The W. B. Brown Family - Family Histories

      W. B. Brown first saw Coleman County when he was on a trail drive to Kansas around 1870. It made such a lasting impression on him that he continued to dream of eventually settling here. In late 1893 and early 1894, he purchased two parcels of land four miles south of Santa Anna and began making plans for moving his family to the county.

      William Benjamin was born October 17, 1853, in Fayette County, four miles east of Round Top, the third child of German emigrant parents, Christian and Sophie (Marburger) Braun. As a boy of ten, he had helped his father drive ox teams to haul cotton to Mexico, because the Texas coast was blockaded during the Civil War. They brought salt on their return trip. As a young man, still in his teens, he had made trips up the Chisholm Trail to Kansas. In 1876, he moved with his family to Williamson County. It was there that he met and later married Nancy Angeline Magby, the first child of W. D. and Martha Jane (Evans) Magby, February 28, 1860 (near Little Rock), on December 29, 1880. The W. B. Browns and their nine children moved to Coleman County in October, 1897 to the land south of Santa Anna. A two-story house was built, and still stands very much as when it was built. In the early 1900's, W. B. bought more land adjoining the homeplace. He acquired 160 acres from Christian Sternburg and 410 acres from one of his brothers, Adolph A. C. Braun. Members of the family were active in the First Baptist Church of Santa Anna, where Mr. Brown was a deacon. W. B. died April 3, 1935 and Angeline, January 2, 1942, both buried in Santa Anna. Surviving children of the W. B. Brown family are:

     (1) Clara, November 15, 1881 - March 12, 1960, married December 4,1904, Green R. McClure, October 9, 1885-July 18, 1957, both buried Santa Anna (see John Edward McClure). Their only child, a daughter, September 10, 1905-February 15, 1933, in childbirth, buried Santa Anna, married Orman Carter on May 30, 1932.

     (2) John C., January 3, 1883 - April 10, 1941, buried Santa Anna, married September 13, 1914 Lizzie Ferguson, born September 19, 1887. (See Ferguson).

     (3) Tennie, March 3, 1894-October 9, 1962, married July 23, 1909, G. B. Smith, February 26, 1874-December 1, 1963, both buried Santa Anna. They ranched in the Eden and Santa Anna areas. Three children:

       (3a) Aubrey William, July 25, 1910-March 17, 1964, married January 16, 1933 Godie Richie, born April 18, 1907. He is buried in California. Aubrey held pastorates in several Baptist churches in West Texas before going to Northern California as a missionary. One son, Ronald Aubrey, January 9, 1937, lives in Abilene, where he is Vice President for Academic Affairs at Hardin Simmons University. Godie continues to live in California;

       (3b) Loretta Nancy, December 29, 1911, married May 11, 1934, Samuel LeRoy York, born February 2, 1908. Loretta was a teacher in Abilene and LeRoy was in the office machines business. Two sons: John Dale, September 25, 1939, lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and Roy Bee, November 26, 1947, lives in Edinburg;

       (3c) Audas Richardson, October 10, 1913, married May 23, 1937 Annie Louise Watkins, born April 19, 1917. They live in Odessa where Audas is in the Blueprint and Quick Print business and Annie Louise is a teacher. Three sons: Audas Richard, lives in Houston; David Gilbert in Lubbock and Donald Eugene in Odessa.

     (4) Mabel, April 27, 1885, married Samuel Moody Polk. (See Samuel Moody Polk).

     (5) James W. (Jim), November 26, 1886 -January 13, 1957, served in the Army in World War I, married December 19, 1921 Bertha Childress, April 24, 1886-June 13, 1956, both buried at Silver Valley. They farmed in the Santa Anna and Silver Valley areas. One child: Mary Ann, February 19, 1925 married (1) John Lonon, who is deceased, married (2) December 19, 1957, Harold Olive, September 24, 1918 - March 31, 1977, buried in Carlsbad. Mary is a teacher in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and Harold was a lawyer. Two daughters: Jayann (Sepich) and Judyvan, both live in Carlsbad.

     (6) Effie Louise, February 24, 1888 - August 31, 1963, married January 30, 1919 Walter Edward Ferguson, September 18, 1885 - July 10, 1968, both buried Santa Anna (see Ferguson). They farmed in Brown and Coleman Counties. Two children:

      (6a) Walter Eugene, January 15, 1922, married May 2, 1970 Dorris Stone, born October 3, 1924. They live in McAllen;

       (6b) Merle Louise, March 20, 1920, married June 3, 1944 Leland Maurice Goodheart, born November 10, 1920. They live in Sacramento, California. Two child-ren: Janet Louise, married David Andrew McLean, live in Sacramento, and Bruce Edward, married Chrislyn Jean Evans, two children, live in Chico.

     (7) Addie, March 20, 1892-December 24, 1981, married June 13, 1918 Elmer Childress, January 11, 1890-March 18, 1972, both buried at Tulia. They first farmed in Swisher County, then moved to Jones County and Stamford. Three sons: Robert F., August 15, 1919, married October 31, 1942 Helen Atwood, live in Delhi, Louisiana. Two children, Robert Franklin (Bobby), lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Earl Atwood (Woody);

       (7b) William Brown, July 14, 1920, married January 23, 1943 Dorothy Elaine Coleman, born March 12, 1922. Two children:

         (a) William Thomas, married Jane Louise Gaebel, lives in Amarillo.

         (b) Roxanne Elaine, married John M. Mays Hyltin, lives in Amarillo;

       (7c) E. Hardy, August 7, 1921, married June 14, 1943, Beulah Wood, born March 14, 1921. Three daughters: (a) Beulah Elizabeth (Beth). (b) Carol Margueritte married John Chelkowski, lives in Spring. (c) Donna Lee, died March 1, 1975, buried San Antonio.

     (8) Virgie, February 1894 - May 27, 1979, buried Santa Anna, lived on the home place until her death, where she was engaged in farming and ranching.

     (9) Emzy, April 2, 1896 - February2, 1975, served in the U. S. Navy in World War I, married (1) June 20, 1920 Gladys Caton, December 3, 1897 -Novem-ber 8, 1969, both buried Santa Anna. They farmed both north and south of Santa Anna. Emzy was active in the First Baptist Church of Santa Anna and in the Texas Farm Bureau. No children. Emzy married (2) September 16, 1975, Jewrill (Russel) Powers, June 30, 897- June 30,

     (10) Ollie, February 1899 - February 18, 1983, buried New Hope Cemetery in Waller County, married September 25, 1925, Versia Sapp born September 20, 1905. Ollie was a merchant in Waller. Two sons:

       (10a) Ollie Jr., January 20, 1928, married September 2, 1950, Margaret Campbell, born August 8, 1928, live in New Orleans. Five children: Steven Lee, lives in Houston; Katherine Lynn married Michael Leonary Neary, two children, live in Dallas; Caroline Jane, lives in Houston; Worley Campbell and Warren Dickson, both live in New Orleans;

       (10b) William B. (Billy), Jr., September 1, 1932, married November 24, 1966 Sue Martin, born December 7, 1933, live in Greenville. Twin sons: Tracy Martin and Deron Taylor.

     (11) Jewel Grace, September 30, 1902, married November 28, 1923 Eddie Albert Schrader, born March 26, 1900. They have farmed south of Santa Anna since their marriage. Children:

       (11a) Douglas Otto, October 4, 1924, married July 15, 1944 Billie Mae Watson, born December 31, 1925. They live on a farm near Lohn. Two children:

   (1) Myron Lynn, December 4, 1950, lives at Winters where he is with Haliburton Well Service.

       (2) Edwina Kay, December 6, 1953, lives with her husband, Randye Slaughter, Angleton;

       (11b) Edwina Gwendolyn, April 26, in 1927-November 16, 1952, buried Santa Anna, married June 8, 1950 Richard V. Sheldon;

       (11c) Billie Jean, February 21, 1929, married May 21, 1949 Herbert William Bankhead, born May 12, 1930, live in Amarillo. Children: Edward Oscar, lives in Austin; Pamela Sue, married Charley Billington, lives at Earth; William Brady, lives in Amarillo; Robert Alan, lives in Amarillo;

       (lld) Darwin Brown, November 11, 1931, married (1) June 7, 1953, Ruby Nell Jordan, November 18, 1931-December 1, 1968, buried at Art. Children: Sheila Gwenn, April 22, 1954, married James Donald Bolinger, live in Winfield, Kansas. Curtis Allen, July 23, 1955, lives in San Angelo. Darwin married (2) April 25, 1969 Patricia Thomas, born July 6, 1941, one daughter, Amy Michelle, September 25, 1975. They live in Sterling City;

       (1le) Garland Earl, January 2, 1935, married October 19, 1957 Mary Margaret Morrison, born March 20, 1934. They live in Yuba City, California. Children: Teresa Gwen, September 28, 1958, lives in Austin; Paul Gregory, December 25, 1959, married Pamela Lyma Keith, live in Tulsa; Marci Glynn, August 13, 1961, lives in California.