Francis M. Brown Died 100 Years ago - March 20, 1919

Our lead entry in the 1919 section of the museum's newspaper column today, March 20, 2019 was the account of the death of Sutton pioneer Francis Marion Brown:

Long-time Sutton publisher Francis M. Brown died March 20, 1919 at the age of 78. He’d worked at his desk until February 24. He and three brothers homesteaded on Section 10 of School Creek Township in the spring of 1871. He was the first county clerk and the first clerk of the district court when Clay County was formed in October 1871. He purchased The Sutton Register newspaper in 1886 later operating it with his son Charles. Francis Brown was Sutton’s first mayor, or chairman of the board of trustees serving three terms and was police judge for 18 terms. 

He enlisted in Co. B, 14^th Indiana Infantry at the beginning of the Civil war serving until the unit was mustered out in Indianapolis at war’s end. The pall bearers were Mayor Jacob Bender, Samuel Carney, Melchoir Figi, A. W. Clark, C. E. Wieland and Fred Hanke. Those familiar with Sutton history recognize this list of the Town Fathers of that era.