USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 2 > Part 35
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
Dayton Division, Number 5, U. R. K. P., was instituted November 13, 1878, and organized with the following officers: Charles D. Iddings, commander; P. Weidner, lieutenant commander; J. P. Marquardt, Jr., herald; L. H. Reist, recorder; J. L. Marquis, treasurer; Robert George, guard; W. S. Star, sentinel. The division has a membership of forty-five, and the following officers: J. P. Marquardt, Jr., S. K. C .; William Yah- raus, S. K. L .; Lonis C. Waltamathe, S. K. II .; W. M. Carpenter, S. K. R., and Dr. G. II. Geiger, S. K. T.
Royal Temple, Number 2, Pythian Sisters, was organized March 2, 1889. This is, as its name indicates, the second temple organized in the State of Ohio. It is auxiliary to Hope Lodge, and was organized by J. A. IIill, of Greencastle, Indiana. The original membership was somewhat more than fifty, and the first officers were as follows: Mrs. Mary Ains- worth, P. E. C .; Mrs. Hattie Robinson, M. E. C .; Mrs. Mary E. Fry, S. C .; Mrs. M. J. Kelly, J. C .; Mrs. Maggie Worley, M. of R. aud C .; Mrs. J. S. Corbet, M. of F .; Mrs. B. F. Shingler, M. of T .; Mrs. Rebecca Wysong, P. of T .; Mrs. J. C. Ferneding, P. of O. T. The same officers were reelected June 22, 1889.
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Thusnelda Temple, Number 3, Pythian Sisters, was organized March 6, 1889, with forty-seven members. Following are the names of the first officers: Mrs. Peter Weidner, M. E. C .; Mrs. L. Shank, E. S .; Mrs. V. Bieser, E. Jr .; Mrs. T. M. Kern, M. O. T .; Mrs. Kate Pohneier, M. of R. and C .; Mrs. M. Gesler, M. of F .; Mrs. M. Lchman, I. G., and Mrs. Jennie Hesler, O. G. The present officers are: Mrs. Phillippina Olt, M. E. C .; Mrs. V. Bieser, E. Jr .; Mrs. T. M. Kern, M. O. T .; Mrs. Mary Williams, M. of R. and C .; Mrs. M. Gesler, M. of F .; Mrs. M. Lehman, I. G., and Mrs. Jennie Hesler, O. G.
Franklin Grove, Number 8, U. A. O. D., was organized July 10, 1849. The present officers are: Fred Steble, N. A .; John Grieser, V. A .; Charles Nagel, secretary; George Sauer, treasurer; John Nickel, I. G. The trustees are John II. Trangenstein, Daniel Schroer, and John Olt.
Victoria Circle, Number 3, U. A. O. D., was instituted January 31, 1884. The present officers are: Mrs. Louisa Riehl, A. D .; Mrs. II. Bargh, F. B .; Mrs. F. Stehle, S. B .; Mrs. P. Christ, C .; Mrs. L. Ruchl, I. G .; Daniel Schroer, secretary, and Sophia Sauer, treasurer, Adam Weber is the grand secretary of the Grand Grove of the U. A. O. D., and has held the office for the past nineteen years.
Miami Lodge, Number 16, Ancient Order United Workmen, was or- ganized February 9, 1874, with twenty-three members, and the following officers: Meyer Lebensberger, P. M. W .; M. J. Swadener, M. W .; A. Whitcomb, F .; W. II. Barbour, O .; W. D. MeKemy, R .; Daniel Leon- hard, F .; Joseph Lebersberger, R .; and Philip Kerr, W. Meetings were held for some time in Gorman's building, East Third Street. They are now held in Huston Ilall.
Tentouia Lodge, Number 21, was organized April 15, 1874, with thirty-two charter members. The first officers were Philip Kern, P. M. W .; Louis Haas, M. W .; George Happel, F .; Christ Kronen- thal, O .; Samuel Wagner, G .; George Hueber, R .; Henry Kueler, F .; George Ilerbig, treasurer; Andrew Metz, W. The first meetings were held in the Gorman Block. They are now held in Huston Hall.
Concordia Lodge, Number 46, was instituted March 27, 1875, with twenty-four members. The first officers were John Schoen, P. M. W .; Peter Lenz, M. W .; Jacob Gruenewald, F .; William Nanerth, O .; Charles Wenzel, G .; Adolph Abicht, R .; Louis Stern, treasurer.
Dayton Lodge, Number 48, was organized June 9, 1875, with forty members, and the following officers: C. P. Rousch, P. M. W .; Charles E. Swadener, M. W .; W. F. Trebein, F .; Albert Cozine, O .; W. W. Lane, R .; John D. MeKee, F .; Charles E, Clark, R .; F. W. Wood, G .; Jacob 51
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Kinsel, I. W .; E. F. Wellemeyer, O. W .; William Seeley, Fred Weis, and J. D. Arras, trustees.
The Earnshaw Rifles, at a meeting held January 2, 1889, elected. the following officers: Captain, A. J. McCannon; first lieutenant, John C. Bennett; second lieutenant, Charles E. Fisher; first sergeant, W. S. Cook; second sergeant, Omar Randall; third sergeant, Edward Wetz; fourth sergeant, Edward Williamson; fifth sergeant, B. S. Caryer; first corporal, M. II. Bennett; second corporal, Harry Frantz; third corporal, Ehner Ernest; fourth corporal, B. W. Butler; fifth corporal, J. D. W. Butler; sixth corporal, Clarence Switzer; seventh corporal, Louis Sortman; eighth - corporal, H. S. Sayer.
At the annual election of officers of Dayton Ruling, Number 2, F. M. C., the following was the result for the ensuing year: Worthy ruler, John W. Garst; worthy viec-ruler, M. II. Huesman; past worthy ruler, Joseph Hahne; worthy recorder, John E. Trone; worthy collector, . William O. Tiffany; worthy treasurer, Frederick Miller; worthy chaplain, Louis Napoleon Mehlberth; worthy marshal, Horace Blakesley; worthy warden, J. O. Layton; worthy guard, Charles C. Sortman; worthy sentry, Henry Winner; worthy medical examiner, Dr. James A. Ambrose; worthy trustees, S. D. Trone, John II. Dorfmeier, and W. W. Mckinney. The installation of these officers occurred on Thursday night, January 3, 1889.
The Dayton Turngemeinde held its annual election of officers on Sunday, December, 30, 1888, with the following result: President, Edward Neder; vice-president, Bernhardt Froclich; recording secretary, Bernard Roemboldt; financial secretary, Herman Uhlrig; first instructor, William Herzog; second instructor, Vietor Roelin; master of apparatus, Elmer Linxweiler; librarian, Theodore Schubert; flag bearer, Reinhard Roelnn; trustees, Bernard Froelich, Luther Peters, Jacob Linxweiler, Jr., Frede- rick Brueshaber, and William Herzog.
Iloward Council, Number 161, Royal Arcanum, was organized in September, 1878, with nineteen charter members. The first officers were as follows: S. Johnson, P. R .; O. M. Gottschall, R .; HI. E. W. Camp- bell, V. R .; F. M. Osier, O .; T. B. Holmes, secretary; G. R. Wells, C .; S. L. LaRose, treasurer; James W. Anderton, G .; W. F. Snyder, S. At a regular meeting of this council, held January 1, 1889, the following officers were installed: Samuel L. LaRose, R .; A. O. Schenck, V. R .; J. S. Crilly, P. R .; William Watkins, O .; S. B. Hall, secretary; II. W. Surface, C .; John E. Viot, G .; C. L. Bader, treasurer; J. S. Osborn, C., and A. L. Shearer, S.
Dayton Council, Number 15, Order Chosen Friends, at a meeting
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held January 2, 1889, the following officers were elected and installed : J. O, Heindle, P. C. C .; W. II. Moore, C. C .; T. W. Adelott, V. C .; W. A. Marietta, secretary; R. M. Allen, treasurer; L. W. Strahler, P .; D. F. Fischbach, M .; David Heister, W .; C. W. Wilking, G .; Henry Harlan, S .; T. W. Davy, Allen Selby, and HI. J. Bradford, trustecs.
Gem City Castle, Number 2, Ancient Order of Knights of the Mystic Chain, was instituted February 27, 1889, by J. L. B. Wiswell, of Colum- bus, Ohio, assisted by T. J. Scanlan and J. F. Wheeler, also of Columbus. The number of members of the Castle at the time of institution was sixty-five, and the following were the first officers, clected and installed on the same day on which the Castle was instituted: J. M. Bartch, S. K. P. C .; Charles Alther, S. K. C .; Samuel Shine, S. K. V. C .; George Williams, F. L .; John Caylor, treasurer; A. B. Miller, chaplain; E. L. Horner, R. S .; IL. Heiney, A. R. S .; Valentine Ketteman, C. of S .; J. Stuck, A. C. of S .; George Bartch, I. G .; C. S. Perry, O. G .; Charles Fry, Jacob Zimmerman, and S. II. Heiney, trustees.
Fulton Council, Number 15, Order United American Mechanics, was organized June 17, 1872, with thirty-three members. The first officers were as follows: George S. Ball, C .; M. V. Wirich, V. C .; Richard Witcomb, R. S .; W. A. Bosler, F. S .; W. II. Rouzer, treasurer.
Mayflower Council, Number 35, was organized September 27, 1875, with about thirty members. The first officers were: J. W. Knaub, C .; George A. Smith, V. C .; William L. Winchell, R. S .; C. H. Decker, F. S .; W. C. Sliffer, treasurer.
Miami Council, Number 7, Junior Order, was organized October 18, 1872, with eleven charter members. The first officers were: D. P. Clark, C .; H. W. Lewis, V. C .; G. R. Wells, R. S .; H. J. Buvinger, A. R. S .: C. W. Bridenbaugh, F. S .; B. T. Guion, treasurer. At a meeting of this council beld on January 4, 1889, the following officers were installed: E. G. Fauver, Jr., P. C .; T. Rench, C. E .; J. E. Waterman, V. C .; John P .. Branin, R. S .;. C. C. Cotterill, A. R. S .; C. D. Kidd, Jr., F. S .; D. J. Smith, Jr., treasurer; W. R. Bosson, C .; HI. J. Crutchfield, W .; Alex- ander Waterman, I. S .; Edward Long, O. S .; W. G. Smith, F. D. Wark, and L. A. Rowe, trustees; John P. Brannin and E. T. Rench, representatives.
Friendship Council, Number 15, Junior Order, was organized with eleven charter members, December 17, 1877. It was a re-organization of a lodge which had been in existence four years previously, and which was known as Surprise Lodge. The first officers of Friendship Lodge were: J. B. Kuhns, C .; Arthur Deiter, V. C .; Charles Weikel, R. S .; Edward Deiter, A. R. S .; J. W. Eby, treasurer; II. A. Siler, F. S.
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Honor Couneil, Number 24, Junior Order' of United American Mechanies was institated January 29, 1889, by D. S. C., Charles D. Kidd, Jr., who acted as councillor during the initiation. The following were the officers elected for the ensuing year: George W. Stevens, Jr., P. C .; David Fetters, C .; William Beecher, V. C .; George R. Wallace, R. S .; Henry House, A. R. S .; G. II. Fetters, F. S .; George F. Sawyer, treasurer; Frank Wilson, C .; R. M. Huston, W .; Charles Wilson, I. S .; David Price, O. S .; M. Beecher, George W. Stevens, and David Fetters, trustees.
In October, 1866, King Encampment, Post Number 20, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in Dayton. It had three hundred and eight members. In February, 1867, Allen Encampment Post, Number 152, was organized, and in a short time afterward Diester Encampment was organized. E. A. King Post was organized September 22, 1879, the first officers of record being as follows: Samuel B. Smith, P. C .; A. A. Simonds, S. V. C .; George W. Hatfield, J. V. C .; Charles Anderton, Adj .; Adam Knecht, Q. M .; Frederick Schaeffer, O. D., and Jacob Schaeffer, O. G. The present officers of this post, the name of which was changed from E. A. King Post to the Old Guard Post, Number 23, March 10, 1885, are as follows: N. Doren Bates, P. C .; John N. Bell, S. V. C .; Parker Rusby, J. V. C .; Ambrose Hodge, Adj .; Thomas L. Steward, Q. M .; James A. Ambrose, surgeon; Amos S. Jones, chaplain; Elwood Middleton, O. D .; Samuel B. Rohrer, O. G .; John T. Harper, S. M .; James O. Davis, Q. M. S .; John L. II. Frank, chairman; Henry S. Rockey, secretary, and the latter two with John Mull, James C. Turner, and John R. More, trustees. The post now numbers three hun- dred and eighty-five members.
Diester Post, Number 446, G. A. R., was chartered May 17, 1884, with the following members: John E. Broekman, P. C .; Julius George S. P. C .; James Dann, J. V. C .; Bernhard Rochin, Q. M .; Robert Burk- ner, adjutant; --- Wilson, chaplain; John Bauer, O. D .; Joseph Neibert, O. G .; Lawrence Darst, Charles Dreihorst, William Britton, Joseph Diester, and William L. May, M. P. Nolan, William Silzel, and Frederick Gunckel. The present officers are: J. K. P. MacDorgh, P. C .; MI. B. Zehring, S. V. C .; Frank Brooks, J. V. C .; George W. Sherer, adjutant; Philip W. Jordan, Q. M .; Charles W. Shiebley, chaplain; R. F. Switzer, O. D., and W. Parsons, O. G.
Hiram Strong Post, Number 79, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in October, 1884, and was instituted October 10th following. It derived its name from the colonel of the Ninety-third Regiment Ohio , Volunteers. . Its first officers were E. P. Robinson, C .; I. N. Thorne,
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S. V. C .: J. G. Feight, J. V. C .; W. I. Rose, S .; R. W. Parks, C .; Charles Graf, O. D .: W. TI. Puterbaugh, O. G .: T. J. Barry, A .; W. A. Lincoln, Q. M .; G. A. Russler, S. M .; H. R. Wheeler, Q. M. S. The post had sixty charter members, of whom forty-six were mustered in at the institution of the post. The present officers are J. W. Armitage, C .; J. R. Thompson, S. V. C .; M. Beecher, J. V. C .; J. B. Walton, C .; A. M. Williamson, S : B. F. Arnold, O. D .; W. Il. Ainsworth, O. G .: Charles Bishop, A .; Charles Graf, Q. M .; J. E. Sullivan, S. M .; J. S. Corbett, Q. M. S. This post has at the present time 108 members in good stand- ing, and is in a very prosperous condition. It is the only post on the west side of the river.
Martin R. Delaney Post, Number 615, is composed of about thirty colored members.
William Birch Post, Number G01, was organized July 22, 1886. It was named in honor of Major William Birch, of the Ninety-third Ohio Regiment. The first officers were: . J. A. Smith, P. C .; William M. Simpson, S. V. C .; William Thompson, J. V. C .; Thomas Miller, A .; O. A. Phillipps, O. M .; I. M. Smith, O D .; F. Long, O. G .: O. J. Rollings, S .; N. Robbins, C .; - Gebhart, S. M., and L. M. Shank, Q. M. S. The present officers are: P. P. Ellis, P. C .; J. A Smith, S. V. C .; T. M. Smith, J. V. C .; John C. Miller, A .; Z. E. Hersh, Q. M .: Charles Metz, O. D .; H. A. Whitney, O. G .; J. C. Good, S .; L. Griswold, C .; O. Kenney, S. M .; J. J. Holmes, Q. M. S. This post meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday evenings in each month, in Hilgefort's building, North Main Street.
The Dayton Club was organized in the early spring of 1889. The main purpose of this club was to maintain a place for the social enter- tainment of members of the club and their families, and friends and visitors from abroad. An association of prominent and wealthy citizens was easily formed, and is now composed of somewhat more than one hundred members. The directors of the club are as follows: John A. McMahon, W. P. Callahan, A. C. Marshall, H. C. Lowe, Charles E. Pease, William Huffinan, E. Morgan Wood, Charles A. Phillips, and Charles Craighead. The president is E. Morgan Wood, and the secretary, Thomas K. Negus. The Peter P. Lowe homestead was rented for the accommodation of the elab, and the rooms of this house were opened in the evening of May 28, 1889, with a reception to members and their families. Musie was furnished by the Metropolitan Band. The reception committee was composed of E. Morgan Wood, John A. McMahon, A. C. Marshall, Charles E. Pease. T. K. Negus, Charles B. Clegg. T. P. Gaddis, and Charles E. Mead, assisted by Mrs. R. R. Diekey, Mrs.
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T. J. Wood, Mrs. E. M. Wood, Mrs. H. E. Mcad, and Mrs. R. I. Cummin. The club rooms were regularly opened for business on Wednesday, May 29, 1889.
Dayton Lodge, Number 23, Knights of Hovor, was instituted July 13, 1814. This lodge is in a flourishing condition, having about one hundred and seventy-five members, and holding regular meetings at Knights of Honor Hall, Number 1102 East Third Street, every Monday evening. The present officers of this lodge are as follows: George II. Aiger, D .; William R. Grason, V. D .; Frank Burrows, A. D ; W. A. Marietta, R .; C. E. Campbell, F. R .; S. Bussey, C .; J. Weis, G .; S. U. Daugherty, G .; August Wollenhaupt, S.
There are numerous other societies and lodges of various kinds in this city, which have received no mention, on account of the difficulty of securing satisfactory data, and because of the great pressure of matter on the columns of this work. It is and must be a source of gratification to all right-thinking people that societies of this kind are so numerous in every city of the land. They supply means of social life, in which the restraints inseparable from religious meetings are not felt, and which are free from the unpleasantnesses and dangers which are too often associated with the publie ball and promisenous gatherings. Many of these societies and associations, too, are beneficiary in their nature, furnishing insurance easily carried, and extremely acceptable to the beneficiary in case of misfortune or death of the principal. They are one of the many concomitants of an advancing civilization, the evidence of which it is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate.
CHAPTER XXIX
Biographieal Sketches-Fliam E. Barney -- Eugene J. Barney-Thomas Brown -- John R. Brownell-William Dicker -- Robert R. Dickey-William P. Hoffman-G orge P. Hoff- man-Stephen J. Patterson-Thomas A. Phillips-George Levis Phillips-Louis H. Poock-John Rouzer-E. Fowler Stoddard-Edmond'S Young.
E' LIAM E. BARNEY was the son of Benjamin Barney, a native of Guilford, Vermont, and Naney Potter, of Massachusetts. Benjamin Barney was an active friend to education and one of the principal movers in fonnding Union Academy, at Belleville, Jefferson County, New York. . Both Benjamin Barney and his wife were earnest and active members of the Baptist Church during their entire lives. Eliam E. Barney, the subject of this sketch, was the oldlest of eleven children, and was born at Henderson, New York, October 17, 1807. Young Eliam's father was exceedingly solicitious that he should receive an education that should fit him for any station in life which he might be called upon. to fill. He was partly educated at Lowville, Lewis County, and afterward became one of the first pupils in Union Academy, at Belleville, in the same State. HIe made such rapid advancement that he was able when eighteen years old to help himself by teaching school in the winter season, and in this way he continued his studies nutil fitted to enter the sophomore class of Union College, Schenectady, which was then under the presidency of the celebrated Dr. Eliphalet Nott. From this college he graduated in 1831, and after teaching a short time at Sand Lake, New York, he became Principal of Lowville Academy, remaining in that position two years and meeting with great success. In the fall of 1838 he came to Ohio, and taught six months in Granville (now Dennison ) University, in the place of Professor Drury, who had been cleeted, but had not arrived. In the spring of 1834 he came to Dayton and found employment as Principal of the Dayton Academy, which stood on the ground now occupied by the High School, and remained at the head of that academy until 1838. On account of failing health he then retired from the teacher's profession and engaged in the lumber business, which he carried on successfully until 1845, when he again entered his early employment, and became Principal of Cooper Academy, and continued in that position until 1851. He established, with Ebenezer Thresher, the Dayton Car Works, a history of which may be found in the chapter devoted to the manufacturing
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interests of the city. Besides the car works, Mr. Barney was interested in several other business enterprises. He was a director and Vice- president of the Second National Bank of this city, a director of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, and was President of the Cooper Hydraulic Company.
Some years previous to his death he became greatly interested in the cultivation of the catalpa tree for timber. By means of correspondence, communications to the newspapers, and pamphlets, he awakened a wide- spread interest in the subject, the result of which has been that large numbers of these trees are now being cultivated He-was for many years prominently connected with the First Baptist Church of Dayton, and for some twenty years a member of the board of trustees of Dennison Uni- versity, at Granville, Ohio. This university, in consideration of his life- long patronage of learning, conferred upon him the honorary degree of doctor of laws. He contributed fifty thousand dollars to endow two memorial professorships in this institution.
Mr. Barney was married October 10, 1834, to Julia Smith, daughter of Dudley Smith, of Galway, Saratoga County, New York. They were the parents of six children. Mr. Barney's death occurred December 17, 1880, and he was buried in Woodland Cemetery.
EUGENE J. BARNEY, President of the Barney & Smith Manufacturing Company, was born in Dayton, Ohio, February 12, 1839. His education was limited to that received at the common and high schools. At the ' age of fifteen he entered the class of 1858 of Rochester University, but left college during the last term of the sophomore year, having, after per- sistent effort, induced his father to grant him permission to enter business. At the age of seventeen he entered the office of Rufus Dutton, a manu- facturer of agricultural implements. At the age of twenty he took the general agency of a new cotton press for the States of Tennessee and Mississippi, and for three years was successfully engaged in introducing it throughout the South. Coming North, in 1860, he entered the Ohio Valley Bank, of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a clerk. During his connection with this large banking house, he was sent on important business to different parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee. At the end of two years he entered a banking house in Chicago. In February, 1862, he was married to Miss Belle Huffman, eldest daughter of W. P. Huffman, Esq., of Dayton. He was in business in Cincinnati for several years after his marriage, and removed to Dayton in 1866. Having saved several thousand dollars from the various enterprises in which he had been en- gaged, he purchased the interest of S. E. Woodsum in the firm of Barney; Smith & Company, now incorporated as the Barney & Smith Manufactur-
Tho Brown
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ing Company. In a year or two he was appointed superintendent of the works, and upon Mr. Smith's retiring, on account of ill-health, he was made vice-president and superintendent. . In 1880, after the death of his father, he was made president of the company, and has held the position ever since. ' Mr. Barney was a member of the First Regular Baptist Church of Dayton for some twenty years, and since then of the Linden Avenue Baptist Church. He is now president of the Barney & Smith Manufacturing Company, of the Dayton Manufacturing Company, and of the Cooper Hydraulic Company, and is a director of the Fourth National Bank, of the Union Safe Deposit Company, and of the Columbia Tisur- ance Company, the Dayton Street Railroad Company, the Wisconsin Cen- tral Railroad Company, and the Piqua and Troy Railroad Company. It will thus be seen that Mr. Barney is one of the most active, as he is one of the most successful, of Dayton's younger class of business men.
THOMAS BROWN was born in the village of Manahawkin, Monmouth County (now Ocean County ), New Jersey, April 10, 1800. His father, Clayton Brown, was the son of Captain Samuel Brown, son of John, sou of Abraham, son of Zebulon. The latter never left England, Abraham being the first of the family who emigrated. Tradition says he went first to New England, but of this there is no certain knowledge. In 1700, he was settled in Burlington County, New Jersey, with his family of four children and three Indian servants. Of the descendants of this Abraham, somc remained about the home of their ancestor in. Burlington County, . and some are there to this day. The grandson, Samuel, from whom descended Thomas, removed to the eastern shore of New Jersey; first to Forked River, and later, in 1792, to Manahawkin, where he built a home, which at this date ( 1889 ) is still standing in good condition, and is owned and occupied by one branch of the Brown fan ily. It was at this home that Thomas spent some of his childhood days. His parents had moved to Burlington County, New Jersey, in 1802, but at Manahawkin lived, not only his paternal, but his maternal grandparents. His father, Clayton Brown, had married Thirza Haywood, daughter of William and Sarah ( Randolph ) Haywood. At the tender age of four years, Thomas was left with his kindred at Mannahawkin to attend the village school, but anxious as the child was to learn, he could not very long endure separation from his mother, and became so homesick that he was obliged to be taken home. He entered at once the school at Lumberton, a village near his parents' home, and must have had a very good teacher, or have been a remarkable boy; for, at the age of twelve, he had mastered arith- metie, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and mensuration. A blank book, long in possession of his children, but recently lost by accident, contained
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the demonstration of problems neatly written out, with figures accurately drawn, and on its pages the name, "Thomas Brown, 1811," probably the time he began the study of geometers. He was not only ahead of all the boys of his age in mathematies, but was always at the head of his class in spelling, and was usually placed upon a stool because he was so much smaller than all the others in his class. After his twelfth year, all the education he received was at night schools and through his own efforts at self-improvement. At the age of twelve he was sent to a cousin in Philadelphia, and there apprenticed to a builder. He at once arranged to attend a night school, and took with him the first night bis algebra and geometry, telling the teacher he would like to review his mathematics. The teacher looked at him, evidently thinking the boy did not know what he was talking about, and said, "Mathematics! What do you know abont mathematics?" Thomas told him what he had studied, but the teacher was still incredulous, and gave him a "sum" in the "rule of three," telling him to give him the answer. The boy quickly gave bim the correct answer, and was then given an example in " square root." This was also soon solved, as was also one in "eube root." Then the teacher thought he would certainly puzzle the youngster by giving him a problem in geometry, and gave him the two sides of a right angled triangle to find the hypothenuse. To the astonishment of the dominic, Thomas speedily gave the correct demonstration of the problem, and was told that he knew already as much of mathematics as he could learn at that school. He, therefore, took up other branches.
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