LIFE SKETCH OF
WILLIAM HENRY BROWN
1871 — 1923

In a beautiful little village called Alpine [Utah], nestled close to the mountain in a nook all by itself, William Henry Brown was born an the 11th day of September 1871

He was the oldest child of William Thomas Brown and Theodocia Preston Brown.

At left; William Henry and Emily Charlotte Borgeson Brown at their wedding

The home in which he was born was a two roomed white adobe house on the main street of Alpine. About a rod from the front of the house ran a bubbling brook clear as crystal.

When William was about 3 months old he suffered with a severe case of erysipelas in his head and face, For weeks the fond mother and father watched over their suffering child day and night. His condition did not seem to improve, so the Elders were called in to administer to him. These brethren were Samuel, Joseph, and William Bateman. George Hackett Jr. a small nephew of Joseph Bateman accompanied the brethren on their visit. Little George noted the tear stained sad faces of the baby's parents. He turned to William Thomas Brown and said, “Don't feel bad Brother Brown, your boy will live and he will be as big a man as Uncle Joseph.” The child's prophecy was literally fulfilled.

As time went on the subject of our sketch grew as any normal child grows. When Billy, as he was called was about two and one half years old, a baby brother arrived at the home. He was named James Whitmore Brown born 4 Mar 1874, died 26 Jan 1931.

Billy and Jim grew up very kind and affectionate with one another. Billy was of a more retiring nature than Jim, and felt very proud of his brother's achievements.

When Billy was old enough to assume responsibilities of any kind,, he assisted his father with chores and with farm work. The farm was situated about 2 miles south from the home.

Billy often told of his kind loving mother. Sometimes he and Jim would play their boyish pranks an her. One day they had run away from the home several times to play with other children. The mother warned them that if they ran away any more, she would surely tie them up like runaway horses. The next morning the boys, thinking their mother would not execute her threat, strayed off again. When they came home, their mother, true to her promise, had two long ropes ready, and tied the boys up. There were 2 apple trees in front of the house. They were tied to each their tree so their hands could just touch each other.

The youngsters thought this great sport and ran and whinnied like horses, After while this became tiresome, so they sat down thinking they would be released in a short time, The time went on and on, and finally when noon came, their mother brought out lunches she had prepared for them. About an hour later she released them. They learned a lesson they never forgot.

Billy's education started when he was 8 years old. He was also baptized and confirmed on his 8th birthday. By this time there was another member in the family, This was a girl. Her name was Minnie Maria, born 19 Aug 1880.

The first teacher Bill had was Elsie Edge Booth, a mother of the late Judge John E. Booth, Attorney A. L. Booth and May, the wife of Apostle Talmadge.

The old school house is now used as a city hall in Alpine., The furniture consisted of crude benches.

At this time Billy lived on the farm in a home that had been built there about 3 years previous, This gave the two brothers plenty of walking.

The parents always instructed their children to never indulge in fighting with other boys. In those days the same as has always been, there was one bully who challenged them daily for a fight. For several days they told their father of the annoyances from this bully. Then the father said "Go to Him, and if you don't whip him, I'll whip you. The next day he challenged them again. Billy got Jim to hold his books while he gave the other boy a genuine good thrashing, after which they became lifelong friends, When William was twelve years old another brother named Isaac Houston came. Following the birth of this child his mother suffered with blood poison. Both mother and child passed away. The Mother on 31 Dec 1883. Little Isaac Houston was born 6 Dec 1883, and died 24 Dec 1883.

Little Minnie was taken to the home of their Aunt Minnie Grant. She had never been blessed with a baby of her own, so she was very desirous of raising little Minnie. The boys and their father kept house for themselves as best they could until the father won the hand of Alice Healy. They were married in the Logan Temple 11 March 1885.

To Billy's father and Alice was born one son his name was Richard H. born 27 Feb 1886. He died 7 September 1886.

This was a second mother snatched away, leaving the family very sad indeed,, as Alice proved to be a wonderfully sweet and sympathetic mother to the boys .

For some years the father and 2 sons battled life together. It seemed as if their home was not to be blessed with a wife and mother. As time rolled on the father became very lonely, and the third marriage was to Martha Eldredge Jackson, a widow with 3 children.

The two families thus united, resided for several years in the town at Alpine, by now there was an additional room at the back, and the 2 upstairs rooms were fixed up for bedroom .

To William Thomas and Martha Brown were born 2 daughters, Julia Ania born August 19, 1887 and Emma Arline born 27 Nov 1891. As In many instances it was very difficult for the mixed families to adjust themselves to one another. For a time Martha Brown and children lived in Mrs. Brown's home at American Fork. Before this however Jim was married, and Billy spent most of his time away at work.

During this time Billy's father had an opportunity to buy a small herd of sheep from his brother in law. The money was secured with which to purchase the sheep, and the father and 2 sons went into business together. All went well for a time, and all three made good. However, they dissolved partnership and each went in business for himself.

During the years after Billy reached manhood his life was not altogether lacking in romance. He was handsome looking and had a pleasing personality, therefore had plenty of chance to court the young ladies. Although he was engaged a number of times, he did not marry until later in life. The time came when Billy's father and his wife Martha decided to live together in her home at American Fork. Billy then sold a herd of sheep and with the money he purchased a twenty-six acre farm and the old Brown home in Alpine. Soon after this transaction, a very important event took place, one of the town school teachers was a young lady from Santaquin. She with another lady teacher boarded and roomed with Mr. and Mrs. Martie Hansen old friends of Billy. Several times the Hansen's would try to tease Miss Borgeson about Billy Brown and jestingly she dared them to make him acquainted with her.

One evening Leonard Bates brought Billy with him to Hansens as he had just returned from the sheep herd where he had been for some time, and as there was no barber shop in Alpine at that time Billy had a very thick crop of whiskers. He was very clean and well dressed, but oh the whiskers. The evening was spent in social chat and a game or two of cards after which Billy and Leonard left. A few days later he took Miss Borgeson to the train in his beautiful rubber tired buggy. It was a different Billy this time all shaved and dressed right up to date. She visited with her folks a couple of days and when she returned Billy came to the train to meet her and take her back to Alpine. He had purchased an expensive box of candy and treated her wonderfully, but she was rather stiff and snobbish with him. When they arrived at Mrs. Hansens she started toward the house with a cold thank you and good day. Mrs. Hansen called to him to come back and dine with them that evening. At first he promised he would but later came and offered an apology, saying he had to make a trip elsewhere that evening. Of course this was an excuse. He had to show this young lady he would not hang around where he was not wanted. He went back to the sheep herd and the young lady continued with her school teaching. Occasionally she would think of him and admire him for the backbone he exhibited in leaving her alone. In the summer of 1906, the Ringling Brothers brought a circus to Provo. Billy went and after the parade, whom should he meet but Emily Borgeson, and her sister Nettie. He was very cordial in his greeting, and offered to take the sisters to dinner etc., but Emily refused to go with him and still held herself aloof from him. After this meeting in Provo, he was heartsick. He made it a matter of prayer that Emily's heart would be softened toward him that he would yet be able to win her for his wife.

The balance of the summer passed and nearly all the winter gone before he saw her again. By this time she had gained the utmost respect for him, as he had shown himself a gentleman in every respect. She was very friendly with him, and they spent a great deal of time together attending dancing parties, and going for buggy rides. He treated her royally everywhere. By the time school was out, they were engaged and on the 22nd day of July 1907, William Henry Brown was married to Emily Charlotte Borgeson in the City and County Building in Salt Lake City.

The following day the couple accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Brown, their daughter Ella and grandson Ellwood took a trip to American Fork Canyon for a week. At the end of this time they fixed up the home in Alpine with $450.00 worth of beautiful new furniture. Previous to the marriage Billy had improved the house and built a new fence at the front. As soon as the couple was established in their own home, they treated the townsfolk to a free dance, as was customary at that time, Mrs, Brown's mother, Mrs. Necoline Borgeson attended the dance, and also spent the first few days with the couple in their own home.

The couple took a prominent part in Alpine socially, and they were very happy. Billy was of a proud nature and always sought to improve conditions. Sometimes he ventured unwisely and lost as he did when he sold a herd of sheep and bought an expensive home in American Fork. Through business reverses, they moved back to Alpine.

The year before this, however, Billy sent for his wife to join him at the sheep camp on the summer range above Colton. They spent a most delightful summer there together among the pines, and wonders of nature.

On the third day of September 1910, a son came to gladden the hearts of Bill and Emily. Never was there a more happy home than this. The son was named Whitmore Halvor Brown. Bill would always call him "Papa's boss."

Soon after the arrival of the baby, Emily was stricken down very often with gallstone trouble, which became so serious that an operation was necessary. When all present gave her up to die, Billy plead with her not to die, and leave him along with his little boy. An operation was performed on her on the first day of August 1912. With the love and tender care Billy bestowed on his wife, and with the loving service of her sister, Nettie, she was restored to health again. After this financial worries bothered him most of all.

In the autumn of 1913, the couple lost all their earthly possessions, home and all. It was a very bitter pill, but they were drawn closer together in spite of it all. They were determined not to give up. They had one another and they had their child. So they moved into a small home belonging to Thomas W. Brown, and lived there until spring. They then moved to American Fork.

To then on Sept 29, 1916, was born a beautiful daughter, Julia Romania Brown. Early the next spring, Billy got work at Midvale, and moved his family there. After a few months, they moved to Salt Lake City where he worked for about one year, thence back to Midvale.

As the rent was very high at Midvale, they moved to Sandy. A week later his wife met with an accident and broke her arm. She had not fully regained her strength after a very bad case of influenza. Three weeks later, their son, Stanford William, was born. This was on the 13^th of Feb. 1919. Help was very hard to get at this time. Emily's sister, Jenny, in her kindness of heart was an angel of mercy. Besides taking care of her own family, and she in delicate health, she did all she could to help her sister in distress. With Billy as cook, and Jenny as nurse, all went well.

In the autumn of 1920, Billy and family moved into a home they ventured to buy on the installment plan. By living economically, they managed to get along nicely on his wages, and paid $20 per month on the home. He was very happy in the hopes owning a home for his family. He often expressed regret at having made mistakes in business deals, that robbed the wife of comforts she could otherwise have had. Many a time he admired her for her loyalty to him in poverty.

Many pleasant hours were spent in associations with sister Jenny and family. In the winter of 1920, Billy met with an accident while at work. He was in the ore bin and as he used a pick to loosen some ore a whole wall of it caved in on him. It took the whole force of men on that shift two hours to get him out. On of the men said afterward it was one of the biggest miracles he had witnessed. Billy escaped without a broken limb or serious injury. Of course, he was bruised and sore for a week or more.

On the 10^th of February 1922, a new son was born in the family, Gerald LaMar, a fine thirteen pound baby. The following summer, Emily suffered much with gerincy (??) and with rheumatism, so Billy was Chief Cook most of the summer. By the way, he was very apt in the fine [art] of preparing food. In the fall of that year, he felt his own health failing him, so he decided to quit work at the smelter, and work with sheep.

In January of 1923, he came home a very sick man. The doctor advised him to take a complete rest, as he had Bright's Disease, and also high blood pressure. He was very uneasy, however, as he sensed the responsibility of a family on his shoulders. Many days he ventured to work when his wife thought he would not live through the day. She offered to find work and make what she could to keep the wolf from the door, but he would not listen to it.

On April 23, when he bid sister Jenny good-bye before leaving to go to the sheep herd to work, he little thought he would meet her on the other side in less than three weeks. The two had comforted each other for many months, as they both were afflicted. He was not entirely bedfast, so as soon as school was out, and Halvor was home to care for the smaller ones, Billy would suggest to his wife that they take a walk to see Jenny and other sick friends down the line. As they would walk along the track together, he would often squeeze her hand and say beautiful things to her. He was a lover until the day he died.

On the seventh day of May, 1923, his father and brother-in-law brought him to Sandy a very sick man. He was suffering from hemorrhage. The doctors and wife did all that could be done, but he kept steadily sinking, ... [missing page(s)??]

children, his aged father, and three of his wife's sisters,

On the 15^th of May 1923, after services in the First Ward chapel at Sandy, his remains were taken to Santaquin, Utah where, after short services at the graveside, he was laid away.

Three years later, his wife lovingly composed these lines:

Memories of One We Love

It is three long years today, dear
Since your spirit took its flight,
Many a time you have hovered near
When my life seemed the blackest night.

You live in our memories Daily,
Very often we think of your wit,
Our children your jokes will tell gaily,
And say, “It's the truth every bit.”