Thank you to Cousin Linda for finding the articles for me!
Please note that though the gravestone lists the date of death as January 14, the death certificate and obituary show that he died on January 15.
Cedar County Republican, January 18, 1912
"OLDEST MAN IN CEDAR COUNTY DIED SUNDAY
Wm. Brown, aged 102 years, 5 months and several days, died at his home in Benton Township Sunday. He had been in exceptional good health until a few years ago when he was thrown from a horse."
Cedar County Republican, August 19, 1909
"ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD- TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE CELEBRATE UNCLE BILLY BROWN'S BIRTHDAY
On Sunday August 15, 1909 almost 200 relatives and friends of William Brown better known as "Uncle Billy" Brown gathered with well filled baskets at his home on his farm 4 miles east of Jerico Springs MO for the purpose of celebrating his 100th birthday. After having greeted "Uncle Billy" who was feeling pretty well, the task of the spreading on a hastily constructed table which was about 40 ft in length one of the best dinners, seemingly, could be prepared. The table groaning beneath the enormous weight of the luxuries and toothsome articles that the season could afford represented a beautiful sight indeed. "Uncle Billy", his six sons and one daughter with the table were photographed, also a separate photograph was taken of all the people present or as many of them that could be assembled for that purpose. When all had gathered around the table, Rev. Matt Crisp was called upon to return thanks to which he responded in language which was surely appropriate for the occasion after which fully one hour was consumed in the partaking of the good old Missouri birthday dinner.
Dinner being over, speeches were delivered by Matt Crisp, J.W. Potts, Jas. Cox and Jno. O. Welsh, paying tribute to "Uncle Billy" and his family, also off the advancement that has been made in the last one hundred years in the mode of traveling, tilling the soil and the way of living.
The history of the past life of Uncle Billy as given to me by himself is as follows: 'I was born in the year of 1809, August 15th in Winchester Monroe County West Virginia. At the age of 13 years I went to Wheeling, same state, served as engineer on a steamboat for 19 years on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. I then moved to Florence for almost 23 years. In 1862 I enlisted in the Union army as artilleryman under Capt. Hitchcock and was discharged in 1863.
In 1868 I moved to MO and settled near Greenfield Dade County and engaged in stock raising. 1871 I came to Cedar County settling near where I now live. I joined the Christian Church at the age of 50 years. Was married in Illinois in the year of 1844 to Harriett Drew and had born to us ten children, six sons and four daughters, two of the daughters are dead. My sons H.C., Geo. W, J.J.H., Benj. and Lee also one daughter Jennie Achord live in Cedar County, son Chas. in Dade County, near Greenfield. My youngest child a daughter Ida Barnes lives in Handley Sasc., Canada. I have 24 grand children and 14 great grand children living. My wife died in August 1895 and since that time I have made my home with my sons. My general health during my past life until recent years, has been good. I feel pretty well today. My eye sight is bad but I can see my way tolerably well. I can walk to my son Benny's farm 3-4 mile distance. I feel very grateful for the respect the people has shown me here today in celebrating my 100th birthday.'
After bidding Uncle Billy goodbye and wishing him many more just such birthdays the people parted for their respective homes. BY ONE PRESENT"
Please note that though the gravestone lists the date of death as January 14, the death certificate and obituary show that he died on January 15.
Cedar County Republican, January 18, 1912
"OLDEST MAN IN CEDAR COUNTY DIED SUNDAY
Wm. Brown, aged 102 years, 5 months and several days, died at his home in Benton Township Sunday. He had been in exceptional good health until a few years ago when he was thrown from a horse."
Cedar County Republican, August 19, 1909
"ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD- TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE CELEBRATE UNCLE BILLY BROWN'S BIRTHDAY
On Sunday August 15, 1909 almost 200 relatives and friends of William Brown better known as "Uncle Billy" Brown gathered with well filled baskets at his home on his farm 4 miles east of Jerico Springs MO for the purpose of celebrating his 100th birthday. After having greeted "Uncle Billy" who was feeling pretty well, the task of the spreading on a hastily constructed table which was about 40 ft in length one of the best dinners, seemingly, could be prepared. The table groaning beneath the enormous weight of the luxuries and toothsome articles that the season could afford represented a beautiful sight indeed. "Uncle Billy", his six sons and one daughter with the table were photographed, also a separate photograph was taken of all the people present or as many of them that could be assembled for that purpose. When all had gathered around the table, Rev. Matt Crisp was called upon to return thanks to which he responded in language which was surely appropriate for the occasion after which fully one hour was consumed in the partaking of the good old Missouri birthday dinner.
Dinner being over, speeches were delivered by Matt Crisp, J.W. Potts, Jas. Cox and Jno. O. Welsh, paying tribute to "Uncle Billy" and his family, also off the advancement that has been made in the last one hundred years in the mode of traveling, tilling the soil and the way of living.
The history of the past life of Uncle Billy as given to me by himself is as follows: 'I was born in the year of 1809, August 15th in Winchester Monroe County West Virginia. At the age of 13 years I went to Wheeling, same state, served as engineer on a steamboat for 19 years on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. I then moved to Florence for almost 23 years. In 1862 I enlisted in the Union army as artilleryman under Capt. Hitchcock and was discharged in 1863.
In 1868 I moved to MO and settled near Greenfield Dade County and engaged in stock raising. 1871 I came to Cedar County settling near where I now live. I joined the Christian Church at the age of 50 years. Was married in Illinois in the year of 1844 to Harriett Drew and had born to us ten children, six sons and four daughters, two of the daughters are dead. My sons H.C., Geo. W, J.J.H., Benj. and Lee also one daughter Jennie Achord live in Cedar County, son Chas. in Dade County, near Greenfield. My youngest child a daughter Ida Barnes lives in Handley Sasc., Canada. I have 24 grand children and 14 great grand children living. My wife died in August 1895 and since that time I have made my home with my sons. My general health during my past life until recent years, has been good. I feel pretty well today. My eye sight is bad but I can see my way tolerably well. I can walk to my son Benny's farm 3-4 mile distance. I feel very grateful for the respect the people has shown me here today in celebrating my 100th birthday.'
After bidding Uncle Billy goodbye and wishing him many more just such birthdays the people parted for their respective homes. BY ONE PRESENT"
Thank you to Cousin Linda for finding the articles for me!
Please note that though the gravestone lists the date of death as January 14, the death certificate and obituary show that he died on January 15.
Cedar County Republican, January 18, 1912
"OLDEST MAN IN CEDAR COUNTY DIED SUNDAY
Wm. Brown, aged 102 years, 5 months and several days, died at his home in Benton Township Sunday. He had been in exceptional good health until a few years ago when he was thrown from a horse."
Cedar County Republican, August 19, 1909
"ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD- TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE CELEBRATE UNCLE BILLY BROWN'S BIRTHDAY
On Sunday August 15, 1909 almost 200 relatives and friends of William Brown better known as "Uncle Billy" Brown gathered with well filled baskets at his home on his farm 4 miles east of Jerico Springs MO for the purpose of celebrating his 100th birthday. After having greeted "Uncle Billy" who was feeling pretty well, the task of the spreading on a hastily constructed table which was about 40 ft in length one of the best dinners, seemingly, could be prepared. The table groaning beneath the enormous weight of the luxuries and toothsome articles that the season could afford represented a beautiful sight indeed. "Uncle Billy", his six sons and one daughter with the table were photographed, also a separate photograph was taken of all the people present or as many of them that could be assembled for that purpose. When all had gathered around the table, Rev. Matt Crisp was called upon to return thanks to which he responded in language which was surely appropriate for the occasion after which fully one hour was consumed in the partaking of the good old Missouri birthday dinner.
Dinner being over, speeches were delivered by Matt Crisp, J.W. Potts, Jas. Cox and Jno. O. Welsh, paying tribute to "Uncle Billy" and his family, also off the advancement that has been made in the last one hundred years in the mode of traveling, tilling the soil and the way of living.
The history of the past life of Uncle Billy as given to me by himself is as follows: 'I was born in the year of 1809, August 15th in Winchester Monroe County West Virginia. At the age of 13 years I went to Wheeling, same state, served as engineer on a steamboat for 19 years on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. I then moved to Florence for almost 23 years. In 1862 I enlisted in the Union army as artilleryman under Capt. Hitchcock and was discharged in 1863.
In 1868 I moved to MO and settled near Greenfield Dade County and engaged in stock raising. 1871 I came to Cedar County settling near where I now live. I joined the Christian Church at the age of 50 years. Was married in Illinois in the year of 1844 to Harriett Drew and had born to us ten children, six sons and four daughters, two of the daughters are dead. My sons H.C., Geo. W, J.J.H., Benj. and Lee also one daughter Jennie Achord live in Cedar County, son Chas. in Dade County, near Greenfield. My youngest child a daughter Ida Barnes lives in Handley Sasc., Canada. I have 24 grand children and 14 great grand children living. My wife died in August 1895 and since that time I have made my home with my sons. My general health during my past life until recent years, has been good. I feel pretty well today. My eye sight is bad but I can see my way tolerably well. I can walk to my son Benny's farm 3-4 mile distance. I feel very grateful for the respect the people has shown me here today in celebrating my 100th birthday.'
After bidding Uncle Billy goodbye and wishing him many more just such birthdays the people parted for their respective homes. BY ONE PRESENT"
Please note that though the gravestone lists the date of death as January 14, the death certificate and obituary show that he died on January 15.
Cedar County Republican, January 18, 1912
"OLDEST MAN IN CEDAR COUNTY DIED SUNDAY
Wm. Brown, aged 102 years, 5 months and several days, died at his home in Benton Township Sunday. He had been in exceptional good health until a few years ago when he was thrown from a horse."
Cedar County Republican, August 19, 1909
"ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD- TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE CELEBRATE UNCLE BILLY BROWN'S BIRTHDAY
On Sunday August 15, 1909 almost 200 relatives and friends of William Brown better known as "Uncle Billy" Brown gathered with well filled baskets at his home on his farm 4 miles east of Jerico Springs MO for the purpose of celebrating his 100th birthday. After having greeted "Uncle Billy" who was feeling pretty well, the task of the spreading on a hastily constructed table which was about 40 ft in length one of the best dinners, seemingly, could be prepared. The table groaning beneath the enormous weight of the luxuries and toothsome articles that the season could afford represented a beautiful sight indeed. "Uncle Billy", his six sons and one daughter with the table were photographed, also a separate photograph was taken of all the people present or as many of them that could be assembled for that purpose. When all had gathered around the table, Rev. Matt Crisp was called upon to return thanks to which he responded in language which was surely appropriate for the occasion after which fully one hour was consumed in the partaking of the good old Missouri birthday dinner.
Dinner being over, speeches were delivered by Matt Crisp, J.W. Potts, Jas. Cox and Jno. O. Welsh, paying tribute to "Uncle Billy" and his family, also off the advancement that has been made in the last one hundred years in the mode of traveling, tilling the soil and the way of living.
The history of the past life of Uncle Billy as given to me by himself is as follows: 'I was born in the year of 1809, August 15th in Winchester Monroe County West Virginia. At the age of 13 years I went to Wheeling, same state, served as engineer on a steamboat for 19 years on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. I then moved to Florence for almost 23 years. In 1862 I enlisted in the Union army as artilleryman under Capt. Hitchcock and was discharged in 1863.
In 1868 I moved to MO and settled near Greenfield Dade County and engaged in stock raising. 1871 I came to Cedar County settling near where I now live. I joined the Christian Church at the age of 50 years. Was married in Illinois in the year of 1844 to Harriett Drew and had born to us ten children, six sons and four daughters, two of the daughters are dead. My sons H.C., Geo. W, J.J.H., Benj. and Lee also one daughter Jennie Achord live in Cedar County, son Chas. in Dade County, near Greenfield. My youngest child a daughter Ida Barnes lives in Handley Sasc., Canada. I have 24 grand children and 14 great grand children living. My wife died in August 1895 and since that time I have made my home with my sons. My general health during my past life until recent years, has been good. I feel pretty well today. My eye sight is bad but I can see my way tolerably well. I can walk to my son Benny's farm 3-4 mile distance. I feel very grateful for the respect the people has shown me here today in celebrating my 100th birthday.'
After bidding Uncle Billy goodbye and wishing him many more just such birthdays the people parted for their respective homes. BY ONE PRESENT"
