Orson Pratt Brown is the son of Captain James Brown and Phebe Abigail Abbott Brown Fife. Orson was born on the 22nd of May 1867 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah.
Orson's father died in September 30, 1963, just months after Orson's birth, hence he early had to learn to depend upon his own resources under the guidance of an understanding mother who was very close to him.
When he was about sixteen years old he and his mother traveled to Arizona in a covered wagon. They were three months on their way. They took up land near Phoenix, and farmed and raised chickens and worked very hard to make a living. His mother had married in polygamy, William Nicol Fife, and after selling out the possessions left to her by Captain James Brown, they took the above trip to Arizona.
Orson early learned how to use a gun and it was said of him that he was a "dead shot". He was among the first colonizers that settled in Mexico, his mother going with him in 1887. He fought Apache Indians in Mexico, trailed horses and cutthroats. He married Mattie Romney in Mexico by whom he had a large family, On one occasion while riding horseback through the country his horse threw him off, which broke his neck, cracked his skull and shattered his shoulder. He said that he was far from any other help but the Lord's, and he saw his father, Captain James Brown, in the spirit distinctly come and administer to him and he was able to go on alone to his home.
While in Mexico, Orson engaged in mining and in raising cattle and horses, he built a number of grist mills, and built canals, and has prospered financially. He married, with his wife's consent, three other wives, Jane Galbraith, Elizabeth Macdonald, and Eliza Skousen, by whom he had a number of children. During the uprising in Mexico all of the Mormons had to flee for their lives, and Orson's family among them. Orson was involved in the midst of various negotiations amidst the U.S. Army, the Federales, the Mormon Stake Presidency, the various Mexican rebel groups, and all parties involved in this conflagration. He remained to see that justice was done in preserving the vast land and property claims of the Mormon people which they had left behind.
As a consequence of the Mexican conflict, and exodus of the Mormon colonists, his wife, Martha Romney moved with her daughters to Salt Lake, and Eliza stayed in Arizona. Jane went on to Utah for awhile, then returned to Mexico for a time. [Elizabeth had died in Colonia Morelos in 1903.]
Orson was one of the colonizers of Colonia Dublán, Colonia Juárez, and Colonia Morelos, Sonora. Left without a family, Orson met in Ciudad Juárez a girl he married, Angela Gabaldón. He was Bishop for many years. He was closely associated with President Anthony W. Ivins of the First Presidency, while Brother Ivins was in Mexico a strong understanding friendship existed between them.
Orson was a faithful Latter-day Saint, always active in the Church and a fluent speaker of interest. During the years he made several trips to Utah and last one in 1940, when he gave a rousing address to the Brown descendants assembled in their yearly reunion on the 30th of September. Although he had retired he continued to farm and had within the last eight years set out several thousand apples trees which he lived to see begin to bear fruit.
Orson died in 1946, survived by his widow, Angela, 22 sons and daughters, many of who are doing well in Mexico. Among his children are: Miles Romney Brown, Anthony Morelos Brown, Mrs. Lynwood Liddell, and Mrs. Phoebe Gardner of Salt Lake, Clyde and Orson of Spanish Fork, Dewey Brown of Tucson, Arizona, and Donald, Gwendolyn, Anna, Otis, Elizabeth, Mattie Emma, Ronald, Pratt, and Grant living in Arizona, and Bertha, Gustavo, Pauly, Mary and Aaron in Colonia Dublán. He had 40 grandchildren and ten great grand children. (written prior to 1948)
Sources:
PAF- Archer files = Orson Pratt Brown's father = Captain James Brown Jr. + Mary McRee Black > Mary Eliza Brown + William Fuller Critchlow > Mary Harriet "Hattie" Critchlow + Ephraim Peter Jensen
Brown Book of Remembrance written by Hattie Critchlow Jensen and Luetta Brown Tanner prior to 1948, Hattie died on April 4, 1948 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Luetta Brown Tanner is a daughter of James Stephens Brown and Elizabeth Mary Clegg.
ORSON PRATT BROWN WEBSITE HOMEPAGE
