Preston County, West Virginia          Biography of James D. BROWNING

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E-mail address:  <burns@asu.edu>

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg. 218-219

James D. Browning, who recently retired from the office and
responsibilities of sheriff of Preston County has been a farmer for the
most part, and the duties and obligations that have come to him from
time to time have been discharged each and all so earnestly and
faithfully as to make him one of the conspicuous men in this section of
the state.

Mr. Browning is not only a native son of Preston County, but belongs to
one of the first families to acquire a claim in this portion of the
frontier.  The founder of the family and his ancestor was the famous
hunter, Meshach Browning, who was one of the advance couriers of
civilization, preceding most of the Trans-Allegheny pioneers.  He was a
great hunter, a master of all the arts of the frontier and fortunately
possessed the literary accomplishments that enabled him to leave the
details of his experience and many pictures of frontier life in a volume
entitled "Forty-four Years of a Hunter's Life."  For the benefit of his
numerous posterity who have never seen this interesting volume it may be
recalled that the frontiersman was born in Frederick County Maryland in
1781, son of Joshua and Nancy Browning.  His parents were small farmers;
honest and industrious people and their unsullied names were about all
they could pass on to their sons.  The Browning home was in Garrett
County Maryland, subsequent to its removal to Frederick County, but when
the boundary between Maryland and West Virginia was finally surveyed it
was found that the Browning estate was in Preston County West Virginia.
Meshach Browning married Mary McMilan and their hold home was at Sang
Run, about four miles east from the West Virginia state line.  The old
hunter is buried at Hoyes Maryland.  He was the father of six children
and his sons, James, were grandfather of Sheriff Browning of Kingwood.

James Browning possessed some of his father's pioneer spirit and also
participated in the hunting expeditions that were an essential part of
the life of his time.  His real occupation was that of a farmer and he
established his home in Preston County and is buried at Terra Alta where
many of his relatives and members of his own family are buried.  His
wife, Minnie Benard, had lived in the vicinity of Keyser West Virginia.
The children of this old couple were Meshach Notley, Isaac, J.
Ferdinand, Rebecca, who married John H. Feather, Mary, who is the wife
of Smith Kelley, Susan, who became Mrs. Adam Parsons, Minnie, who was
married to Dr. M. Fichtner,and Louise, Mrs. Charles Jackson.  All the
daughters married Preston County men and many of their descendants are
still in the county.

Notley Browning, father of James D. Browning was born in Preston County
in December 1839.  He grew up in a district yet untamed and had much of
his grandfather's disposition to hunt.  He killed a great many bear and
other big game, and his hunting and trapping excursions were a source of
profit as well as a diversion from the other cares of life.  He farmed
rather extensively, owned thousands of acres of land and made many real
estate deals.  His interests in politics was that of a republican
voter.  Meshach Browning, the pioneer was of a family Catholic in faith
but later generations sought membership in the Protestant church and
Notley became a Methodist.  The wife of Notley Browning was Susan C.
Fichtner, who father, Daniel Fichtner, a physician, moved from Somerset
County Pennsylvania to Preston County West Virginia and lived out his
life there.  Notley Browning died February 14, 1917 when well on toward
fourscore while his widow passed away in July 1919.  This couple had
only two sons, James Daniel and B. Franklin.  The latter is a farmer and
merchant at Terra Alta.

James D. Browning, who therefore represents the fourth generation in the
history of Preston County, was born near Cranesville, September 19,
1866.  He attended the country schools, had an increasing part in the
labors of his father's farm and since reaching his majority his business
has been farming and merchandising at Cranesville.  Since retiring from
the office of sheriff he has resumed farming, and plans to make that the
principal vocation of his remaining years.  He had been out of
merchandising for a time when it was suggested that he enter the race
for sheriff of the county.  It was a gratifying surprise that he secured
the nomination practically without effort and in the fall of 1916 was
elected as the successor of Sheriff H. Foster Hartman.  His official
term included the war period and there were some crimes due to strikes
and labor unrest, but on the whole his term of four years was without
notable incident and he showed himself a firm master of every exigency.
Mr. Browning was elected as a republican and has been an active member
of that party since he cast his vote for Harrison in 1888.  He has
represented the county as a delegate to numerous local and state
conventions and has the acquaintance of some of the state party
leaders.  Mr. Browning is affiliated with the Independent Order to Odd
Fellows and Knights of Pythias and his family are Methodists.

In Preston County he married Miss Effie Van Meter who was born near
Cranesville, December 4, 1877, daughter of Robert and Martha (Feather)
Van Meter, her mother being a daughter of James and Christina (Summers)
Feather.  Robert Van Meter was an Evangelical minister, and was born in
Mason County West Virginia while his wife was born near Cranesville.
Mrs. Browning, the only child of her parents was educated in the common
schools.  Mr. and Mrs. Browning have four children: Nellie, Harold,
Notley and Hugh Browning.  Nellie is married, being the wife of Forest
Cuppett of Cranesville.


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