Vance Montgomery "Gum" 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.