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I have started transcribing the minutes and associated letters and papers from the Hudson Library Collection of Owen/John Brown Family Reunions.The Reunions began in 1926 and continued through the 1960's, except for two years during WWII, due to the high cost of traveling.
Here are the minutes from the 1927 meeting. Note that the numbers in { } are the numbering system that Dr. Clarence Gee started tracking the family with, and I have continued to use. Please enjoy.
Minutes of the Brown Reunion
June 5, 1927
Meeting was opened by the
President, John Owen Brown{B18732}of Fort Wayne, Ind., greeting all and
expressing his pleasure that so many of the family were present, happy to see
some new faces’ and regretting that a few were missing.
In the absence of the Secretary,
Doris Brown Malone, the President called as Secretary pro tem Edna Brown Kalbrunner,
{B187311} who read letters from Mrs. Nellie Lusk and Doris Brown Malone,
regretting their inability to be present. Doris Malone’s letter coming from
Capris, Italy,
where she is now living. Also a letter from our Historian, Lydia Crothers
{B18792}, regretting her absence, due to illness in her family.She reports in the year past, no marriages,
two births – daughter [Dorothy Stiles {B1873451}]to Mr. and Mrs. Newell Styles B187345}, Washington D.C. – a son [Perry
Crothers, Jr {B1879241}]to Mr. and Mrs. Perry Crothers {B187924}, Tacoma,
Washington.
The grim reaper having taken four*
members of our family:
Lucien Brown {B1867}, St. Andrews Fla.
(son of Oliver Owen Brown {B186} – grandson of Owen {B18)
Charles P. Brown {B18422}, Akron Ohio
(Son of Jason {B1842} – grandson of John {B184})
Charles Brown {B18632} (Son of
Lemual Brown {B1863}– grandson of Oliver {B186})
Lucien Brown {B18XIII1}, Portland, Oregon
(Son of Edward Brown {B18XIII} – grandson of Owen {B18})
She also reports on Decoration Day
– she stood beside the graves of Grandfather Frederick Brown {B187} and father
Salmon Brown {B1879} in the Kilbourn, Wis. Cemetery.
Her grandfather died in 1877 and she has only a few remembrances of him, but
many of his expressions were often repeated by her father, the one “Filled with
pardonable pride” comes to her and it applies very well in speaking of our
ancestry. She also recalled how her father looked singing “Land where my
fathers dies, land of the Pilgrims pride,” and she realized the ownership he
felt.
She thinks to, we should instruct
our children in our family history that they may be filled with pardonable
pride in their ancestors service to this our country, and in this way help safe
guard their integrity.
There also was a letter from Mrs. F
B Alexander {B18412} of Put-in-Bay who is the
daughter of John Brown {B1841} the eldest son of Captain John Brown {B184} and
Wealthy Hotchkiss Brown, thanking Mrs. Shiley for her kind invitation and owing
to business reasons she would be unable to be with us. She also states that
John Brown {B1841} came to Put-in-Bay after the insurrection at Harpers Ferry
and that she, Mrs. Alexander, was born, married and is still living in the same
house.
Two interesting papers were read.
One was the story of the life of Owen Brown {B18}, early settler of Hudson, by
himself for his daughter Marion Brown Hand {B189}, and was a wonderful
description of the hardships endured after the Revolution and yet the devote
attitude which over came and helped bear all the trials.
The other paper was an accurate
description of the John Brown home on the lane, connecting two main roads, this
home is still standing.
Both papers may be had from the
Secretary for inspection.
Mr. Charlie Brown {B18731} then
moved the date for this annual reunion be changed from the first Sunday in June
to the last Sunday in June, and his motion was adopted.
Mrs. Aura Styles requested we
express our appreciation by letter to our absent Historian Lydia Crothers
{B18792}, and the Secretary was so instructed.
Our President called on Mr. A N
Waite who gave us a very interesting and humorous talk on the apprenticeship of
his grandfather to Owen Brown, he also told us that the staircase which stands
in the home now occupied by the Snedon family in Hudson was built by John Brown himself.
Rev. John Logan Lindlay of the
Congregational Church of Hudson then told us that Owen Brown {B18}was a charter
member of his church, and because of this connection he was very much
interested in the Brown family, and wondered where the family Bible given to
Lawrence Pease by Owen Brown was, and he expressed a desire to see it returned
to the Brown family. He also suggested we assume care of the Brown graved in
the Hudson Cemetery. He further extended an
invitation to us to attend the 125th anniversary of Hudson, beginning September 4, 1927 with
morning services at his Church.
Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers Miller, who
now lives in the Old John Brown home in Hudson
extended an initiation to us to her home.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year:
PresidentJohn Owen Brown {B18732}
Vice PresMrs. Eliza Lavina Reed
2nd Vice PresSalmon Brown
SecretaryEdna Brown Kalbrunner {B187311}
AssistantIsabel Brown{B187913}
HistorianLydia
Crothers{B18792}
AssistantMrs. Flora Bartsche {B18XIII2}
Our President requested we sing
“God be with you ‘till we meet again” which we did, and after all together
repeating Mizpah, we adjourned, and accepting the kind invitation of Mr. and
Mrs. Earl John Johnson, who now occupy the John Brown Farm, we walked down the
roadway to their home, where we saw the site of the old tannery, the old burial
vault, the deed to this vault in Mrs. Johnson’s possession, the old home and
all had a drink of cool water from the old, old well.
After which we returned to the Hine
Home to bid adieu to each other and to thank our kind host and hostess for our
very happy day.
Signed
Edna
Brown Kalbrunner
Secretary
*Additional deaths are list at the
end of the minutes. They must have been announced at the meeting.
Doris Jeannette Brown {B186325}–
daughter of Charles S {B18632} and Hannah Brown, Died
Jan 22, 1927, aged 28 years
Charles Stores Brown {B18632} – son
of Lemuel Stores {B1863} and Julia BrownDied March 31, 1927 aged 65
years
Both are buried in Lakewood Park
Cemetery Cleveland Ohio