BROWNING Family

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: Biography – Families

BROWNING FAMILY, 1911 – 1987

TAGS: Browning Family; Pine Mountain Settlement School; Pine Mountain Community; PMSS Workers; PMSS Boarding School Students; PMSS Community School Students

Members of the Browning Family lived in the community of Pine Mountain since very early years. Several were among the student body and workers at Pine Mountain Settlement School.

For additional assistance in locating histories of families in Eastern Kentucky see:

Harlan County, Kentucky Genealogy – FamilySearch Wiki

Browning Family: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PMSS COLLECTIONS

Asbel Browning’s photo appears in the Fall 1984 Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School with the caption “passing on the skill of chair bottoming to students.” He was a staff member in the Environmental Education Program. NOTES – 1984. Asbel is also mentioned by Robin Lambert, PMSS Director, in a Dear Friends letter as a School gardener, along with Matthew Boggs. NOTES – 1997 (Fall) and as a Farm worker in NOTES – 1999.

Bill Browning is mentioned in an Evelyn K. Wells letter dated December 7, 1915, as having contracted smallpox and living in the Farmhouse. EVELYN K. WELLS 1915 EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS HOME.

Brother Browning is described by The Rev. Alvin Boggs, PMSS Director, in April 1976 Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School as the preacher at the local Pentecostal church, “born and bred right here on Pine Mountain.” NOTES – 1976.

Don Browning was cast as one of the kings in the Nativity Play, according to Mary Rogers’ in a letter to Ruby Yocum, December 1953[?]. NATIVITY PLAY: MARY ROGERS’ LETTER TO RUBY YOCUM

Frank Browning’s residence was locatd along a very steep trail that Dorothy Hancock Stiles and friend traversed on horseback in 1915, according to her narrative. DOROTHY H. STILES – “Kentucky 1915.”

Irv. Browning, in a meeting on May 26, 1929, pledged to help rebuild the Line Fork Cabin. MARY ROCKWELL HOOK LINE FORK ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING – CABIN 2.

Mr. and Mrs. Irving Browning “has a new son, Daniel,” according to “Line Fork News,” page 5, PINE CONE 1937 (December).

Ivo Browning, wife (Viola Lewis Browning) and their oldest child Elsie are mentioned in a July 1936 letter from Dr. Ida Stapleton to Miss Lewis: “She [Viola] is faithful in sending the four children to the Cabin every Sun. morning for our S. S. [Sunday School]” at Line Fork. STAPLETON REPORT 1936 – June.

Jim Browning from Little Laurel won “hand over” in a hog-calling contest at the 1944 Fair Day. NOTES – 1944.

As part of preparing for displays for the 1949 Community Fair Day, three PMSS workers took a walk through the community to gather unique “antiques” and promote the fair. One of the workers wrote about the people they met, such as Mrs. Marsh Browning “drying apples over a slow fire in the yard by the creek.” They also encountered Mrs. Jim Browning [Mattie Browning] and all her children on the front porch. “Jim is the local lay preacher, a really good and hardworking man, with a knowledge of scripture that’s amazing.”  1949 COMMUNITY FAIR DAY.

Kenneth Browning, a preacher, is described and quoted in a 1937 story by Alice Cobb about visiting community families and the local Holiness church. ALICE COBB STORIES Logging in Gabes Branch and Holiness Service.

Laraine (sic) Browning was part of the kitchen help who were recognized at the meeting of the Association of Pine Mountain School Alumni and Friends’ 1983 Homecoming. Also, the 1983 homecoming staff asked if anyone knew the address for “Bonehead” Browning.

Lorraine Browning was among the members of a nominating committee for the Association of Pine Mountain Alumni and Friends at the 1981 Homecoming. 1981 ALUMNI RELATIONS. She is listed as “kitchen supervisor” in NOTES – 1999.

Marsh Browning is listed in one of the files in Series 09: Governance, under “Mine contracts and Leases,” 1944-1946. SERIES 03: ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION; … CONTRACTS; WILLS.

Mrs. Browning exhibited several items at the 1919 Community Fair: cabbage, dahlias, stockings and gloves. 1919 COMMUNITY FAIR DAY.

Nancy Browning married Josiah (Joseph) Day on December 19, 1901. They had 9 children (Rebecca A. (born 1903), Henry (1905), Abner (1907), Floyd (1908), Kellis (22 October 1909; died September 1987), John D. (1911), Riley (1914), and Louisa (January 1916). Both died in Laurel County, KY. SOL DAY Biography.

Ruby Browning is listed as one of the captains of the student basketball tournament in PINE CONE – 1936 (February, p. 3).

On a ride to Hindman Settlement School, c. 1918, Evelyn Wells stopping at Si Browning’s “big farm on Stony Fork.” She also mentions “Doc” Browning. EVELYN K. WELLS 1918 Excerpts from Letters Home – Horseback to Hindman.

Squire Browning was a magistrate for 16 years, according to EVELYN K. WELLS 1919 EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS HOME.

Thelma Browning’s essay was among those in “Divide School Essays” that were exhibited at Fair Day. It was published on p. 15 in PINE CONE 1948 (October).

Wayne Browning is listed as a member of the 1940 GRADUATING CLASS. He was listed as a contributor to PINE CONE – 1937 (December).

In her 1928 journal [page 6] Harriet Crutchfield describes a dinner party she attended at the Brownings: “Mr. Browning is in charge of all the farming here and Mrs. Browning takes [?] charge of the music and gives music lessons. Mr. B. was born right in this valley and used to come here to school. Mrs. B. was a teacher here for the 5th & 6th grades, and she fell in love & married him. She comes from Louisville. They have been married 8 years and seem very happy….” [page 7] “…plays for all the dancing, Chapel, etc. She is in charge of the fair….” HARRIET CRUTCHFIELD JOURNAL II TRANSCRIBED.

Evelyn K. Wells wrote in an early history of the Farm: “During the period that Mr. Browning has had charge, the garden acreage has practically doubled, and the work of early years has borne fruit in Mr. Browning’s wonderful garden crops. The policy of sowing cover and legume crops and turning them under as an equivalent for manure has continued.” Mr. Browning assisted Mr. Zande 1in 1921 and took full charge in 1923. FARM.

Since 1923, Mrs. Browning supervised the sending of delegates from the PMSS girls’ branch of the 4-H Club to the state camps every summer. WELLS RECORD 21 PMSS Policies General 1913-1928.

In spring of 1924, Will Browning and Louise Will were married in the Chapel. Evelyn K. Wells described it as “a wedding more sophisticated in character.” WELLS RECORD 18 PMSS Religious Life 1913-1928.

By November 1926, W.B. Browning had been a PMSS worker for the Farm for 7 years. He was previously a  student at the School for 1 year. NOTES 1926.

Mr. Browning [farmer] is “living in Pole House now,” according to Angela Melville’s letter to Dorothy Bolles, November 5, 1929. DOROTHY BOLLES Correspondence Guide 1925-1935.

[William] Browning is named in correspondence to Mrs. Zande from Darwin D. Martin, PMSS Board Member, in which he expresses concern about the fruit trees on campus. DARWIN D. MARTIN 1928 CORRESPONDENCE. In a 1929 letter to Martin from Pettit[?] concerning straightening the creek, Mr. Browning, Farm Manager, is mentioned. DARWIN D. MARTIN 1929 CORRESPONDENCE. In 1930 Martin writes to Miss Pettit about educating Mr. Browning about the proper raising of seed potatoes. DARWIN D. MARTIN 1930 CORRESPONDENCE.

Browning Family: IN PINE MOUNTAIN VALLEY COMMUNITY, 1934-1942

TITLE LAST NAME FIRST NAME DATE OF INFO SOURCE OF INFORMATION NOTES
Mr. & Mrs. Browning Marsh 1934 – 1942 MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942
Mr. & Mrs. Browning Robert 1934 – 1942 MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942
Mr. & Mrs. Browning Jim 1934 – 1942 MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942
Mr. & Mrs. Browning Wilmer 1934 – 1942 MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942
Mr. & Mrs. Browning Homer 1934 – 1942 MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942
Mrs. Browning Rebecca 1934 – 1942 MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942
Browning Kenneth 1937 COBB STORIES “Logging at Gabes…” Preacher at Holiness Church
Cornett P. 1934, 1934 – 1942 COBB STORIES “Told by the Boys…”; MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942 Mrs. Jane Browning

Browning Family: PMSS WORKERS, 1920-1986

LAST NAME FIRST NAME OTHER NAME JOB TITLE NOTES PINE MT YEARS
Browning Asbel Maintenance 1973-1974; Superintendent 1986-? Birth Date: Aug 02, 1931 May 1968-?; 1973-1974; 1986-?
Browning Bill Farmer First farmer at PMSS; native of Perry Co.; attended Berea College? 1920-1929
Browning Mrs. Bill Will, Miss Louise Music Teacher; Housemother 1921-1929
Browning Lorraine Domestic, Laurel House/West Wind Birth Date: Feb 08, 1937 Oct 1968 – 1986?
Browning Marsh Miner Related to Bill Browning; Lived at head of Little Laurel; Committed suicide due to poor health. 1943, 1944

Browning Family: PMSS BOARDING STUDENTS, 1934-1940

Browning Family: PMSS COMMUNITY SCHOOL STUDENTS, 1951-1962

LAST NAME – FIRST NAME – MI – DATE OF BIRTH – DATE OF RECORD

Browning Astor 1942-12-13 1957
Browning Don 1938-05-29 1954
Browning Geneva Lee 1941-11-01 1952
Browning James Dale 1944-04-23 1956
Browning Leonard 1940-06-19 1956
Browning Lola 1949-01-04 1962
Browning Marsh Junior 1944-06-26 1956
Browning Sue 1947-2-9  1962
Browning Thelma Jean 1938-11-28 1951

See Also:

COBB STORIES “Logging in Gabes Branch and Holiness Service”

COBB STORIES “Told by the Boys Summer 1934″

de LONG – ZANDE PAPERS: Series II – Folder 22. Marjorie Browning Leavens, letters to Helen de Long, 1911-1928.

MAP OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS 1934 – 1942

WILLIAM AND LOUISE WILL BROWNING

Return to:

GUIDE TO FAMILIES IN THE PINE MOUNTAIN VALLEY COMMUNITY

Browning Family: GALLERY

Title

Browning Family

Identifier

BROWNING FAMILY

Creator

Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY

Alt. Creator

Ann Angel Eberhardt ; Helen Hayes Wykle ;

Subject Keyword

Browning Family ; Pine Mountain Settlement School; Pine Mountain Community; PMSS Workers; PMSS Boarding School Students; PMSS Community School Students

Subject LCSH

Browning Family.
Pine Mountain Settlement School (Pine Mountain, Ky.) — History.
Harlan County (Ky.) — History.
Education — Kentucky — Harlan County.
Rural schools — Kentucky — History.
Families — Kentucky.
Schools — Appalachian Region, Southern.

Date

2018-06-08

Publisher

Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY

Contributor

n/a

Type

Collections ; text ; image ;

Format

Original and copies of documents and correspondence in file folders in filing cabinet.

Source

Series 09: Biography – Families

Language

English

Relation

Is related to: Pine Mountain Settlement School Collections, Series 09: Biography – Families

Coverage Temporal

 1911 – 1987

Coverage Spatial

Pine Mountain, KY ; Harlan County, KY ;

Rights

Any display, publication, or public use must credit the Pine Mountain Settlement School. Copyright retained by the creators of certain items in the collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Donor

n/a

Description

Core documents, correspondence, writings, and administrative papers of the Browning Family ; clippings, photographs, books by or about the Browning Family ;

Acquisition

n/d

Citation

“[Identification of Item],” [Collection Name] [Series Number, if applicable]. Pine Mountain Settlement School Institutional Papers. Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY.

Processed By

Helen Hayes Wykle ; Ann Angel Eberhardt ;

Last Updated

2018-06-12 aae ;

Bibliography

Source(s)

”Browning.” GUIDE TO PMSS WORKERS 1913-2000s ; PINE MOUNTAIN VALLEY COMMUNITY RESIDENTS LIST 1910s-1940s ; GUIDE TO BOARDING SCHOOL STUDENTS, 1929-19Series 09: Biography – Families. Pine Mountain Settlement School Institutional Papers. Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY. Internet resource.

Bibliography Harlan County, Kentucky

Fee, H. (1990). Browning family of Harlan County. Harlan, KY: Footprints P & R.

Stump, W. C. (1984). The tarnished knight: The story of Paul Louis Browning, Jr.‘s rise and fall as sheriff of Harlan County, Kentucky, 1981-1983. Loyall, Ky.: W.C. Stump.

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