William J. "Buck" Brown

Abt 1856 - 1886  (~ 30 years)

• Name	William J. "Buck" Brown
  Born	Abt 1856	Tennessee, USA   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Census	19 Aug 1860	7th Civil District, Hickman County, Tennessee, USA   [1]
  	1. Brown, D. L., 29, male, farmer, real estate $1000, personal $3235, Tennessee 2. _____, M., 26, female, Tennessee, cannot read or write 3. _____, C. Brown, 6, female, Tennessee 4. _____, W. J., 4, male, Tennessee 5. _____, A. C., 2, female, Tennessee
  Died	25 Sep 1886	Goodrich, Hickman County, Tennessee, USA   [2]
  Death Notice	1 Oct 1886	Goodrich, Hickman County, Tennessee, USA   [2]
  	Transcription, from The Hickman Pioneer (Centerville, Tennessee) At ten minutes after 3 o'clock Saturday evening, Sept. 25th, a deadly affray occurred at Goodrich, in this county, in which W. J. (Buck) Brown lost his life. The facts as detailed by eye witnesses are in the minute details a little conflicting, but in the main they substantially agree. We have taken no little pains to get a true version of the affair, that no injustice may be done to any one. Our readers will remember that Brown was elected magistrate at the August election in the 7th civil district, and Henry Warren , a son of "Uncle Billie" Warren, was on the 25th inst. arrested on a peace warrant sworn out by Ed Maberry, colored, and brought before Brown for trial. Warren claimed the right to have his trial before J. D. Harrington in the Little Lot district, and Brown read the statutes to Warren governing in such cases and proceeded with the trial, and afterwards read the code touching the duties of magistrates in proceedings to keep the peace, all of which did not suit the rights of Warren as he understood the law, and finally, Warren demanded of Brown that he "Brown" should burn or other wise destroy the papers in the case, which Brown refused to do. Some time after the trial but about 3 o'clock Warren again came to Brown's grocery and just outside the door renewed the controversy in the presence of several parties, when Brown told him he had already said enough about the matter, and then each one abused the other and Brown threatened to put Warren under arrest, and commanded constable Lawson to arrest him. Lawson commanded the peace and Brown started towards his dwelling house after telling Warren that he (Warren) had a pistol while he (Brown) was unarmed. Thereupon Warren ordered Brown not to go any further, saying that he (Warren) didn't propose to be shot down, or words to that effect. Brown failed to halt and Warren drew from his hip pocket a 38 caliber pistol and shot Brown in the side, in the region of the abdomen. Brown wheeled either before the shot or immediately afterwards and turned to enter his grocery, when Warren fired a second shot, but missed his aim entirely. Warren fled from the scene and has not as yet been arrested. Brown was helped into his dwelling house, and in a few minutes attended by Dr. T. D. Thompson, who pronounced the case to be fatal beyond all question. Drs. Norris and Slayden were sent for and after an examination they could hold out no hope. Brown never rallied from the shock and lingered until 20 minutes after 8 o'clock Sunday night. Immediately after the shooting Brown realized that he could not live and devoted his few remaining hours of earthly existence to a preparation for another world. Retaining his mind fully, he in great humility spent the night in prayer. He was consoled and prayed for with many of the Christian people of the neighborhood and ministers of the Gospel up to the hour final dissolution took place. He retained his mental powers up to the last moment. He was buried in the family grave-yard of his father, D. L. Brown, on Mill Creek, Monday evening. He leaves a widow and two little children. While the above account of this unfortunate affair may be incorrect in some respects, still it is as near the truth as we have been able to gather from several persons who from hearsay and otherwise detailed to us the above. We have endeavored to get at the truth of the matter, lest we might unjustly place the blame where it does not belong. We would be far from doing any man an injustice in so grave and serious affair. The public will in due time be fully informed, as the officers of the law will give all parties a hearing when those who witnessed, saw and heard the whole affair will under the solemnities of their oaths detail the facts. Not until then will the whole truth be known. The deceased was about 34 years old, and we are informed he was very much devoted to his family. He was reared in this county, though spent several years in Maury county. The fatal difficulties in which he was involved, the killing of policeman Arnold, and more recently Wm. T. Easley, for which he was awaiting his trials, gave him a notoriety, and whether these were slain in self defense or not caused the public to harshly judge his character. Henry Warren is about 30 years old, and is a widower, having one child. His father and mother and brothers and sisters are all living in this county. The Warren and Brown families have all been heretofore old and intimate friends. We are informed that Warren will in a short time give himself up to the officers of the law.
  Person ID	I5595	Full
  Last Modified	21 Aug 2013

  
  

  Father	Daniel Lindsey Brown,   b. Between 1831-1833, Williamson County, Tennessee, USA ,   d. 17 Oct 1922, Centerville, Civil District 1, Hickman County, Tennessee, USA  (Age ~ 89 years)
  Mother	Sarah Clark,   b. Between 1832 and 1836,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F1977	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S3766] 1860 U.S. census, Hickman County, Tennessee, population schedule, 7th Civil District, p. 213 (penned), p 47 (stamped, recto), dwelling 771, family 771, D. L. Brown household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 August 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 1257. [S3765] "Hickman County, TN, Newspaper Articles: Accidental and Tragic Deaths," Hickman County, Tennessee, Genealogy and History (http://genealogytrails.com/tenn/hickman/ : accessed 21 August 2013), transcription of article regarding the shooting death of W. J. Brown, a.k.a. "Buck" Brown; citing The Hickman County Pioneer (Centerville, Tennessee), 1 October 1886.