James M. Brown, the father of William Edward Brown, was born in TN in 1840. He was a Civil War Veteran and had been a Confederate Spy during the War between the States. He was wounded in the leg during an escape from behind Yankee lines. The wound never healed during his lifetime; it always leaked fluid and pus.
Ed and Lizzie Brown were living in Boyd, Wise County, Texas in 1900 where Ed worked as a salesman. They had lost a child who was stillborn sometime previous to 1903. Lizzie was still suffering from that loss when a neighbor, Mrs Thomas Cates Hall, (Florence O'Banon Copeland Hall) passed away about 6 weeks after her twins, Jesse Homer and Hallie Hall were born. She offered to adopt Jesse and Thomas C. Hall agreed. Another family, reportedly named Green, adopted Hallie who died soon after he was adopted. Jesse Homer Hall's name was changed to Edward Homer Brown.
In 1906 Ed moved to Eldorado, Oklahoma and opened a Jewelry Store. He also built a home there. Just before it was finished he asked the contractor if he had insurance on the place. He did not, so they went to an insurance man and took insurance out on the construction. The insurance went in to force the next day at 1 PM. At 2 PM the next day a tornado came through and total destroyed the construction. The picture of the house below with James M. Brown standing in front was made after it was rebuilt.
The family lived in Eldorado, Oklahoma until 1910 when they decided to move to Salesville, Palo Pinto County, Texas. They moved to Salesville shortly after the 1910 federal census. Ed opened a grocery store there. Eddie delivered groceries for him. This store was opened with a secret partner, Will G. Barham, Ed's brother-in-law, who ran a general store at Authon, Parker County, Texas. Ed prospered here and stayed in Salesville until after the 1920 federal census when he moved to Weatherford, Parker County, Texas and there he worked as a salesman for the Bradfish Flour and Grain Mill for several years. About 1923 they moved to Anson, Texas, where Ed's brother Oscar (J.O.) Brown ran a clothing store and Ed opened a grocery store on the north side of the square.
In 1925 after several years of drought, the store was forced to close because the local farmers were unable to pay their bills. After working with his brother, Oscar Brown, for a time, Ed purchased general store in the Union community near Anson while Eddie leased a small store and filling station on highway 180 east of Anson called the Eleven Mile Lane store located on the south side of the highway. The Eleven Mile Lane ran south from the store and highway 180 toward old Fort Phantom, an old deserted Army Fort that was opened in the 1800's to protect the settlers from hostile Indians, who frequented the area at that time. Today what is left of the old Fort is part of a State Park. There was a competitor nearby on the North side of the highway
Eddie got an idea to trap small local animals and put them on display for passing tourists. Years later you could pass many places like that on Highway 80 and Route 66 Highway. Eddie always said he was the first one to do that and all the others copied him. It worked well and he soon had such a majority of business, the competitor closed up. It also helped that Eddie was a good mechanic and could repair any automobile made in that period. Further information on this family will be in the private sector as living family members will be listed. If you have a need to know more please e-mail the webmaster.
James M. Brown born in TN 1840 m Mary T. Brown born in TN
children
William Edward Brown born TN 1868
James Oscar Brown born TN 1872
Gus K. Brown born TN 1876
Mantie Brown born TN m G.K. Meek
Elbert Brown
There was possibly one other son maybe two.
William Edward Brown and Mary Elizabeth Barham Brown
James M. Brown Standing in front of Eldorado, OK home of William E. Brown abt 1907-1910
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