Family Group Sheet
NameWilliam “Willie” M. Brown
Birth26 Jan 1891, Eadston, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death30 Sep 1964, Rowan Co., Kentucky
BurialSardis Cemetery, Cranston, Rowan Co., Ky
FatherNicholas Brown (1870-1965)
MotherMaggie Ruggles (1874-1917)
Marriage1911
SpouseKatie S. Blanton
Birth15 Aug 1895, Cranston, Rowan Co, Kentucky
Death15 Jun 1976, Rowan Co., Kentucky
BurialSardis Cemetery, Cranston, Rowan Co., Ky
FatherLafayette “Lafe” A. Blanton (1868-1957)
MotherNancy Littleton (~1863-1919)
Children
1 FSarah E. Brown (Died as Infant)
Birth25 Oct 1911, Cranston, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death25 Oct 1911, Cranston, Rowan Co., Kentucky
2 MCharles Finley Brown (Died as Infant)
Birth13 Apr 1913, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death7 Jul 1914, Cranston, Rowan Co., Kentucky
3 FOlga Hazel Brown (Died as Infant)
Birth28 May 1915, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death16 Sep 1916, Rowan Co., Kentucky
4 MDelmer A. Brown (Died as Infant)
Birth9 Sep 1917, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death30 Mar 1918, Chimville, Greenup Co., Kentucky
Birth14 Apr 1922, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death11 Nov 1987, Morehead, Rowan Co., Kentucky
6 FEva L. Brown
Birth3 Mar 1925, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Birth15 Oct 1926, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death27 Jan 2005, Melbourne, Brevard Co., Florida
9 MRoy Lee Brown (Data Omitted for Privacy)*
10 FEdna June Brown (Data Omitted for Privacy)*
11 FOlive Wandalene Brown (Died as Infant)
Birth28 Aug 1936, Hilda, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death20 Sep 1937, Hilda, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Notes for William “Willie” M. Brown
Willie is probably not really a son of Nicholas Brown, since his relationship was recorded in the 1900 census as “servant” (age 9, born Jan 1891.) He is more likely a nephew. But since I do not know who his parents were, this is the easiest way to link him to the right clan, at least.
The death certificate of his daughter Sarah says that he was born in Eadston, which is in Rowan Co. near Hayes Crossing. The death certificate of his daughter Olive says that he was born in Elliott Co.
His WW I draft registration card, filed 5 June 1917, records William Brown, age 26, residence Cranston, Ky, born 26 Jan 1891 in Hoggtown, Ky, farmer, married supporting a wife.
These two early records agree on a birthdate of Jan 1891. The later records shifted to reporting his birthdate as Jan 1890. (Too bad the 1890 census records were destroyed.)
The SSDI lists Willie Brown, born 13 Jan 1890, died Sep 1964, last residence Kentucky, SSN issued in Kentucky (1956-1957).
The Kentucky death index lists Willie Brown, age 74, died 30 Sep 1964 in Rowan Co.
He is buried in Sardis Cemetery under a double stone with Katie, name as Willie Brown, years 1890-1964 only, and the caption “Father”.
Be careful not to confuse him with James William “Willie” Brown (6 Oct 1890 - 26 Dec 1973), son of William Henry Brown and Matilda Ann Perry of Morgan Co., who married first Drew Catherine Johnson, and second Lydia M. Ramey. Since their birthdates are only three months apart, they were both usually known as Willie, and they both had wives sometimes known as Kate, they are easy to get mixed up.
Ancestry.com is also prone to “suggest” the SSDI and death records for William “Willie” Hamilton Brown (9 Oct 1890 - 19 Nov 1964) of Lexington, since the birth and death years were the same as far as those records are concerned.
The death certificate of his daughter Sarah says that he was born in Eadston, which is in Rowan Co. near Hayes Crossing. The death certificate of his daughter Olive says that he was born in Elliott Co.
His WW I draft registration card, filed 5 June 1917, records William Brown, age 26, residence Cranston, Ky, born 26 Jan 1891 in Hoggtown, Ky, farmer, married supporting a wife.
These two early records agree on a birthdate of Jan 1891. The later records shifted to reporting his birthdate as Jan 1890. (Too bad the 1890 census records were destroyed.)
The SSDI lists Willie Brown, born 13 Jan 1890, died Sep 1964, last residence Kentucky, SSN issued in Kentucky (1956-1957).
The Kentucky death index lists Willie Brown, age 74, died 30 Sep 1964 in Rowan Co.
He is buried in Sardis Cemetery under a double stone with Katie, name as Willie Brown, years 1890-1964 only, and the caption “Father”.
Be careful not to confuse him with James William “Willie” Brown (6 Oct 1890 - 26 Dec 1973), son of William Henry Brown and Matilda Ann Perry of Morgan Co., who married first Drew Catherine Johnson, and second Lydia M. Ramey. Since their birthdates are only three months apart, they were both usually known as Willie, and they both had wives sometimes known as Kate, they are easy to get mixed up.
Ancestry.com is also prone to “suggest” the SSDI and death records for William “Willie” Hamilton Brown (9 Oct 1890 - 19 Nov 1964) of Lexington, since the birth and death years were the same as far as those records are concerned.
Notes for Katie S. Blanton
The death certificate of their daughter Olive says she was born in Munson, Ky. Munson no longer exists; it was the name of a post office at the intersection of Cranston Road and Clearfork Road, in the Brushy Fork precinct of Rowan Co.
The SSDI lists Katie Brown, born 15 Aug 1895, died June 1976, last residence Morehead, Rowan Co., Ky.
The Kentucky death index lists Katie S. Brown, age 80, died 15 June 1976 in Rowan Co., residence same.
She is buried in Sardis Cemetery under a double stone with Willie, name as Katie S. Brown, years 1895-1976, and the caption “Mother”.
The SSDI lists Katie Brown, born 15 Aug 1895, died June 1976, last residence Morehead, Rowan Co., Ky.
The Kentucky death index lists Katie S. Brown, age 80, died 15 June 1976 in Rowan Co., residence same.
She is buried in Sardis Cemetery under a double stone with Willie, name as Katie S. Brown, years 1895-1976, and the caption “Mother”.
Notes for William “Willie” M. & Katie S. (Family)
I cannot find a marriage record for them in Rowan Co., and records from 1905 onward are pretty complete. Most likely they were married in Fleming county, where Katie’s parents were living in the 1910 census.
Census
1920 census of Greenup Co., Ky, Russell precinct, enumerated 12 Jan, lists on p. 5A as family #80/81, on Prospect St:
Brown, William M., 29, laborer at creosote plant; Katie, wife, 24. Both born Ky Ky Ky.
1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Cranston precinct, enumerated 17 April, lists on p. 2A as family #176:
Brown, Bill, 40, age at first marriage 19, farmer; Katie, wife, 34, age at first marriage 15; Sylvia O., dau, 8; Eva L., dau, 5; William T., son, 3 6/12; Edward E., son, 1 7/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1940 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pine Grove precinct, Hilda, ED 103-12, enumerated 20 April, lists on p. 13A as family #192:
Brown, Willie, 50, farmer; Katty, wife, 44; Eva, dau, 15; Thomas W., son, 13; Edward, son, 11; Roy Lee, son, 8; Edna June, dau, 6. All born in Kentucky, living in Cranston, Rowan Co., Ky in 1935.
Brown, William M., 29, laborer at creosote plant; Katie, wife, 24. Both born Ky Ky Ky.
1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Cranston precinct, enumerated 17 April, lists on p. 2A as family #176:
Brown, Bill, 40, age at first marriage 19, farmer; Katie, wife, 34, age at first marriage 15; Sylvia O., dau, 8; Eva L., dau, 5; William T., son, 3 6/12; Edward E., son, 1 7/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
1940 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pine Grove precinct, Hilda, ED 103-12, enumerated 20 April, lists on p. 13A as family #192:
Brown, Willie, 50, farmer; Katty, wife, 44; Eva, dau, 15; Thomas W., son, 13; Edward, son, 11; Roy Lee, son, 8; Edna June, dau, 6. All born in Kentucky, living in Cranston, Rowan Co., Ky in 1935.
