Francis LeRoy Brown

Obituary 2001

Francis Brown. Rancher COARSEGOLD -- Francis LeRoy Brown, 91, a direct descendant of one of the first families to settle in Eastern Madera County, died at his home near 22 Mile House on Friday. A graveside service will be held Thursday [August 2], starting at 10 a.m. at Arbor Vitae Cemetery in Madera. Arrangements are under the direction of Jay Chapel. A lifelong resident of the area, Mr. Brown led a varied career ranging from mule packer to gold miner, from forester to store owner. Since 1948, he had lived and raised cattle close to the Wide-Awake Ranch just west of today's Highway 41 where his great-grandfather, Jeremiah Brown, settled in 1853 when he trailed the first cattle into this foothill region. Tracing his heritage through several generations, Mr. Brown was a prolific writer of regional history, published in the Sierra Star, Madera Tribune, Merced Sun Star and The Fresno Bee and Cappers Weekly. (The last contribution by Mr. Brown, received a few weeks earlier but not yet published, accompanies this obituary.) "Francis LeRoy was a natural historian," commented Dwight H. Barnes, Sierra Historic Sites Association historian. “Throughout his life, he had a passion for history recording not only his family's roots and tales, but also delving deeply into events and people of the past. His articles and papers written over the years, copies of which now may be found in the archives of SHSA's research center, make up an outstanding record of life in our foothills and mountains." Mr. Brown and his wife, Ida May, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1986. At that time, the couple recalled their first home was a tent at the Miami Ranger Station (now called the Westfall Ranger Station), where he was a fireguard. "What an experience for a young girl from Mariposa," Mr. Brown recalled, "as we had Mono Winds that almost blew the tent away and had fires burning at the same time." Prior to their marriage, Mr. Brown had worked for the Madera-Sugar Pine Lumber Company and as a horse wrangler for his uncle, Billy Brown, owner of the pack station at Jackass Meadow. As a Civilian Conservation Corps tree faller, he held the record for falling more trees in a year than any CCC member west of the Mississippi River. He felled a record of 1,600 snags which had been killed in the Sweetwater fire of 1924. In the years that followed, Mr. Brown worked in a variety of jobs for the U.S. Forest Service. Enlisting in the U.S. Army Special Services in March 1942, he was assigned as a guard at the Bass Lake Dam. After his 1945 discharge from the Army, he worked at Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Wishon Powerhouse. For a few years, Mr. and Mrs. Brown operated Sweetwater Station, a sandwich shop and gasoline station at the site of the present 22-Mile House. At the time the couple raised chickens at their home next to the station and naturally-chicken sandwiches were a specialty for which they became well known. In recalling his life a few years back, Mr. Brown said that in 1958, after raising chickens for nine years without a day off, they sold their hens and started in the feeder cattle business. He continued that throughout the rest of his life, working with his son, Edward LeRoy, commenting: "My wife, Ida May, was a great contributor to our self-employed success as she wasn't afraid to put on Jeans and package eggs or help with branding and the vaccinating of cattle." A native of North Fork, Mr. Brown had lived his entire life in the area. He attended Knowles School in Raymond and was graduated from the Green School located in the O'Neals-Zebra area in 1924. He was a 1928 graduate of Madera High School. Mr. Brown was active in community affairs, serving as a member of the Madera County Grand Jury and the county Planning Commission. He was a member of the Madera County Farm Bureau. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, rockhound and jewelry maker in addition to his love of history. Mr. Brown leaves his wife of 65 years, Ida May Brown. Mr. Brown was the father of Edward LeRoy Brown (wife Nancy) of Coarsegold; the grandfather of Darren Brown and Susan Villa [husband Nick); and the greatgrandfather of Nicki and John Villa. Mr. Brown was the brother of Donald Brown and Buela Mae Garner of Madera and Richard Brown of Stateline, Nevada. Remembrances: Donor's favorite charity.  

Source: Miscellaneous Madera County, California