Francis Fizz Brown II

Francis Fizz BROWN II, my Grandfather, was born on January 30, 1900. Francis Fizz died at 424 Washington Ave., Downingtown, Pennsylvania on February 6, 1957, he was 57. he was buried on February 9, 1957 in Grove Methodist Churchyard, Grove, Pennsylvania. He resided at 424 Washington Avenue, Downingtown, Pa. in Dec 1941, resided at the George Thomas III Estate, Whitford, Pa in 1922 and resided in Grove and Green Hill before 1922. Cause of death: Cirrhosis of the liver. He was under a physician's care since August 1956.

Occupation: Foreman, Downingtown Iron Works since 1933. Occupation: Carpenter on the Main Line. Namesake: Named after his Grandfather. Alias/AKA: Brownie.

Circa 1956, Francis shattered his leg in a fall off a ladder into a tank that he was working on at the Downingtown iron Works. He was laid up for about six months, and had a great deal of pain. I believe he began drinking heavy because of this accident and pain. He had drank before this accident, and always carried a plug of chewing tobacco and a pint of whiskey in his car to share with Bill Yarnell and other friends, but now he began to drink early in the evening until he would simply pass out. In 1957-58 he was diagnosed with Cirrhosis and told he had to stop drinking, which he did, but apparently it was too late.--LEM

"Brown - In Downingtown on Feb. 6, 1957, Francis F., husband of Esther W. Brown, in his 58th year of his age. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral without further notice from the Hicks Funeral Home, 229 S. High St., West Chester on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2 P. M. Interment in Grove Methodist Cemetery. Friends may call Friday evening."-2/6/57

Francis F. Brown, foreman at Downingtown Iron Works since 1933, formally of Whitford, died at 3:15 a.m. today at his home, 424 Washington Ave., Downingtown, where he had lived since 1942. He had been under a physician's care since August. Last week he observed his 57th birthday. A native Chester Countian, Mr. Brown formally worked as a carpenter on the Main Line. He lived most of his life around the Grove and Green Hill sections and belonged to the Minquas Fire Co. and Chester County Fireman's Assn. His wife Esther Wilson Brown survives along with a daughter, Mildred, wife of William Meredith, Pottstown RD; sister, Mary, wife of Leroy Seeds of Paoli, and one grandson. There are three brothers: Millard, of this place; Ralph, Strafford; Paul, of Grove rd. at Indian King. Daily Local News. 2/6/1957

On 20 February 20, 1920, when Francis Fizz was 20, he married Esther Wilson, Grandmother, daughter of William Frederick Wilson Jr. and Anna Margaret Dunlap. Born on 11 June 11, 1899, Esther died in Phoenixville Hospital, Pennsylvania on January 8, 1987, she was 87. She was buried in Grove Methodist Churchyard, Grove, Pennsylvania. She resided alongside Rt. 100, Bucktown, Pa. in 1987, resided in Downingtown, Pa. in 1957 and resided in Anselma, Pa. in 1916. Religion: Methodist Member of Bethel Methodist Church, Spring City, Pa. Namesake: Named for her Grandmother: Esther Helen Bicking.

They had one child:
Mildred (1920-)

Ralph F. Brown 1917

Ralph F. BROWN (Great Uncle) was born in 1917 and died in Riverview Hospital, Norristown, Pa. on November 26, 1967, he was 50. He was buried on December 2, 1967 in Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, Grove, Pa. He resided at 450 Upper Gulph Rd., Strafford, Pa. in 1967 and in Strafford, Pa. in 1950. Occupation: 1957-1967 Auditor for the Defense Supply Agency, Philadelphia, Pa. His prior occupation: Plumber. Cause of death: Brief illness. Namesake: possibly his Uncle Carl Ralph Brown.

Brown--Of 450 Upper Gulph Road, Strafford, Pa., on Sunday, November 26, 1967, Ralph F. Brown, Sr., aged 50 years, husband of Mae Simmons Brown. Funeral services will be held at Mauger's Funeral Home, 24 Monument Ave., Malvern, Pa. on Saturday, December 2nd at 2 P.M. Internment Grove Methodist cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 7 to 9. Daily Local News. 11/29/1867

Ralph F. Brown, 450 Upper Gulph Rd., Strafford, died Sunday in Riverview Hospital, Norristown, after a brief illness. He was 50 and husband of Mae Simmons Brown. A member of the Improved Order of Red Men, Hiro Tribe 309, Mr. Brown had been an auditor for the Defense Supply Agency, Philadelphia, for ten years. He was active for many years in scouting and was a member of Boy Scout Troop 50 of Devon's troop committee. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Ralph F. Brown Jr., at home; a sister, Mrs. Mary Seeds of Paoli' two brothers, Millard C. Brown Jr. of West Chester and Paul Brown of Grove. Daily Local News. 11/29/1967

About 1940 when Ralph F. was 23, he married Mae SIMMONS6,8. Born in 1915.6 Mae died in 1996, she was 81.6

They had one son:
Ralph F. (1C1R) who resided at 450 Upper Gulph Rd., Strafford, Pa. in 1967.

Millard C. Brown Sr. 1877 and Sara Ann Smiley 1878

Millard C. Brown Sr. my Great Grandfather was born in 1877. Millard C. died in at his home at Ludwig's Camp, R.D.2. West Chester, Pa. in 1950, he was 73. he was buried in 1950 in Grove Methodist Churchyard, Grove, Pa. He resided along Pottstown Pike, Ludwig's Camp, West Chester R.D. 2, Pa.. in December 1950, resided on Boot Road, Grove, Pa. in 1924 and resided in Green Hill, Pa. before 1924. Occupation: Carpenter, House Builder for over fifty years. Religion: Member of Goshen Baptist Church.

On March 29, 1899 when Millard C. was 22, he married Sara Ann Smiley, G Grandmother, daughter of Isaac H. Smiley and Mary Jane Farra, (pictured on the right) in 7 P.M in the home of Rev. Joshua E. Walls, pastor of First baptist Church. Born on November 3, 1878 in Pennsylvania, she died at home in Grove, Pa. on July 24, 1950, she was 71. She was buried in the Grove Methodist Churchyard, Grove, Pa. She resided in Boot Road, Grove, Pa. in 1950. Religion: Active worker in both Goshen Baptist and Grove Methodist Churches. Cause of death: Illness of several months.

In July 1950, I was 9 years old. I remember visiting Grandpa and Grandma Brown's Grove home a lot as a child. I remember the kitchen clearest. She had a wood burning cook stove. I recall a bucket of kindling was always off to one side. My memory of her funeral is very foggy, but I do recall being back in that Grove house with people milling about. There was a table of food in the living room and I wandered about nibbling.

My Great Grandpa didn't last long after Sara died. I was with my Grandfather when he discovered the body. After Sara died, Millard left the Grove home and moved to a small house he had built just off Rt. 100 and outside of West Chester. We went there to visit, perhaps because of the Christmas season, perhaps just because my grandfather was his son. My grandfather went to the door and knocked. After a while he sent me back to the car and he went in alone. I don't remember much after that point, until the funeral, and I remember little of it anymore.

Mr and Mrs. Millard C. Brown are greeting friends at their home at the Grove this afternoon and evening from 2 until 9 o'clock, the occasion being an "open house" planned by their children in celebration of the golden wedding anniversary which they observed on Tuesday. Having spent several enjoyable weeks in Florida along with Mrs. Brown's brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer W McVaugh, of Goshen heights, the group returned home on Thursday afternoon, the trip by motor. The marriage of the former Miss Sara Smiley to Millard C. Brown took place at 7 o'clock in the evening, March 29, 1899, in this borough at the home of Rev. Joshua E. Walls, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Mrs. Sallie Messmer and the late Miss Laura Green were the witnesses. The weather was like spring such as today. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have always lived in this community. They began housekeeping at Green Hill and since 1924 have resided at the Grove. Both are enjoying good health and have looked forward with pleasure for some time to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The Brown children are: Francis F., of Downingtown; Mary, wife of Roy Seeds, Paoli, Millard C., Jr., of the Grove, Ralph F., of Strafford, and Paul R., of the Grove. There are eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have the best wishes of many friends in this community for continued good health and happiness. Daily Local News. 4/2/1949.

Mrs. Millard C. Brown, Sr. Mrs. Millard C. Brown Sr., of the grove, died in her home Monday night after an illness of several months. She was 72. A native of Chester County, she was the daughter of the late Isaac and Mary Jane Smiley, and lived in this section her entire life. She was an active worker in both Goshen Baptist Church and Grove Methodist Church. Among her survivors, in addition to her husband, Millard Sr., are the following children: Millard Jr., Grove; Ralph, Strafford; Francis, Downingtown; and Mrs. Leroy Seeds, Paoli. DR, 7/26/1950.

"Brown - In West Goshen, Township, on Dec. 2, 1950, Millard C., Sr., husband of the late Sara A. Brown, in the 74th year of his age. Funeral from the Hicks Funeral Home, 229 S. High St., West Chester, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 2 P. M.. Interment in Grove cemetery." - 12/4/1950

They had the following children:
Ralph F. (1917-1967)

Paul Richard (1920-1983)

Millard C. (1907-1975)

Francis Fizz (1900-1957)

Mary (Great Aunt), born about 1905 and died about 1975. She resided in Paoli, Pa. in 1950. About 1930, when Mary was 25, she married Charles LeRoy Seeds. He was born about 1900. Charles LeRoy died about 1970. He resided in Paoli, Pa. in 1950.