Orson Erastus Skousen Brown was born in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico on May 22, 1909.  He was the second son and fourth child of Orson Pratt Brown and Eliza Skousen Brown, who were married in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico on September 2, 1902, when Orson was 39 years old and Eliza 20 years old. 

Eliza was 26 when Orson Erastus was born, and Orson was 46.  Orson Erastus had two older sisters and one brother who were:  Gwen, Anna, and Otis Pratt.  Orson Erastus only lived 16 months, dying from spinal meningitis.

 In 1907, Eliza had moved with her children from Colonia Morelos, Sonora, Mexico, back to the larger colony of Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico, where her first son, Otis Pratt Brown, was born September 6, 1907.  When again pregnant in 1908, she hoped for a little baby brother for Otis.  It was double delight when, the baby was not only a boy, but was born on her husband's birthday, May 22, 1909.  Orson, away at the time, was pleased upon his return with his new birthday present.  She named him Orson Erastus Skousen, calling him by his middle name, Erastus.

Eliza tells about the death of Orson Erastus:

 “When Orson Erastus, my baby, was born May 22, 1909, on his father’s birthday, I thought when your father comes home to see his birthday present (gift), how pleased he will be and surprised.”

 “Time passed and I was the one to be surprised.  It was September 1910.  It was on a Sunday that I had left the children playing in the yard for a little while.  My baby was so perfectly healthy, [and] never had been sick.  As I came home through the gate he ran to meet me.  I picked him up and he doubled up backwards his head and feet almost touching.  Oh my, what a shock!”

“I called my neighbor, Sister Millicent Jameson who had also been my neighbor in Morelos, Sonora, Mexico.  She came right over.  She made a pack of hot hops and bran.  I never saw anything dry so quickly as this wet pack did.  His fever was so high.  She stayed with me until his father came, which was not long.  We sat up all night not knowing what it was he stricken with.”

“Early in the morning Orson had Dr. Roberts, a fine old man, come and when he looked at the baby I could see what was in his mind.  Then I ask if my baby would get well.  He looked at me and said:  ‘Mrs. Brown, as long as there is life there is hope.’  The baby had infantile meningitis, spinal meningitis.  He was sick for ten days having one convulsion after the other. “

“Sunday night a week after he had taken ill Orson said, ‘Eliza, he has suffered long enough and he may be maimed in some way if he should live.  Don’t you think we should have the Elders come and dedicate him to the Lord?  If it is His will, then take him out of his suffering.’  Then, Orson said, ‘I will stay with the baby while you go tell Bishop Thurber.’  …After the Elders took their hands off the baby’s head he relaxed, and I could put his arms by his side and straighten out his legs for the first time since he was stricken.”

“When I realized what I had asked of the Lord through His servants, I went out by the well and cried unto the Father who had sent him to me, ‘Father, if I have any more children you want to take, please don’t let them suffer as this baby has.’”

 “I went in and found the baby still resting.  I thought so peacefully.  At 5:00 a.m., Monday, Orson called me and said:  ‘He has just passed on.’  ‘Why didn’t you call me?’ I asked.  Orson answered:  ‘He passed on so peacefully we would not want him bothered or disturbed.’”

 “So, I washed him and dressed him for the last time in this life.  He looked so sweet in his little white suit.  One of the songs sung was Nearer My God to Thee.  …One day I was lonesome and wanted to talk to him, (my baby).  I walked out to the little grave, which is in the Dublan cemetery.  I sat by the side and sang over and over again Nearer My God to Thee.  This was the last time that I wept for him and the last time that I saw his resting place.”

Reflecting on the death and burial of her third son, Francisco Madero, in Colonia Juarez in 1912, Eliza spoke of her great desire to have and raise her two baby sons in the hereafter.  “His [Francisco’s] grave was dedicated to the Lord so that nothing would disturb it in any way until the morning of the first resurrection when I shall have the privilege of taking my babies and raising them to manhood if I am worthy and have lived in a way to do it.  That is if I obey all of God’s laws and commandments.  I am trying to do so….  You see when the first baby, Erastus, was about to go I had told the Lord how I felt and I had said,  ‘If ever I have anymore you want please don’t let them suffer.’  So, I was asked to let Frankie go, too.  I am always willing to say as Thy will, not mine be done.”

 

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Sources:

PAF - Orson Pratt Brown + Eliza Skousen > Orson Erastus Brown

Journal of Eliza Skousen

Otis James Brown Klein

Copyright 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org