Brown - Thomas 1898 - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Last Saturday about breakfast time, Thomas Brown, a respected resident of Ripley Township, committed suicide at his home on the James Swearingen farm, four miles west of Yountsville.  Until a few weeks ago Mr. Brown lived on the Isaac Davis farm, near Wesley, and when he left there was thought by his relatives and friends to be slightly off. He had complained for some time of poor health and frequently remarked that a man who was sick might as well be dead. Last Saturday he went to the barn and took with him a revolver of the 32 caliber size. Very soon after he left the house a shot was heard and his family hastening to the spot found him quite dead. He had placed the muzzle of the weapon to his forehead and sent a bullet crashing through his brain. Death must have been instantaneous and he died without a struggle. Coroner Barcus was called at once and conducted an inquest in the afternoon. Mr. Brown was 48 years of age and was a son of John P. Brown, of Waynetown, and a nephew of Peter Brown, of the same place. He leaves a wife and several grown children. The family is a very excellent one and much sympathy is expressed for it in this sad affair.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Friday, 15 April, 1898

Last Saturday morning the people of this neighborhood were startled on learning that one of the leading citizens and neighbors had taken his life by a bullet from a 32 caliber revolver. Alonzo Thomas Brown was born in Waynetown, Nov. 16, 1848, and died April 9, 1898, aged 49 years, seven months and seven days. He joined the United Brethren Church in 1871. He married Mariah Booher, March 21, 1871, and to them was born six children, three sons and three daughters, Charles, William, Luella, Lonnie, Cora and Gertrude, all of whom are left to mourn with the mother, except Luella, who died Aug. 2, 1876.  The funeral services were conducted at the United Brethren Church in Waynetown Monday, April 11, by Rev. Cooper, of Illinois, who delivered a brief discourse eulogistic of the manly virtues of the deceased and replete with comfort to those bereaved. Being intimately acquainted with Mr. Brown he testified that he had recently expressed his belief in Christ and his trust in Him as a Savior. The very large attendance at the funeral attested better than words the esteem in which he was held in this community. The profound respect shown to his memory enforced the words of the officiating minister when he said, “I but speak the words which all present will sustain when I say there lies the form of an honest, conscientious man.” A. T. Brown in a life time of business transactions proved the inherent honesty of his nature. It has been said that consistent fairness in business relations nowadays is a rarity. If so, Mr. Brown was a rare man in that relation. Those who knew him best know that he sacrificed many an opportunity to enrich himself to his stern sense of duty and justice. If “an honest man is the noblest work of God” nobility was his attribute. In an age of reputed venality he kept his soul white with honor. A valiant soul lived in the small body of this man. He was of that noble company who never give up the ship until it goes down beneath their feet. He suffered many vicissitudes in business, but none of them could deter him from further effort. Mr. Brown has passed from all earthly cares into a land of sweet repose and loving forget me nots, there to bask in the beautiful light of a Savior’s love.  The pall bearers were James Ingersoll, George K. Fruits, Henry Thompson, Ambrose Fruits, Willard Taylor, Noah Fruits, James Galloway, and Wallace McClure.