted with the old manifestation. I first met him in Washington county, Mo., in March, 1857, before I became a candidate for the ministry. Since that time I have been intimately acquainted with him all the time. He has frequently told me his experience and his history in outline. He was converted under the preaching of the Rev. Frank Braly and an older brother--the Rev. John R. Browne. These were early ministers of our Church in Missouri, and remembered by the oldest ministers now living--the Revs. Daniel Patton, J. W. Campbell, P. G. Rea, and perhaps others. Soon after his conversion he was impressed to preach, but the idea was repugnant to his condition. Being a poor man (a shoe maker by trade) with a dependent family, scarcely any education, he shrank from the task, and for a long time resented. Of all the men I ever conversed with on the subject he was the strongest believer in a divine and special call to the ministry. The strength of his convictions on this subject may be inferred by such expressions as these, which I have heard him utter frequently: "I believe when God calls a man to preach he will have to do it or die." "I suffered agonies of mind before I consented to preach." Perhaps it might be well to consider this question for a little, and see if we, as a Church, have not departed some from the former doctrine and practice of our fathers in urging and preaching upon this internal call. Surely the life of Father Browne was one of hardships and great trials. Always poor, with a large family, scattered and weak Churches, and a mere pittance in the way of salary. Sometimes he would walk miles to his appointment rather than ride his only poor work horse. He would sometimes plow till time to start to his appointment, twenty-five to forty miles away, ride without a saddle, and with bark or rope bridle reins. Under the old supply system he would engage to preach to a congregation for six months for twenty or twenty-five dollars, and take the mot of that in corn, bacon, meal, flour, and other supplies. Father Browne was married three times, and was the father of twenty one children: the Rev. G. W. Browne, the earnest, spiritual Christian, and bold debater, who died in 1887, was his son. He buried his last wife in 1877. I do not remember the date of his licensure or ordination, but think he was a preacher about fifty five years. He was licensed and ordained by the old St. Louis Presbytery, lived and labored in its original bounds all his life. By order of the McAdow Synod this presbytery was divided in the autumn of 1858, and the West Prairie Presbytery was constituted with the Revs. S. Browne, James Kinkead, G. W. Jordan, and W. H. Province. Father Browne was moderator and I was clerk. All the four ministers and three elders, who constituted this presbytery at its first meeting, have passed away. The Rev. G. W. McWherter and the writer were present as young probationers, and are the only survivors on the roll of that meeting of presbytery, now past twenty-nine years. For a number of years Brother Browne has had no charge owing to his location and age. He was remarkably spry for one of his age, and would pass for twenty years younger than he was. In the year 1875 of '76 he moved to Salem, Dent county, Mo., where, after the death of his wife, he lived with a married daughter--Mrs. Orchard, and for a time with a son--Millard F. Browne, a few miles in the country He was a high-minded, quick-tempered, true man. Had a keen sense of the ridiculous and nonsensical. Limited in literary attainments, yet he was sound in the theology of the Church; a good judge of preaching, and a ready defender of the faith. Truly a good man has gone. I call up many pleasant reminiscences. A true friend, a genial companion, a dear lover of his Church. He was a connecting link between the fathers and founders of our Church and the present generation of ministers. These did well in their time. It is ours to live up to our privileges and opportunities. To come up to the measure of our responsibilities we must do more than they. Let us see to it that we do our part well. One generation prepares the way for the next. We are now sowing for the harvest.Let us plant none but good seed in well-prepared soil. As our fathers go up may their mantles of spirituality, fidelity, and faith fall upon their sons and daughters. T. S. Love.
[Source: "The Cumberland Presbyterian", March 15, 1888, page 8]

Rev. Solomon and Mary Ann (Love) Browne, natives of
Virginia, born in 1799, and Missouri, born in 1819, respectively.
They were married in Reynolds County, Mo., in 1842, and settled in
Washington County, where he lived until 1873, when he moved to
Salem. He died there February 18, 1888, at the age of eighty~nine.
He was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister for nearly forty years,
and delivered his last sermon a few months before he died. He was
married three times, the subject's mother being his last wife, and was
the father of twenty-one children, five by the first wife, seven by the second and nine by the last. He lived in Missouri for nearly sixty
years; was a very prominent divine, and became well known through
out Southeast Missouri. His father was a Scotchman, a Revolutionary soldier, and died in Kentucky. Mrs. Mary Ann (Love) Browne
died in Salem in September, 1877, and was first a member of the
Baptist Church, but afterward joined the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. Her father, Judge William C. Love, was an early settler in
Reynolds County, and is now living in Iron County, nearly one
hundred years old. He was a farmer by occupation, was in the Mexican War, and was presiding judge of Reynolds County Court for
many years. Source: Goodspeed's 1889 History of Dent Co., MO.