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Ross Charles Browning
b.8 Sep 1822 Barre City, Washington, Vermont, United States
d.26 Mar 1899 Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 23 Jan 1812
(edit)
m. 24 Oct 1854
Facts and Events
[edit] Biography of Ross Charles Browning[edit] Early YearsRoss C Browning was born at Barre, Vermont 8 Sep 1822, the son of Reverand Thomas Browning and Persis Ross[1]. Ross moved with his parents to Richmond, VT when quite young and he had excellent school advantages, both public and private. He completed his education at Liberal Institute, Lebanon, New Hampshire. He was a school teacher for several years in Sussex County, New Jersey, and is found living with a family there on the 1850 census. Afterwards, he was employed by Erie Railway Co. at its terminus at that time at Piermont on the Hudson. [edit] Manufacturing BusinessIn 1850 he became associated with Alvin J. Johnson, under the firm name of Johnson & Browning. They published an atlas of the world, one of the most elaborate and complete of any work of the kind then published in this country[4]. It had an extensive sale throughout the country and especially in the South, and owing to the prejudice against Northern publications, it became necessary to establish a branch plant in Richmond, Virginia, the work being issued from that point. Mr. Browning had charge of that branch of the business, and employed a number of agents to canvass the southern territory. He was at that time a resident of Richmond. At the breaking out of the war, he managed, through the efforts of Gov. Letcher, to get through the line with his family, but was obliged to leave all his presses and other materials, together with his household furniture, etc. The presses were afterwards used by the Confederate Government for printing Confederate notes and bonds[4]. These, together with the household furniture, were confiscated by the Confederate Government and became a total loss, and Mr. Browning was never able to recover anything after the war. Mr. Browning registered for the draft in the Civil War in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey on 1 July 1862[16]. He remained true and loyal to the Union throughout the war and rendered substantial aid in many ways. At the time of the draft riots, in the summer of 1863, Mr Browning closed his establishment in New York City and, taking the lead himself, invited his employees to join the special police force in the terrible struggle which lasted for several days. The platoon in which Mr. Browning and his employees served had several hand-to-hand encounters with the rioters and participated in the sanguinary charge of the police which rescued the gas works from destruction and saved the city from being plunged in darkness[4]. He continued to carry on the map publishing business at the North, both during and after the war, and was very successful. In 1863, he and his partner became interested in a newly patented clothes wringer which became a great success, and the two partners divided their interests, Mr. Johnson continuing the map business, and Mr Browning taking the clothes wringer business. A stock company was organized of which Mr. Browning was general manager. He afterward became President. On November 10 1868, Ross Browning acquired the patent for an improvement in book binding from James S Lever of Philadelphia. It was U. S. Patent No 83,980[6]. He went on to file several patents and improvements to the Wringer Washing Machine, either personally or as part of his company, Metropolitan Washing-Machine Co., in 1871, 1876, 1880[6]. A website that lists "Ol and Interesting things" states: "One of the most really meritorious machines, was the Clothes Wringer, manufactured by the Metropolitan Washing Machine Co. It must save laboring women a great deal of severe labor. It is attached by screwing to the side of a wash-tub, and the clothes are passed by turning a handle, between two rollers covered with India rubber. The force required is slight, and by moderate motion a large sheet was passed through in five seconds. It was left slightly moist." See website: |Old and Interesting Things. I remember as a young child that my grandmother would take me to the area "wash-a-teria" to wash clothes and remember seeing her take the clothes from one tub to another, using one of these hand-cranked wringers to wring out all the water from them. In 1885, he patented a bottom bed rail system which was adjustable to hold different mattresses, U S Patent 317,922[6]. Competition arose in the wringer business, and other companies of the kind were organized. They were eventually absorbed by a syndicate, and in 1892, Mr Browning parted with his interest and retired from business[4]. [edit] Orange, New JerseyMr. Browning was for some time a resident of Brooklyn. He moved to Orange in 1861 where they purchased a lot from Blackwell and Stone on Sept 10, 1861 (Essex County Deeds N11:261), and in 1865 purchased what was known as the Merrill place, in Llewellyn Park, Orange, New Jersey[15].  [edit] FamilyDuring his early life while teaching school in Sussex County, New Jersey, he met Miss Katharine Hamilton, daughter of Francis Price Hamilton of Hamburg, New Jersey. He and Katharine were married in Hamburg, Sussex County on 24 Oct 1854. They had three sons, one of which died young. He and Mrs. Browning adopted a daughter, Bertha, who lived for years with her brother. She married in 1910 to Edward J Hunt. They resided in Orange, New Jersey in a residence in Llewellyn Park[7]. Mr. Browning passed away in Jacksonville, Florida on 26 March 1899 from pneumonia. His funeral was held at his Llewellyn Park residence and he is buried along with his wife and children in Rosedale Cemetery, Orange New Jersey[8]. His will and codicil was presented for probate in 1899 in Sussex County, New Jersey[11]. Image Gallery
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