Brown Family Zinc Monument - West Hill Cemetery - Sherman, TX
N 33° 37.898 W 096° 37.123
14S E 720875 N 3723857
Standing about 20' high, a zinc obelisk stands in the Brown family plot in Sherman's West Hill Cemetery, marking the final resting places of Texas Supreme Court Justice Thomas Jefferson Brown and members of his family.
Waymark Code: WMXMXX
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/30/2018
Views: 0
One can but speculate as to why a man of means like Judge Brown would have his own grave marked by something mass-produced, especially since Texas Congressman, Silas Hare, is buried with his family adjacent to the Brown plot, their graves marked by an impressive monument. Perhaps he was frugal, perhaps his survivors opted to stick with the zinc monument that was in place for those who predeceased him.
Judge Brown was Supreme Justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1911 until his death in 1915. Either his panel has weathered differently from the rest of the monument, or the panel is a replacement or later add-on, given that he was the last of the family to be added. It faces south and reads:
T.J. Brown
July 24, 1836
May 26, 1915
Below is his wife's panel:
Louise T., Wife of T.J. Brown,
Born Oct. 11, 1886, Married Aug. 7, 1859,
Died January 11, 1907.
---
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my
fortress; My God; in him will I trust.
-----
On the obelisk shaft is a figure of a woman, pointing upwards, holding a book. On the plinth is the family name, "Brown", and note "Monumental Bronze Co. Bridgeport, CT." on the base.
The panel that faces west belongs to a daughter, and it is also missing a panel. Whether another interment is referenced on the missing panel, or whether it was simply decorative -- see the panel on the opposite side -- is unknown. Dr. Grizzard is buried in Abilene, so it probably did not belong to him. A psychopomp is depicted on the plinth, and higher up, a woman clings to a cross. The panel reads:
Lulie M., Wife of Dr. L.A.
Grizzard,
& Daughter of T.J. & L.T. Brown,
The panels facing north are shared by a grandson and a son, respectively. Leicester Brown Chapman was the son of Emily Katherine (Brown) Chapman. She and her husband, L.C. Chapman, are also buried here at West Hill. A Holy Bible appears on the plinth, while Christ stands with two children, higher up. The panels read:
Leicester
Brown
Chapman,
Born
October 9, 1887,
Died
March 5, 1888
Ervin L.,
Son of T.J. & L.T. Brown,
Born --- Died
Apr. 8, 1860, Nov. 24, 1867
The panel facing east has a figure holding an anchor, a symbol of hope, along with a cherub and an angel in supplication on the plinth. The panel reads:
Tommie Randolph,
Daughter of
T.J. & L.T. Brown,
Born --- Died
Oct. 10, 1875, June 10, 1876.
Date Created/Placed: Unknown
Address:
1304 W Lamar St, Sherman, TX 75092
Height: 20'
Illuminated: no
Website: [Web Link]
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