Joseph Browning
Joseph Browning is a native of Sheffield, England. He was born May 25, 1828, and came with his parents, Benjamin Band and Mary (Stubbing) Browning, to America in 1836, located in New York, remained a few weeks, then came to Clarke County, Ohio, where the father bought a farm near Platsburg, which is yet known as the Browning farm, where the parents died. August 8th, 1867, he was missed in his church and community, as he was a noble man whose house was always open to the needy. He lived an exemplary life, and died triumphantly in the faith of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Browning was twice married; first, to our subject's mother, who bore him eight children, and died triumphantly and happy, November 14th, 1865. She was a kind and tender-hearted mother, and a beloved sister in the church.
Our subject was twice married. First, to Miss Susan Hagler, daughter of Isaac Hagler, December 22, 1853, and who died February 15, 1872, aged about forty-three years. He then married Mrs. Elizabeth (Collette) McCoy, February 19, 1874. Two children are the result of this union: Fannie S., born June 11, 1865; and John N., born February 17, 1878. Mrs. Browning's first marriage was celebrated with John McCoy, March 26, 1868; who died August 1, 1872, aged forty-three years. They had one child, Charles C, born December 20, 1869.
Mr. Browning has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated four and one half miles northwest of Washington, nicely arranged for stock raising. None of the family of five sons, or Mr. Browning, Sr., ever used tobacco or intoxicants.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County