Joseph and Amanda Beene Brown
 

Written by Farris Herren January 22, 1993

Joseph (1854 - 1907) and Amanda Beene Brown (1853 - 1906) were my grandparents. They were married at Powhatan, AR on 9-24-1876. On the marriage license his name is spelled Josiah and on some of the census records Joel. On his monument it is Joseph. In everyday life he was called Joe. His parents were: Powell (1816 - 1891) and Sarah (1815 - 1888) Brown. Joe and Amanda were the parents of 12 children. Four of them died as infants and eight of them grew up, married and had children. They had in all 25 grandchildren. The youngest of the grand hildren are now at retiring age. Nine of the grandchildren are dead.

Soon after marrying, Joe and Amanda purchased 100 acres of land in the southern part of the Clear Spring community. It was on the Powhatan- Big Lick Road. This is now a county road known as the Clear Spring Road.

Joe was about 5 ft. l0 in. tall, had dark hair and brown eyes. He was a progressive person. He was not rich, but had a good living. He was a versatile person and did many things. On the farm he raised corn for the livestock and cornmeal, wheat for flour, hay for the horses and cows, cows for milk and butter, cotton and sheep for the fiber and wool. Grandmother cleaned the materials, carded into bats and spun into thread for knitting into clothing for her family. Joe had a cotton jin. It's press was powered by horse power. He had a blacksmith shop where he shoed horses, sharpened the plow points and other things any blacksmith did. He had a grist mill on which he ground the corn into meal. The Jin and grist mill were near the spring which funished the necessary water. On a hill about 100 yards east of the house he built a store building where he sold general merchandise. Also in this store he operated a post office. The name of the post office was Houghten. When he passed away in 1907 the post office ceased to exist. Joe and most of his family were members of the Clear Spring Baptist Church . He played the violin and bought a new pump organ for the girls and they were given music lessons by Hilda Wheat and Myrtle Howard.

In 1899 he decided to make a move to Indian Territory which is now Oklahoma. So he sells his personal property, fits out eight covered wagons to make the journey. He keeps the farm and rents to Mr. Hedrick. The George Hill family also made the trip. They camped on Crook Creek in Harrison one night and Joe and Amanda go south about 15 miles to visit two f her sisters near Jasper in Newton County. This was the last time grandmother ever saw them. The next day they returned to Harrison and continued their journey. They made the journey to Indian territory but didn't stay. After a few miles over into Oklahoma, they didn't find what they expected to find. So they returned by way of Ft. Smith and Batesville. After six weeks on the road they were back home. He goes four miles south of Powhatan and buys a crop ready to harvest. He also buys the household of Crocket Campbell. The next year they move to Powhatan and he still farms on Black River. He then decides there is no place like home, so back to their old place on Clear Spring Road.

Amanda passed away in 1906 and he lived until 1907. Each of them was 53 years old and are buried in Powhatan Cemetery between his and her parents.

Today their old home on Clear Spring Road is owned by their great grandson, Joe Hudson. He has a nice brick home and the place is well kept.

Joe and Amanda would be proud.

Farris Herren
January 22, 1993

Farris Herren passed away on 16 May 2000. His sister Merle M. passed 6 Dec 1997. I don't know about their brother Ernest Clifton Herrin. They are buried in Powhatan Cemetery, Powhatan AR, Lawrence Co., AR