DEATH OF THOMAS BROWN
The death of Mr. Thomas Brown, which occurred at his residence,
Mill street, on Sunday morning at five o'clock removes one of the early pioneers of
Ingersoll. He has been in failing health for some time past but was only
confined to his bed for one week, death being due to obstruction of the bowels.
The late Thomas Brown has been closely identified with the interests of Ingersoll from its
earliest history, and has occupied perhaps every position of public trust within the gift
of his fellow citizens.
He has been honored and respected as a thououghly honorable and upright man in all
his dealings whether in a public or private capacity. He had exceeded the
allotted span of life by well nigh twenty years and in a few weeks would have passed
the 90th anniversary of his birth.
A more extended reference to his life will be given in THE
CHRONICLE tomorrow.
The funeral will take place from his late residence, Wednesday
afternoon at 3 o'clock.
OBITUARY - THOMAS BROWN
The late Thomas Brown, whose death was recorded in THE CHRONICLE
on Monday, was one of the few remaining pioneers, of the town of Ingersoll, who cast in his
lot here when the place was little more than a clearing in the forest, and who has watched
it develop into one of the most progressive towns in Canada. He was born in the
town of Seekouk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Dec. 11th, 1810, being the youngest son of
Oliver and Esther Brown. He received a district school education, farmed till
seventeen years of age, then went to Tioga County, N.Y., and learned the trade of tanner
and currier. In February 1853, he left the United States and came to Canada,
settling first in London, where he worked a few months at his trade. In November
of the same year he came to Ingersoll and purchased a tannery from Wm. Sherman, which he
has successfully conducted since that date. It well be seen that he has been a
resident of Ingersoll for almost sixty-six years, during which time he has contributed in
no small degree to the success and development of the town. He was a live an
stirring man, inclined to push business, public as well as private, and was a believer in
human progress. The stone and gravel roads leading into Ingersoll were among his
early pet measures, his sound judgment convincing him that if the town was to prosper
facilities for outside communication must be provided. He was president of the
Ingersoll and Port Burwell Road Co., and was a director of the Dereham and Ingersoll Road
Co.. He was one of the promoters of the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery Co., and was its
president for a number of years, occupying that position at the time of his death.
He was a director in the old Credit Valley Railway Company, and a promoter and director of
the Tilsonburg and Ingersoll Railway in 1874, but which project was abandoned owing the
construction of the Credit Valley Railway (now the C.P.R.).
The late Thomas Brown also took an active part in public
affairs and occupied the highest positions within the gift of the people. The
records of the town show that in 1853-4 he was the reeve of the town, and member of the
county council from 1856 to 1859 inclusive, he was the reeve and from 1880 to 1883,
inclusive he occupied the mayor's chair. In the seventies he conducted the old
Ingersoll foundry for some years when he sold it to John Russell. He was
prominently identifed with the Ingersoll Agricultural Society from its organization,
being for many years a director and serving as president for a lengthened period.
For every church built in Ingersoll he had a full and open
hand. He has helped many a young man to start in business, and has in some
cases, through kindness, lifted at the wheel for others to the serious detriment of his
own shoulders, always being disposed to help those who were trying to help themselves.
The late Mr. Brown was here during the troublous times of
1837, but being at that time an alien, he took no active part in the rebellion.
His father enlisted in the American army when a mere boy and served for some years in the
war for Independence, taking part in the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1855 the
name of Thomas Brown was proposed as the Liberal representative for South Oxford in the
Legislative Assembly, but holding an independent view of politics he declined the honor.
In October 1833 the subject of this sketch was married to
Miss Pauline M. Kingsbury, of Owego, N. Y., and of nine children springing from the union
only two are living - Mrs. (Dr.) Hoyt, and George K. Brown. There is also an
adopted daughter, Miss May Brown. Mrs. Brown died in 1890. For many
years the late Thomas Brown was a member of St. James' church, during which time he has
held various official positions. On Sunday the reading desk, lecturn, pulpit
and altar were draped in mourning out of respect to his memory. His familiar
form will be missed on our streets, and in his death the town of Ingersoll suffers a
distinct loss. His remains will be deposited in their last long resting place
on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, service being held at St. James' church.