Ben Browning

During the next few years, the parents and several of their children established permanent homes in the farming area north east of Keller.  The parents spent the remainder of their lives on a farm known later as the Helm place.  Grave stones in Bourland Cemetery bear the following inscriptions; B.N. Browning, April 1, 1837 – January 25, 1917.

 P.A. Browning, July 2, 1842 – April 1, 1916.

Sons and daughters of Ben and Amelia Browning married as follows;

1)      Alfred Browning was married first to Lizzie.  Their son was Bennie Browning.  The second marriage was to Annie Burnett.  Two daughters born to this union were Maggie (Mrs. Ray Pressley) and Sadie, (Mrs. Charlie Blevins).  Alfred Browning was buried in Fannin County.

2)      Washington (Wash) Browning was married to Mollie Tatum.  Their children were Essie, (Mrs. Reed) and Bessie, (Mrs. Richard Pearce) and a son Delphus.

3)      James Monroe (Jim) Browning was married first to Debbie Smith.  They were parents of four sons; Henry Oscar, John Cecil, Claude McKelvy, and Clide L., born 1892, died 1911 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.  After the death of his first wife, Jim Browning was married to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Danette Allen.  Their children were Helen Josephine, (Mrs. C.C. Miller); James Lloyd who married Frieda Burt; Laura, (Mrs. H.J. Powell); Allene (Mrs. James Dunn).

Grave stones in Bourland Cemetery bear the following inscriptions;

James Monroe Browning – July 8, 1860 – March 10, 1917

Debbie Smith Browning – September 14, 1860 – August 4, 1900

Elizabeth Danette Browning – June 30, 1875 – November 27, 1962

4)      Sam Browning was married to Emma Wilford.  Their children were Roy, Russell, Vivian and a fourth child who died in infancy.  Sam Browning was buried in Oklahoma.

5)      Walter Browning, born 1868, was a bachelor and favorite uncle among his nieces and nephews.  He operated a small café and was locally famous for his chili recipe.  He brightened at least one day in the dark depression years of the 1930’s by inviting all Browning relatives to a chili supper.  More than forty years later, there are adults who remember that happy day in their childhood.  Walter died in 1943 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.

6)      Dora Browning became the wife of James Woodville (Jim) Houston.  Their children were Donie, Ruth Celeste, Willie, Herbert, Lockey May, Mary Evie, Zelma and Raymond.

7)      Henry H. Browning was married to Nannie Burl.  Their children were Myrtle and Evelyn Lavender.

8)      Sallie Browning died at the age of 18.

9)      Lela Browning was married to Ben Carter

Information sources:

Mrs. Maud Stateham Browning

Mrs. J.D. Stephens

Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Blevins

Mrs. Donie Houston Smith

Grave stones  -  Bourland Cemetery

Mrs. C.C. Miller (Helen Josephine Browning)