Bradford County PA Chemung County NY Tioga County PA Tri-Counties Genealogy & History by Joyce M. Tice Families & Individuals of the Tri-Counties

Charles Edgar Brown an Anecdote Sent in by Eleanor Gunter Hobbs Edited, formatted & published by Joyce M. Tice Tri-County Genealogy & History Sites Home Page How to Use This Site Warning & Disclaimer Diaries & Letters of the Tri-Counties Elmira City & Township Page No Unauthorized Commercial Use Say Hello to Joyce  Quarry Farm - Former summer home of Sam Clemens "Mark Twain" Photo by Joyce M. Tice May 2001 .

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I am sending this because although not verified in any legal records,  this story fits the kind of person my grandfather ,Edgar Brown,  was.
He was born,second in order, to Rev. George Brown and his wife, Catherine Campbell.  The Rev. Brown had been ordained in Scotland, but lacked the education to be ordained a US Methodist preacher.  He had to be content with a country parish, where they raised their own food, supplemented by donations from the parishioners. The manse was poorly heated and so was the church.  Edgar's Sunday job was to go under the church to a partial basement and pump the hand bellows for the organ above.  Edgar had two sisters and his mother was expecting a third child when his father died of tuberculosis.  The family moved to Elmira where mother had family to help. Being the "man" of the family, Edgar did odd jobs around town to help put food on the table.  He was on the street when a runaway horse came into view.  Being strictly raised to be helpful to all, he grabbed the reins of the horse and managed to pull him to a stop.  Riding in the carriage was Samuel Clemens.  Mr.  Clemens tried to pay my grandfather, but he was raised to believe you did not accept money for what should be your duty to help others.  Mr. Clemens was intrigued by this enterprising youth, and invited Edgar to visit him in his study up on the hill - that rustic building on the farm.  Since Mark Twain always wrote about the things he knew,  it always seemed reasonable to us that my grandfather's story was true.

I hope this is interesting to others as it has always been to us.
Eleanor Wendel Gunter Hobbs

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