Re: Illinois Browning Family Connections
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In reply to:
Re: Illinois Browning Family Connections
Arlie Jenkins 5/06/01
Dear Sharon,
Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!Sorry it has taken me a few days to reply to your post.Unfortunately, it will be a couple more days yet until I can give you any solid response (if I can come up with one, that is!)
I know that most of the Southeastern Kentucky BROWNING families have been traced, and I've no doubt that there are probably postings on this forum, but, you never can tell.My line is distant to yours, but we're connected eventually.
Yes, we are related to JOHN MOSES BROWNING, inventor of some of the most famous guns in the history of firearms and armaments.I have a couple of postings on this forum in regards to that.
I'm also a descendant of Virginia, South Carolina and Mississippi JENKINS families, the same bunch sa country music star Conway Twitty (real name Harold Lloyd Jenkins).My dad was born in DeWitt, Arkansas, and his mom was a Browning from Eddyville, Kentucky area in the western part of the state.When she was young, her folks moved to Arkansas for a while, which is where she met and married my grampa UNDERWOOD.Grampa Underwood's paternal grandmother was Mary Ann JENKINS (b: 1838 in Union Co., SC).
I'll see what I can find on your Brownings and try to post a reply in a few days.I'm not much of a correspondent sometimes, being so busy with other things and all, but I'll do my best.
I went to Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, and attended Binghamtown Baptist in Middlesboro.Whoooeee do they have some good preachin', especially by William Boyd.(I'm only assuming that you know who and what I'm talking about.If not let me know and I'll be more specific.)Jimmy and Dickey were always a great music team too.Do you know old Mr. & Mrs. Cardwell?I'm distant kin to them on my mom's side.They're from the Tazewell County bunch, but lived in Middlesboro, where I believe they had a furniture store.
A lot of good old boys and good old yahoo's down there ain't there?I always have the fondest of memories from the Cumberland Gap.If you're ever at Binghamtown Baptist, they've got a big life-sized painting of old W. B. Bingham II, standing in his white suit in front of a stained glass window.I painted that picture about 10 years ago.
(Apparently some kid had run into it a while back and poked a hole in part of it with his finger!Oh well.I used to be in their bus ministry with old Willis whats-his-name and fellow Clear Creek students Charles and Carolyn Dixon---now missionaries in Tanzania.And those kids, bless their little hearts, we brought them in by the bus-load.Saw a lot of them get saved, too, including two Jewish boys.I guess a finger-poke is a small price to pay for having a church full of kids.)
Also, if you're ever inclined to go to Clear Creek's campus, they have a historical room in their main administration building (I guess it's still in that building---I haven't been able to visit there in over 7 years).There are three portraits of professors that I painted in that room as well:Dr. H. C. Chiles, Dr. Jackson R. Robertson, and Dr. Dudley Pomeroy.All these were done on commission, to help me with college bills, etc.Professor George W. Sleeker and his wife are still teaching there and were always good friends.I heard from him a few months ago, and he's still going strong.Look them up, they're the sweetest folks.
I'm somewhat familiar with Chenoa, but I never spent much time east of Rt. 25 or up towards Harlan Co. or Letcher Co.I believe Farrell Green pastored in Chenoa when I was a student there, over 11 years ago.He was in my class and was from Blount Co., TN, and he was a hoot-and-a-half.But he loved the Lord and was a good pray-er, and I always felt he tried hard to be the man God wanted him to be.His wife was a sweetheart, too, and their son Corby was 100% all-American boy.I preached for Farrell a few times and sang specials and led music for him on occasion.Mostly, I ministered in Middlesboro, deep southern Bell County and over into Tennessee, and up 25 towards Bar'ville and Bimble.I just preached some revivals and filled the pulpit here and there, and was always in the Bus Ministry at Binghamtown.I drove home to Decatur, Illinois about every 4 or 5 weeks while I was down there.I lived in Kelly Hall.
I'll share with you that I did end up getting discombobulated and turned every whichaway on one Wednesday evening, and ended up slap-dab in the middle of Crockett, way up in northern Bell County.As it was Wednesday night, and having noticed no Baptist Church nearby (though there probably is one there somewhere,) I stopped off to visit a little Pentecostal church, even though I'm mostly "Sovereign Grace Landmark Missionary Bapti-costal" (and a lifelong Southern Baptist.)I was pleased that the folks there were very sweet and loving and friendly as all get-out.Now I didn't mind that the women were on the right side of the building and the men were on the left, after all we don't need no hanky-panky in church.I didn't mind the dancing, 'cause I believe we ought to celebrate our Savior with joy, even though I don't really cotton much to dancing.I don't mind clapping hands for any reason, or singing good old hymns with a good bit of pep, to let the devil know we're still alive and kicking.I don't mind good old Holy Ghost fire and brimstone preaching, 'cause I believe that's part of the work we're called to do in preaching the whole counsel of God.I welcomed the great vocal participation of the congregation, as it reminded me of my own church where we like shouting and praising God in Spirit and in truth.But after a while, they got out the rattlesnakes, and after about five minutes of that, I was SO BLESSED that I skedaddled out of there lickety-split and headed on home!
Well, old home week has got to be put to bed for now.I'm teaching Sunday School in the morning and I'm behind on my studies.G'night, cousin, and God bless.
Matt Underwood
Tampa, FL
More Replies:
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Re: Illinois Browning Family Connections
7/09/01
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Re: Illinois Browning Family Connections
Arlie Jenkins 5/13/01