Flora Isabelle Brown
Story of my Life, by Flora Belle Brown Flynn (written late
1947)
I was born July 4, 1865 near Crab Orchard, Tennessee. I was
one of a large family; I had five brothers and five sisters. I being the middle
child. My name way to be Flora Independence, but when I was six years old I
rebelled, for I could not bear the middle name "Independence." So the old bible
was overhauled and the name "Isabelle" was given me, to my great joy. I've
always loved bright colors, and the colors in the flag have always stirred me
with emotion.
As I said, I started to rebel at the age of six and soon
caught up with my brother Jim, who was two years my senior. This was a great
help to the family budget, because now my brother Jim and I could use the same
books. School books were very high in price and were handled with care, and were
handed down from grade to grade. I never had but one teacher that I didn't love.
My first teacher was Mr. William Pass, whom I almost worshipped. When I was in
the fourth and fifth grade, my teacher would let me hear the ABC class recite.
This made me very proud, but my classmates were jealous.
Our books were: "Webster’s Blue Backed Spellers," "McGuffey’s
Readers" from the 1st to the 6th grades, "Reid and Kellogue Grammar," "Barnes
History of the United States," Geography, a copy book-and the hardest, study was
mental arithmetic and "Ray's Higher Mathematics." Our first reading lessons were
in the spelling book. A short reading lesson right under the spelling, and a
little poem that I often memorized. We had Friday afternoon exercises, a
spelling match, speeches, and essays by the larger ones.
When I had completed the 8th grade, I attended the
Grassy-Cove academy, taught by Professor J.U. Silsby, one of the best
instructors I ever had. About fifty attended this year's term, and all were
expecting to teach some time. We had our literary society, our class paper and
occasionally a square dance. Things were never dull, and a finer bunch of girls
and boys I never saw. The first high school in the county was at Melvin
Saguatchie Valley. I spent one year at this school, and the studies were really
hard, but everyone was trying to reach his goal. They had the best instructors,
and no time lost. Next was a six- month normal school that would decide our
fitness as a teacher, and it was a happy day when I received my first teaching
certificate and first grade assignment.
I secured a county-school at $25.00 per-month, and got board
for $1.25 per week. I had a wonderful boarding place: Mrs. Croft was a dear. She
did my washing, and I did the dishes from supper. She would fill my dinner pail
to the full, and I got an extra big dinner on Sunday, because my boy-friend
would be there. I had many boy-friends, and time never hung heavy. This "certain
one" came often, an things were budding into romance, when my brother Sam
(Samuel Chase Brown), (Superintendent of Schools) stepped in and objected, he
said that this fellow was a Democrat, and that he "tarried too long at the
wine," so I called it off, but it was a "green spot in my memory." However, I
soon recovered.
I walked two miles to school and back each day. Never worked
so hard in my life; it was a large school for a beginner, and I was determined
to succeed, and I did. I dreaded for my brother to visit my school, for he was
very severe if you failed to measure up to his expectations and ideals, and we
never did. I taught eight terms of school. Five before I was married and three
after-not eight years, because some of the time I taught two terms a year--one
in the early spring by subscription and one in the late Fall and Winter. Many
funny things happened, for the teacher was always expected to spend one night
with every family. I never had any trouble with patrons, as I always told them
what bright children they had. One old fellow wanted to know if I taught that
the world was round, but he said he would take my word for it. I never had any
trouble with the big boys, and some of them were as old as I, but the girls from
12 to 16 gave me a lot of trouble.
I had just finished my fifth term when Tom came along. This
pleased my family as he was a good Republican. We were married May 6th in the
"gay nineties" (1890) when whale-bone corsets, high stiff collars, and bustles
were the prevailing style, and I fell for them all. We were married in the
little village of Glen Alice, where I had taught two terms of school. A.P.
Johnson performed the ceremony, and his good wife baked the wedding cake. My
sister Emily (Mary Emmaline) was chief cook, and prepared a lovely wedding
dinner. Only a few friends and relatives were present, including our old family
doctor, Dr. Frasier, whom we had known many years. We were married on Tuesday at
5 p.m., and started next day by horse and buggy to meet my new in-laws. Father
and Mother Flynn (Richard Lafayette & Zilpha) met me with open arms, and the
love and friendship between us never grew less. Mother Flynn was the finest and
best person I ever knew, except my own Mother, who had passed on just six weeks
before our marriage. Mother Flynn was our family physician, our ever present
help in time of trouble, and my spiritual guide.
In August, following our marriage, I again taught school. I
rode 3 1/2 miles on horse back on our nice little saddle pony named Dollie. Tom
was very busy on the farm; he was always waiting for me and we were very happy.
The next year our new house went up. We both taught school and hired a man on
the farm for $10.00 a month. Wedding presents were not given in those days,
except a horse or a cow, and we got both, but our most outstanding present was a
red rooster. He was a handsome bird and well along in years. Then we decided
that it was not good for the male to be alone, so Tom went in search of hens. He
soon returned with six red hens. He got a bargain, six for $1.00. The man was an
old friend of the family, a Republican, and of the same faith. We released the
rooster from his prison, and soon he and the hens were on the best of terms. Our
table was soon graced with fried chicken.
Now the babies came along, and I exchanged my short career
for motherhood. Our first-born was a goodly child. We called him Clifford. I had
read a novel, and the hero was called Clifford. Grandpa Flynn was disgusted by
the name and insisted on John or Bill. The child was unusually bright, and we
feared he would never be raised, but he grew and waxed strong, and when we were
sure that he would live, we decided to have another. Then White came along, and
strong to say he was, and just as bright as his brother. Our next was Violet,
then Wesley, Robert, Claude, Hazel, and Dick. They were not too many, but just
right. My children were never a burden to me, and our happiest, days were when
they were taking their first steps, lisping their first words, and when we
discovered the first tooth. This is where I want to linger, for it is about the
fondest of my recollections.
Our school terms were short, so we started each child at home
with a black board, and each learned to read, make figures, and write a few
words. As the children grew older, we decided to find better schools, so we
rented the farm and moved town where the schools were much better. About this
time, a wealthy old bachelor in Nashville died leaving a large sum of money to
the public schools of Tennessee. It was known as the Peabody fund; this put the
schools on a firmer foundation. The year was 1902. Tom had taken a. course in
civil engineering. He had had some training in land surveying; he loved the
work, and often Clifford and White went with him, as chain-carriers, on long
trips in the woods.
But in due time we cast our eyes to the Northwest. We wanted
to get good land for the boys. We wanted them to be farmers, (but not one was a
farmer). In Idaho, in 1906, land was thrown open to settlers for homesteading,
so we decided to make a change. Clifford was sent ahead to spy out the land. His
reports being good, we sold the farm, disposed of our house in town, and with
bag and baggage, struck a beeline for Idaho. Dick was only four weeks old, he
was my charge. Tom took care of Hazel, she was nearly four; each one had a duty
to do, and they did it well. Things went along smoothly until just as we left
Salt Lake City, Claude lost his new hat. He wanted us to go back and find it. We
arrived in Buhl October 20, 1909, rented a house for $5.00 a month. The winter
was cold. We burned a lot of sage brush, some coal, and came through the winter
with flying colors. In the spring, we bought a desert claim of eighty acres. The
first year that we farmed was hard. The crops looked promising, but in July we
had our first hail storm. Everything was cut to pieces. Out of twenty acres of
wheat, we only saved ten sacks of wheat. Everything else was a complete loss,
but there was work for everyone, and Tom and the boys worked!
People came in from every state. Ranches were opened up,
houses built, schools and churches went up, clubs and societies organized, and
the county prospered. Neighbors helped each other and friendship and good will
was everywhere. We soon bought an improved ranch with buildings. We took
possession in March, 1912, and farmed this ranch for twenty-four years. Here we
had our griefs and joys. I had many dear friends in Idaho. We did well, but
sorrow overtook us, and four of our children passed to the great beyond. White,
Violet, and Bob left families. Claude was never married. Our children were all
married in Idaho. We were growing old, and the ranch was not producing too much,
so we decided again to make a change. We sold the ranch and bought a home in
Sacramento (about 1936). Clifford, Wesley and Dick were all in Sacramento.
On May 6, 1940, we celebrated our 50th anniversary. Our
children, grandchildren, and many friends and relatives were present.
On Jan. 8, 1945, Tom passed away. This brought to my mind
more real than ever that we had no abiding place on this earth. I have four
children still living: Clifford, Wesley, Hazel and Richard. I have twenty-two
grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Two grandsons have passed on,
Robert (Clifford’s son) and Norman (White’s son), and one granddaughter in
infancy (Barbara - Wesley’s 1st born). Hazel and family came to Sacramento in
1942. Now all the children are in California. I am 82 years old the 4th of last
July, 1947, have had a full life. Tom and I both joined the Christian Church
early in our married life, and were it possible. I’d live it all over again. All
that I ask is that I may grow old gracefully, and never be a burden to anyone,
that my children may live the Christian life, be ready to help each other at all
times, and when the last summons comes, may we all hear the welcome words---
" Well done."
Flora's portrait is in the Photo Album
