This memorial was created to honor my great grandfather William Henry Brown as I knew him as. But by making up this memorial I had the opportunity to come into contact with one of my family members who's grandfather was my great grandfather's biological brother by birth, and she shared a wealth of information I had no idea about. There has been no proof found that William was ever adopted, the family believes that he just assumed the surname Brown mainly because his father William Foster died before he was born, and William never got along with his step-father. Plus meaning that William never knew his father or his side of the family could be what lead to William assuming a new surname before marrying his first wife sometime before 1900.
Stephen Johns
Great Grandson of William
--------------------------------------------
William Henry Brown, was born we believe as William Melvin Foster, Jr. and later raised by James Homer and Catherine (Mickel-Mickle) Fortner Brown. He took the surname of Brown from his adoptive parents (Never actually adopted). Catherine Brown was sister of James Vincent Mickel who was married to Sarah Arminda (Lathrop) Mickel sister of his mother Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster, Watts, Macklin.
--------------------------------------------
William's obituary from Pittsburg, KS:
DIES ROUTE TO HOSPITAL
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, Was Longtime Employee of K.C.S.
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more than a half century, died at 4:45 o'clock Sunday afternoon en route to St. Mary's hospital at Kansas City. He had been a patient at Mt. Carmel hospital since becoming seriously ill Oct. 9. He had been in ill health the past year.
Born Sept. 19, 1879 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. Brown was employed by Kansas City Southern railroad for 54 years. He retired in June of 1951.
A membership was held in the Church of God.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Ellora B. Brown of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Cora Duff, Dyersburg, Tenn., Mrs. Marie Pryor, 2222 North Rouse, and Mrs. Nannie Johns, 2600 North Rouse; three sons, Clarence Brown, 614 East 21st, and Donald F. Brown, 903 East 21st; one adopted daughter, Mrs. Mary L Banner, Portland, Ore.; one step-daughter, Mrs. Mary Nelson, Richard, Wash.; one step-son, John E. Turner, Modest, Calif.; one sister, Mrs. Sadie McCracken, Grand Rapids; 25 grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body is at the Ellsworth chapel.
--------------------------------------------
Brown Services
Final services for William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more then 50 years who died Sunday, will be held at 3:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Ellsworth chapel. Rev. C.W. Risner will conduct the rites with burial in Highland Park cemetery. The body was taken to the home this afternoon. It will be returned to the chapel at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning. Pallbearers will be Tommy Pryor, Chester Pryor, John Pryor, Roy McGeorge, Henry Johns, and Maurice Hamilton.
--------------------------------------------
William "Willie" M. Foster born after his father died on March 4, 1879 in Oquawka, IL. Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster took the family to Ionia, Ionia Co., MI., where her mother, step-father and two sister's and family were living. From Ionia City 4 Ward Records we obtained his birth record. He is listed in the various obituaries of mother and siblings. William after leaving Michigan assumed the name William H. Brown from around the age of 21 until his death.
Stephen Johns
Great Grandson of William
--------------------------------------------
William Henry Brown, was born we believe as William Melvin Foster, Jr. and later raised by James Homer and Catherine (Mickel-Mickle) Fortner Brown. He took the surname of Brown from his adoptive parents (Never actually adopted). Catherine Brown was sister of James Vincent Mickel who was married to Sarah Arminda (Lathrop) Mickel sister of his mother Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster, Watts, Macklin.
--------------------------------------------
William's obituary from Pittsburg, KS:
DIES ROUTE TO HOSPITAL
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, Was Longtime Employee of K.C.S.
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more than a half century, died at 4:45 o'clock Sunday afternoon en route to St. Mary's hospital at Kansas City. He had been a patient at Mt. Carmel hospital since becoming seriously ill Oct. 9. He had been in ill health the past year.
Born Sept. 19, 1879 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. Brown was employed by Kansas City Southern railroad for 54 years. He retired in June of 1951.
A membership was held in the Church of God.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Ellora B. Brown of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Cora Duff, Dyersburg, Tenn., Mrs. Marie Pryor, 2222 North Rouse, and Mrs. Nannie Johns, 2600 North Rouse; three sons, Clarence Brown, 614 East 21st, and Donald F. Brown, 903 East 21st; one adopted daughter, Mrs. Mary L Banner, Portland, Ore.; one step-daughter, Mrs. Mary Nelson, Richard, Wash.; one step-son, John E. Turner, Modest, Calif.; one sister, Mrs. Sadie McCracken, Grand Rapids; 25 grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body is at the Ellsworth chapel.
--------------------------------------------
Brown Services
Final services for William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more then 50 years who died Sunday, will be held at 3:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Ellsworth chapel. Rev. C.W. Risner will conduct the rites with burial in Highland Park cemetery. The body was taken to the home this afternoon. It will be returned to the chapel at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning. Pallbearers will be Tommy Pryor, Chester Pryor, John Pryor, Roy McGeorge, Henry Johns, and Maurice Hamilton.
--------------------------------------------
William "Willie" M. Foster born after his father died on March 4, 1879 in Oquawka, IL. Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster took the family to Ionia, Ionia Co., MI., where her mother, step-father and two sister's and family were living. From Ionia City 4 Ward Records we obtained his birth record. He is listed in the various obituaries of mother and siblings. William after leaving Michigan assumed the name William H. Brown from around the age of 21 until his death.
This memorial was created to honor my great grandfather William Henry Brown as I knew him as. But by making up this memorial I had the opportunity to come into contact with one of my family members who's grandfather was my great grandfather's biological brother by birth, and she shared a wealth of information I had no idea about. There has been no proof found that William was ever adopted, the family believes that he just assumed the surname Brown mainly because his father William Foster died before he was born, and William never got along with his step-father. Plus meaning that William never knew his father or his side of the family could be what lead to William assuming a new surname before marrying his first wife sometime before 1900.
Stephen Johns
Great Grandson of William
--------------------------------------------
William Henry Brown, was born we believe as William Melvin Foster, Jr. and later raised by James Homer and Catherine (Mickel-Mickle) Fortner Brown. He took the surname of Brown from his adoptive parents (Never actually adopted). Catherine Brown was sister of James Vincent Mickel who was married to Sarah Arminda (Lathrop) Mickel sister of his mother Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster, Watts, Macklin.
--------------------------------------------
William's obituary from Pittsburg, KS:
DIES ROUTE TO HOSPITAL
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, Was Longtime Employee of K.C.S.
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more than a half century, died at 4:45 o'clock Sunday afternoon en route to St. Mary's hospital at Kansas City. He had been a patient at Mt. Carmel hospital since becoming seriously ill Oct. 9. He had been in ill health the past year.
Born Sept. 19, 1879 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. Brown was employed by Kansas City Southern railroad for 54 years. He retired in June of 1951.
A membership was held in the Church of God.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Ellora B. Brown of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Cora Duff, Dyersburg, Tenn., Mrs. Marie Pryor, 2222 North Rouse, and Mrs. Nannie Johns, 2600 North Rouse; three sons, Clarence Brown, 614 East 21st, and Donald F. Brown, 903 East 21st; one adopted daughter, Mrs. Mary L Banner, Portland, Ore.; one step-daughter, Mrs. Mary Nelson, Richard, Wash.; one step-son, John E. Turner, Modest, Calif.; one sister, Mrs. Sadie McCracken, Grand Rapids; 25 grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body is at the Ellsworth chapel.
--------------------------------------------
Brown Services
Final services for William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more then 50 years who died Sunday, will be held at 3:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Ellsworth chapel. Rev. C.W. Risner will conduct the rites with burial in Highland Park cemetery. The body was taken to the home this afternoon. It will be returned to the chapel at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning. Pallbearers will be Tommy Pryor, Chester Pryor, John Pryor, Roy McGeorge, Henry Johns, and Maurice Hamilton.
--------------------------------------------
William "Willie" M. Foster born after his father died on March 4, 1879 in Oquawka, IL. Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster took the family to Ionia, Ionia Co., MI., where her mother, step-father and two sister's and family were living. From Ionia City 4 Ward Records we obtained his birth record. He is listed in the various obituaries of mother and siblings. William after leaving Michigan assumed the name William H. Brown from around the age of 21 until his death.
Stephen Johns
Great Grandson of William
--------------------------------------------
William Henry Brown, was born we believe as William Melvin Foster, Jr. and later raised by James Homer and Catherine (Mickel-Mickle) Fortner Brown. He took the surname of Brown from his adoptive parents (Never actually adopted). Catherine Brown was sister of James Vincent Mickel who was married to Sarah Arminda (Lathrop) Mickel sister of his mother Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster, Watts, Macklin.
--------------------------------------------
William's obituary from Pittsburg, KS:
DIES ROUTE TO HOSPITAL
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, Was Longtime Employee of K.C.S.
--------------------------------------------
William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more than a half century, died at 4:45 o'clock Sunday afternoon en route to St. Mary's hospital at Kansas City. He had been a patient at Mt. Carmel hospital since becoming seriously ill Oct. 9. He had been in ill health the past year.
Born Sept. 19, 1879 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. Brown was employed by Kansas City Southern railroad for 54 years. He retired in June of 1951.
A membership was held in the Church of God.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Ellora B. Brown of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Cora Duff, Dyersburg, Tenn., Mrs. Marie Pryor, 2222 North Rouse, and Mrs. Nannie Johns, 2600 North Rouse; three sons, Clarence Brown, 614 East 21st, and Donald F. Brown, 903 East 21st; one adopted daughter, Mrs. Mary L Banner, Portland, Ore.; one step-daughter, Mrs. Mary Nelson, Richard, Wash.; one step-son, John E. Turner, Modest, Calif.; one sister, Mrs. Sadie McCracken, Grand Rapids; 25 grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body is at the Ellsworth chapel.
--------------------------------------------
Brown Services
Final services for William H. Brown, 74, resident of Pittsburg more then 50 years who died Sunday, will be held at 3:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Ellsworth chapel. Rev. C.W. Risner will conduct the rites with burial in Highland Park cemetery. The body was taken to the home this afternoon. It will be returned to the chapel at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning. Pallbearers will be Tommy Pryor, Chester Pryor, John Pryor, Roy McGeorge, Henry Johns, and Maurice Hamilton.
--------------------------------------------
William "Willie" M. Foster born after his father died on March 4, 1879 in Oquawka, IL. Elizabeth Ellen (Lathrop) Foster took the family to Ionia, Ionia Co., MI., where her mother, step-father and two sister's and family were living. From Ionia City 4 Ward Records we obtained his birth record. He is listed in the various obituaries of mother and siblings. William after leaving Michigan assumed the name William H. Brown from around the age of 21 until his death.
Inscription
FATHER
WILLIAM H. BROWN
1879 - 1953
Family Members
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