Brown - Theodore D.
THEODORE D. BROWN
Source: Crawfordsville Journal, Friday, February 4, 1916
After a long and painful illness the death of Theodore D. Brown occurred Thursday afternoon at four o'clock at the Ben-Hur sanitarium on east Main street. He had been in failing health for the past five years and retired from business during that interval. Mr. Brown was born near Connersville, Ind., October 24, 1830, and moved from Wabash to Crawfordsville with his parents in 1844. He was married to Caroline Sweetser, October 24, 1854, who died December 4, 1899. Three children were born to them, William S. Brown, who died September last, Mary Ellen Brown of Crawfordsville, and Frederick Thomas Brown, now residing in Indianapolis.
*Of Noble Ancestry -- It has been said that "it is the greatest good fortune to have came into the world well born". Of this , Mr. Brown was a living witness. He inherited his fine mind, his scholarly tastes, his energy and courteous manners from a long line of ancestors. His great grandfather, George Brown of Virginia raised and equipped a company of soldiers at his own expense and went to the relief of Washington at Yorktown, for which he received from congress a grant of land in Kentucky to which the family afterwards removed. Others of his ancestors served with distinction throughout the Revolutionary war. His father, Ryland T. Brown, who married Mary Reeder, was for many years a practicing physician in this town and county. He afterwards moved to Indianapolis, where he filled the chair of natural science in Butler College, and was subsequently one of the faculty of the Indiana State Medical College.
* Loved Beauty and Nature -- Darwin Brown as he was commonly known as a boy rebelled against the routine and restraint of the school room, preferring to work out for himself his own theories of education and this he did largely with great thoroughness and varied knowledge of literature, he was a skilled chemist; a good botanist, and geologist. He had an intense love of nature and was familiar with all plants and trees of this region, as well as its birds and animal life. He had an intense love of beauty and at the beginning of his illness, when still able to walk about, looking over into the college campuses October morning, he said very earnestly; "This is a beautiful world; and I do not want to leave it."
** In politics -- Mr. Brown was an uncompromising republican, inheriting his political views also, from his father, who was one of the early abolition leaders of the state. Mr. Brown was elected clerk of the court by his party in 1876, and served two terms. He was well versed in the law and was, on this account, a great help to the young lawyers of the Crawfordsville bar. Of his election it may be said that, while he was staunchest of Republicanism what had been a strong Democratic country, many Democrats voted for him, both for his first term and when he was reelected. His efficiency is yet recalled by the older members of the bar, one of whom said recently that "he could put his hand instantly upon any paper of data which he was asked."
*Zealous Mason -- Mr. Brown was a zealous Mason. He joined the Crawfordsville lodge February 25, 1878; the chapter the following July; the council in October 1879, and the commandery, Feb. 28, 1899. He held the important post of master of lodge for six years, was high priest of the chapter for three years, thrice illustrious master of the state council, the highest office in that council. He was deeply interested in the construction of the temple here and was from the first in his daily life an exemplification of the tenets of the order.
Of his personal qualities it may be said of Mr. Brown that he was a man of fine and unvarying courtesy, genial generous both in his convictions and his charities. Of the family, one brother, Captain George R. Brown of Crawfordsville; Mrs. F.N. Johnson, also of this city, and Mrs. William H. Wiley of Terre Haute, survive, with the son and daughter above mentioned. The funeral will be held at the home of his niece's, the Misses Krout, 218 west College street on Saturday afternoon at half past two. Old friends and neighbors are asked, but otherwise it will be private. The burial will be at Oak Hill and will be private. Friends are requested not to send flowers.
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