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WILLIAM BROWNELL, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Ball township, Sangamon county, on the tenth day of December, 1822; son of John and Nancy (Pulliam) Brownell, a daughter of Robert Pulliam, the first settler in Sangamon county, coming as early as 1817, and built the first log cabin in Ball township. Mr. John Brownell came to the State in 1818, and located on Sugar creek, where he embarked in farming and in various other branches of business. He is still living in Auburn township, at the advanced age of eighty-one, and is probably the oldest living resident of the county. There was a family of eleven children. Mr. William Brownell, the oldest son, remained at home, and on account of his father's health, took charge of the business until 1863. In 1848, married Miss Elizabeth Bridges, daughter of George Bridges, of Harrison county, Kentucky; she was born in Harrison county, Kentucky. By this union there was a family of six children; four of whom are living, Jane, Isabel, and Columbus V.; John W. died October 25, 1881, of consumption. She died February 14, 1869. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and was loved and respected by all who knew her. In December, 1869, married Miss Elizabeth Vaughn; she was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, March 3, 1840. There were two children, one of whom is still living, Ora Viola. In 1863, he came to Auburn, where he embarked in the drug business, and bought and repaired the hotel, which he run for twelve years. Auburn, at that time, was a small place, there being but two buildings on the west side of the railroad. Mr. B. has been identified with Auburn and vicinity all his life; has seen it from its wild, uncultivated prairies, to one of the finest agricultural sections in the State. Has held several local offices of trust in the gift of the people, as police magistrate, school director, etc. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Ark and Anchor Lodge, No. 354, of Auburn. The family are members of the Baptist Church.
Sudden Change. - Reminiscences by Mr. William Brownell. - He says a man by the name of Welch was relating how, at the time of the sudden change, that he had chickens which were on a fence at the time the cold wave struck them, were blown off into the slush, and as soon as they struck the ground would freeze in their tracks; when a Dutchman who heard him tell it; said that at the time, his wife was making a kettle of hominy over the fireplace, and the top of it was frozen over about two inches; he took a hatchet, chopped into it, and found it boiling furiously in the center. Mr. Brownell had a cousin driving stage from Springfield to Mechanicsburg, and at the time of the sudden change, was passing Clear Lake, and had driven into the lake when the blast struck him, and before he could get his team out, the wagon had frozen in, and in order to extract his team, had to cut his harness and leave the wagon, and jump on his team with his mail bag and make for Mechanicsburg, which he reached in a frozen condition. On
the following day he returned to the lake, cut out the wagon and took it to town.