Front page newstory in the Gainesville Daily Register of August 12, 1938 telling of my great grandfather's death.
'UNCLE BILLY' BROWN, AGE 97, PIONEER CITIZEN
OF GAINESVILLE, IS DEAD
William C. (Uncle Billy) Brown , who would have been 98 years old next November 18, and one of the most beloved pioneer citizens of Cooke County, passed away at his home on South Taylor street at 8:15 o'clock Friday morning.
The body of Mr. Brown, one of the few surviving Confederate veterans of Cooke County will lie in state at the funeral home of George & Son on Lindsay until 8:30 Saturday morning, at which time it will be taken to the Whaley Memorial Methodist Church, where it will repose in state until funeral services begin at 10:00 o'clock.
When he was nine years old Mr. Brown moved with his parents to Unionville, Tennessee where he lived until the beginning of the Civil War. He joined the Confederate Army when he was 20 years old. He married Miss Callie Hoover in Tennessee in April 1863. They came to Texas in 1880 and settled a short distance from Gainesville. They then moved to Gainesville where they lived for 35 years. Mr. Brown was employed in the hardware business and retired from business 19 years ago.
He possessed a jovial disposition and was always happy when recounting his experiences in the war. Upon the observance of his 94th birthday in 1934, Mr. Brown reminisced for a Daily Register reporter, and the following quotations are taken from that interview:
"There were just six of the old Tennessee company left when we surrendered with Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse" Mr. Brown declared. "I was one of the first to enlist in the army when the governor of Tennessee called for volunteers in April 1861" he repeated proudly."All of the original company of six who were discharged at the end of the war are dead now" Mr. Brown said sadly. He reports that he never missed a battle, was wounded but was never sick or in the hospital.
The activities and appearance of Sgt Major W. C. Brown belied his advanced age.Though rheumatism in his legs necessitated the use of two canes when he walked, he was a familiar figure as he drove his open automobile on the streets of Gainesville. He was widely known and universally loved. -30-
One of the many stories told about "Uncle Billy" was about the day he was driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Gainesville. An officer who knew him well stopped him and told him that he was on a one-way street. Uncle Billy replied, "Well hell, I'm just going one way".
'UNCLE BILLY' BROWN, AGE 97, PIONEER CITIZEN
OF GAINESVILLE, IS DEAD
William C. (Uncle Billy) Brown , who would have been 98 years old next November 18, and one of the most beloved pioneer citizens of Cooke County, passed away at his home on South Taylor street at 8:15 o'clock Friday morning.
The body of Mr. Brown, one of the few surviving Confederate veterans of Cooke County will lie in state at the funeral home of George & Son on Lindsay until 8:30 Saturday morning, at which time it will be taken to the Whaley Memorial Methodist Church, where it will repose in state until funeral services begin at 10:00 o'clock.
When he was nine years old Mr. Brown moved with his parents to Unionville, Tennessee where he lived until the beginning of the Civil War. He joined the Confederate Army when he was 20 years old. He married Miss Callie Hoover in Tennessee in April 1863. They came to Texas in 1880 and settled a short distance from Gainesville. They then moved to Gainesville where they lived for 35 years. Mr. Brown was employed in the hardware business and retired from business 19 years ago.
He possessed a jovial disposition and was always happy when recounting his experiences in the war. Upon the observance of his 94th birthday in 1934, Mr. Brown reminisced for a Daily Register reporter, and the following quotations are taken from that interview:
"There were just six of the old Tennessee company left when we surrendered with Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse" Mr. Brown declared. "I was one of the first to enlist in the army when the governor of Tennessee called for volunteers in April 1861" he repeated proudly."All of the original company of six who were discharged at the end of the war are dead now" Mr. Brown said sadly. He reports that he never missed a battle, was wounded but was never sick or in the hospital.
The activities and appearance of Sgt Major W. C. Brown belied his advanced age.Though rheumatism in his legs necessitated the use of two canes when he walked, he was a familiar figure as he drove his open automobile on the streets of Gainesville. He was widely known and universally loved. -30-
One of the many stories told about "Uncle Billy" was about the day he was driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Gainesville. An officer who knew him well stopped him and told him that he was on a one-way street. Uncle Billy replied, "Well hell, I'm just going one way".
Front page newstory in the Gainesville Daily Register of August 12, 1938 telling of my great grandfather's death.
'UNCLE BILLY' BROWN, AGE 97, PIONEER CITIZEN
OF GAINESVILLE, IS DEAD
William C. (Uncle Billy) Brown , who would have been 98 years old next November 18, and one of the most beloved pioneer citizens of Cooke County, passed away at his home on South Taylor street at 8:15 o'clock Friday morning.
The body of Mr. Brown, one of the few surviving Confederate veterans of Cooke County will lie in state at the funeral home of George & Son on Lindsay until 8:30 Saturday morning, at which time it will be taken to the Whaley Memorial Methodist Church, where it will repose in state until funeral services begin at 10:00 o'clock.
When he was nine years old Mr. Brown moved with his parents to Unionville, Tennessee where he lived until the beginning of the Civil War. He joined the Confederate Army when he was 20 years old. He married Miss Callie Hoover in Tennessee in April 1863. They came to Texas in 1880 and settled a short distance from Gainesville. They then moved to Gainesville where they lived for 35 years. Mr. Brown was employed in the hardware business and retired from business 19 years ago.
He possessed a jovial disposition and was always happy when recounting his experiences in the war. Upon the observance of his 94th birthday in 1934, Mr. Brown reminisced for a Daily Register reporter, and the following quotations are taken from that interview:
"There were just six of the old Tennessee company left when we surrendered with Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse" Mr. Brown declared. "I was one of the first to enlist in the army when the governor of Tennessee called for volunteers in April 1861" he repeated proudly."All of the original company of six who were discharged at the end of the war are dead now" Mr. Brown said sadly. He reports that he never missed a battle, was wounded but was never sick or in the hospital.
The activities and appearance of Sgt Major W. C. Brown belied his advanced age.Though rheumatism in his legs necessitated the use of two canes when he walked, he was a familiar figure as he drove his open automobile on the streets of Gainesville. He was widely known and universally loved. -30-
One of the many stories told about "Uncle Billy" was about the day he was driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Gainesville. An officer who knew him well stopped him and told him that he was on a one-way street. Uncle Billy replied, "Well hell, I'm just going one way".
'UNCLE BILLY' BROWN, AGE 97, PIONEER CITIZEN
OF GAINESVILLE, IS DEAD
William C. (Uncle Billy) Brown , who would have been 98 years old next November 18, and one of the most beloved pioneer citizens of Cooke County, passed away at his home on South Taylor street at 8:15 o'clock Friday morning.
The body of Mr. Brown, one of the few surviving Confederate veterans of Cooke County will lie in state at the funeral home of George & Son on Lindsay until 8:30 Saturday morning, at which time it will be taken to the Whaley Memorial Methodist Church, where it will repose in state until funeral services begin at 10:00 o'clock.
When he was nine years old Mr. Brown moved with his parents to Unionville, Tennessee where he lived until the beginning of the Civil War. He joined the Confederate Army when he was 20 years old. He married Miss Callie Hoover in Tennessee in April 1863. They came to Texas in 1880 and settled a short distance from Gainesville. They then moved to Gainesville where they lived for 35 years. Mr. Brown was employed in the hardware business and retired from business 19 years ago.
He possessed a jovial disposition and was always happy when recounting his experiences in the war. Upon the observance of his 94th birthday in 1934, Mr. Brown reminisced for a Daily Register reporter, and the following quotations are taken from that interview:
"There were just six of the old Tennessee company left when we surrendered with Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse" Mr. Brown declared. "I was one of the first to enlist in the army when the governor of Tennessee called for volunteers in April 1861" he repeated proudly."All of the original company of six who were discharged at the end of the war are dead now" Mr. Brown said sadly. He reports that he never missed a battle, was wounded but was never sick or in the hospital.
The activities and appearance of Sgt Major W. C. Brown belied his advanced age.Though rheumatism in his legs necessitated the use of two canes when he walked, he was a familiar figure as he drove his open automobile on the streets of Gainesville. He was widely known and universally loved. -30-
One of the many stories told about "Uncle Billy" was about the day he was driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Gainesville. An officer who knew him well stopped him and told him that he was on a one-way street. Uncle Billy replied, "Well hell, I'm just going one way".
Inscription
AT REST
Family Members
Siblings
