Elijah P. (E.P.) Brown - story from his youth....

BETHANY UNION CHURCH ~ Crawford County, Indiana

The first known burial in this Cemetery was recorded as follows:

William F. M. BROWN, Infant son of Elisha and E. BROWN, born December 1, 1853, died September 10, 1854. This was near the meeting of the three roads at the top of the hill, one of which went south-west toward the Cross Roads School, one to the north-west toward Boston (now Eckerty) and the third which later became known as the Benham Mill Road past Mifflin.  In order to perpetuate these grounds, Elisha and wife deeded three quarter acres for burial purposes and three quarter acres for church purposes to the CHRISTIAN CHURCH for-ever-and-ever.
  On the grounds for church purposes was constructed a log building that was used for a number of years, having been used until it became too dilapidated for such purposes in about 1895.  At one of the last meetings at that place, Rev John BAGGERLY was conducting an all day meeting. It had rained and a young man, Elijah Peter "Pete" BROWN, decided that a log seat would be better if turned over, which he did with the result that a swarm of termites was stirred up, filling the room. People began to flee and Rev. BAGGERLY being surrounded by the flying creatures and they were flying into his mouth said: "There will be (blowing the ant out) church (blowing the ants out again) this afternoon  (blowing more ants out) at two o'clock" and made his way out without dismissing the congregation that was mostly out of the house. It became necessary to build a new church so a meeting was held at the Cross Roads School where a building committee composed in part DR. G. W. L. BROWN as Treasurer, George W. NEWTON as secretary and one other known member, Allen B. TUCKER. Trustees for the ground were George BLUNK, Silas LEONARD, and James A. "Jim" TUCKER. They leased the ground to a united group for a period of ninety-nine years.  While the following is not a complete list of those who contributed and built the new building yet these are yet known after fifty-six years:
Elijah PETER "Pete" BROWN furnished the poplar trees for which the siding was sawed. The trees were cut by John W. DENBO and Richard Absolum "Dick" KNIGHT.  

Transcribed verbatim from Mack Tucker’s, History Of Crawford County, IN. by C. V. Beringer

Brown Family - Meade Co., KY, Harrison Co., IN and Crawford Co., IN

Cynthia Anne Denbo Brown and Elijah P. Brown

I have been compiling newspaper articles regarding our Great, Great Grandfather Elijah P. Brown and will be posting transcribed copies of articles over the next several months.

Elijah's first wife, Cynthia Anne or Annie as she was known, was daughter to Joseph Denbo, Jr., the son of the Joseph Denbo mentioned in previous articles on my blog. Elijah and Annie's daughter, Daisy was our Great Grandmother.

When time permits I will post the family tree and a time line with information regarding Elijah, who was also known as Pete and referred to as E.P. Brown in newspaper articles. Here is the first of many articles I have found regarding Gr. Gr. Grandfather Brown:

Crawford County Democrat (English, IN) ~ September 16, 1897

-E.P. Brown- Treasurer of Crawford County

                Elijah P. Brown, elected in November of 1896 to the position of Treasurer of Crawford County, is the son of John F. Brown, one of the County’s earlier settlers and who died July 28, 1895. The subject of this sketch was born on his father’s farm in Jennings Township, Crawford County, December 1853. When a boy of seven years of age, his parents removed to Harrison County, Indiana, where he grew to young manhood, being engaged in farm pursuits. Young Brown found time to attend the public school and being of a studious nature, succeeded in acquiring a good English Education, which was rounded off at the Normal School at West Fork, Crawford County.

                In 1873 Mr. Brown’s parents removed to Meade County, KY, where our subject engaged at teaching school. He taught for seven consecutive terms, two of which were in schools of this county. In 1883 he again became a citizen of Crawford County and in 1890 was elected to the office of Township Trustee of Johnson Township, serving faithfully for a period of five years. Mr. Brown’s administration of the Treasurer’s office has been characterized by ability and efficiency. He has at all times attended strictly to his official duties. Mr. Brown is a popular citizen of English outside his official business. He owns a nice farm nine miles west of English.

                Mr. Brown has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married, April 1880,[1] was Miss Anna Denbo of Crawford County, whose death occurred in 1884[2]. By her, he had three children, only one now living[3]. His second wife was Miss Sarah Walls, of this county, who has born him four children[4]. It is pleasing to add in conclusion that in Mr. Brown the people of Crawford County have an honest, conscientious and painstaking public officer and that the Democratic Party find in him a zealous, active and effective worker in behalf of the principles the party advocates. As is customary, Mr. Brown is in line for re-nomination and no doubt exists as to being re-elected. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, having been admitted to the order when but twenty-one years of age. [i]

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[1] Elijah and Cynthia Anne Denbo were married, May 17, 1880

[2] Cynthia Anne – “Annie” died, June 3, 1886

[3] Our Great Grandmother, Daisy

[4] A total of 5 children, Lawrence, Phronia, Mamie and Orville – Arthur was born in 1906

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[i] Transcribed, February 1, 2015 – by C. Beringer