550 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. THOMAS J. BROWN. Thomas J. Brown, a life member of this Society, died at his home in Waynesville, Warren county, Ohio, early on Wednesday morning, |
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April 2nd, 1913. He was born near the village of Bellbrook, Greene county, Ohio, August 16th, 1833, thus at the time of his death, being but a few months under eighty years of age. Mr. Brown's entire life was spent in the immediate vicinity of the place of his birth and the home of his boyhood. Thomas J. Brown was the youngest son of David W. and Lydia Rowser Brown, who came here from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Greene county at a very early period and reared a large family of children. Of the ten children comprising the family, only one, Mrs. S. P. Kindle, of Waynesville, Ohio, a sister, survives Mr. Brown, although all grew to adult age. At the age of fourteen Mr. Brown suf- |
fered the loss of his hearing, but with the fortitude which characterized his entire life, he bore his affliction without a murmur. In fact, the loss of this faculty seemed to sharpen those remaining, and with stimulated desourcefulness he sought his life work and pleasure along lines in which his affliction would not interpose too great a handicap. In Science and Journalism principally, he found an adequate vehicle for carrying his aspirations to a gratifying achievement. Mr. Brown received his education at Wittenberg college, where he developed a deep interest in the study of scientific works and litera- ture. This led him into the field of Geology, in which he became a recognized scholar. He was closely associated with the late Professor Edward Orton, of Ohio State University, for a number of years, and took an active part in the Geological survey of Warren and Greene counties. At an early age Mr. Brown became interested in the study of Archaeology, finding much material for research in his section of the state. Residing within a few miles of Fort Ancient, Warren county, that great earthwork became a source of never failing interest to him, and for a period of more than half a century it was the objective point of numerous pilgrimages. He became a life member of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society in 1889, and always took a deep interest in its welfare and proceedings, and was a valued contributor to the quarterly publications. He was likewise a member of the Maryland |