Vance M. "Gum" Family Marker Brown

Vance Montgomery Brown

Vance M. Brown, better known as "Gum", was born near
Sparta, Tennessee, White County, in 1830. His parents and family
were unknown by descendants, .since Vance M. was killed by
bushwhackers during the Civil War, and the three sons remembered
little about their parents. The one thing the eldest son did
remember was that his parents came from White County, Tennessee
and his mother was Hannah Dearing. The marriage record
in Sparta, Tennessee reveals that Vance M. Brown and Hannah
Dearing were married on January 18, 1850.

They came to Washington County in 1850, and settled in
West Fork Township, exact area unknown, but the 1860 census
record reveals the fact that they were still there.

Three sons were born: William Crockett, 1850; Waymon, 1855; and Samuel
Vance, 1858. Hannah died that same year, and was buried somewhere
in this area.

After 1860, they moved to Illinois Township, two miles north
of the present site of Lincoln. Vance M. was a bootmaker by
trade. It was here he was killed about 1862 and was buried in the
Beaty Cemetery. There is no date on his stone which is inscribed
"Gum Brown".

Aunt Polly Weaver who was related and had lived with them
for a number of years, reared the three sons.
Aunt Polly was the wife of Benjamin Weaver, and they came
to the area very early. Benjamin was a soldier in the War of 1812,
and an Indian agent in the Gong Snake district until his death.

William Crockett Brown married Mary (Sallie) Holt on
January 21, 1870. They bought a farm near Aunt Polly's where
they made their home, and where their children were born.

Alice, born in 1870, married William Jobe. Benjamin, born 1872
married Katherine Rhea. Rhaze L., born in 1878 married Nettie
Green.

Catherine, born 1881, married Samuel Starr.

Ambrose Edward, born 1882, married Edna C. Beaty. William Frank, born
1890, married Anna Moore. Dona, born 1893, married Kelly
Armstrong.

William Crockett and family moved to the new town of Lincoln
in about 1895, and started a general merchandise
store-Brown's Cheap Store. In 1902, the town of Lincoln, composed
of a few stores, moved about three blocks southeast and
began to build the present town of Lincoln. Here, Crockett
Brown purchased one of the first two-story stone buildings and
moved his general merchandise store, operating it until his death
in 1921.

His son, Rhaze L. Brown, had been in business, operating the
first boarding house and restaurant. In the front room of the
restaurant was the first beautiful marble soda fountain, very
decorative.

Rhaze L. took over his father's store for several years after
selling his own business.

Ambrose Edward, known as Edd, was a carpenter and stone
mason, but he bought the farm his father and grandfather had
owned.

Cathrine Brown married Samuel Starr. He, too, was a carpenter
and many houses and churches in Lincoln were a part of
his labors.

Frank and his wife Anna were in business in Tulsa all
their life. Alice and family had also spent most of their life in
Tulsa.

Dona and Kelly Armstrong were in business in Pea Ridge,
Arkansas all of their lives. Waymon Brown, the second son of

Vance M. and Hannah Dearing Brown, married Rebecca Holt on
January 5, 1873. They purchased the farm from Aunt Polly
Weaver, and lived there some time. All of their children were
born. there. They moved to Oklahoma for a short time, then to
Fayetteville, where he spent the rest of his life.

During the early days in Fayetteville, he owned a livery stable
and kept only the finest of horses and carriages, for he admired
beautiful horses. He was also one of the first to purchase an
automobile. His was one of the first to venture to Lincoln, and
was the first one we ever saw. Waymon lived in a large, two-story
house on College Avenue for many years. After his death, his
lovely house was one of the first to be torn down to make a place
for a gasoline station. His and Rebecca's children were: Mary,
who married a Pyeatte; Emma, who married Fred Pyeatte;
Elizabeth, married 0. P. Stern; Earl; John; Roscoe; Ethel; Mac J.;
and Robert L. (Bob), married Nellie George. They owned a business
on Lafayette Street for many years, and lived nearby. For
several years, he was County Revenue Collector. Except for
Robert L., Waymon's children all lived in Oklahoma and Texas.