WILLIAM BROWN – DEATH OF WILLIAM BROWN OF MARSHVILLE

[Welland Tribune, 2 April 1897]

The death of William Brown, merchant, of Marshville, removes from the county one of its most useful and best known citizens, and from the township of Wainfleet one who has been closely identified with its history for the past half century. Mr. Brown died in the early hours of Monday morning Mar. 29, of pneumonia, after an illness of about ten days. He has held many positions of trust in the gift of the people. His name has been prominently mentioned for parliamentary honors; He had been reeve of his township for very many years, was county-councillor for the Wainfleet-Pelham district at the time of his death, and would undoubtedly have been warden of the county had he lived until 1898. William Brown was born of Irish parents in Port Robinson on March 10^th, 1832. His parents died when he was but a child, and for some time he lived with the late Robert Lattimore, and later with Alexander Lattimore. At the age of 16 he was apprenticed to Issac Michener (now of Low Banks to learn the carpenter trade, but only worked at it a short time when he returned to Mr. Lattimore’s and was placed in charge of this business as confidential clerk for a number of years. During the Crimean war he kept hotel at Stromness, then called Broad Creek. Flour at that time was $10 a barrel, but it was well known that a needy person never applied in vain for a meal of a night’s lodging. About 35 years ago he bought the hotel at Marshville from John Aikens and kept it for 20 years. During the Scott act agitation in Welland, Mr. Foster, now Hon. Geo. E. Foster, and companions, while stumping the county in behalf of temperance, stopped the county in behalf of temperance, stopped at his hotel every night after speaking in Marshville the night before. In the morning they asked for their bill, and Mr. Brown replied:  “Nothing, gentlemen; you are engaged in good work and my house is free to you.” While in the hotel he also engaged extensively in lumbering and cordwood, shipping to Port Colborne and Buffalo largely. He bought tracks of land, lumbered them and sold the land, accumulating a great deal of money. He also farmed 100 acres of land in a block outside the village of Marshville, going quite extensively into stock. He has been a buyer of grain ever since the death of Edward Lee. In 1882 he sold out his hotel business and fitted up a general store, which is still successfully carried on under the management of his son-in-law, A.B. McLean. In 1883 he was elected reeve of Wainfleet, and has been re-elected annually ever since with the exception of three years during which the P.I’s held away. For 21 years he held the position of school trustee, and last January was elected county councillor by a large plurality. He had also held the position of postmaster since the death of Edward Lee. At the age of 28 Mr. Brown married Mrs. Sarah McCullough, sister of Mrs. Lattimore, who only survived three years, leaving no issue. Three years after his first wife’s death he married her half-sister, Mrs. Eliza A. Timbs, of Port Robinson, who still survives him; two daughters are also left-Mrs. A.B. Mclean of Marshville and Mrs. Geo. Anderson of St. Catharines-to mourn the loss of a loving father. Mr. Brown’s death is an irreparable loss to the family and a serious loss to the county. He was truly a self-made man, honorable in every walk of life, and a faithful public servant. He was esteemed by everyone, but those who knew him closest and best realize keenly the loss of a valued friend. About two years ago Mr. Brown was confirmed as a member of the English church, and the funeral was conducted by the rector, Rev. A. Bonny, on Wednesday last from Christ church. The rev. gentleman truly said that the life of William Brown needed no praise from him; the community in which he had lived so long knew him well, were bereaved as well as the family, and the whole people had turned out to pay their last mark of respect. The church was crowded to the doors, and still many were unable to get inside. The county council and county officials drove in a body to the funeral and preceded the casket, as follows: Warden Morris, County Councillors Cruickshank, Moore, Pew, Morden, Cronmiller, Steele, Sidey, and Upper; County Treasurer Hobson, County Clerk Cooper, County Solicitor Raymond, ex-Warden Macklem, Reeves Canby and Greenwood. The pall bearers were A.B. McLean, Geo. Anderson, R.F. Lattimore, W.H Lattimore, H.F. Wilson and Jacob Minor. Joseph Builuing was funeral director. Interment was made at Morgan’s cemetery, and the funeral procession covered fully half a mile. The attendance, was representative, and included prominent residents of the three counties, who had assembled to honor the memory of William Brown.