Charles Francis Brown was born April 11, 1869 in Springfield, Mo. He and his mother, Elvina, lived with his uncle, Thomas Marion Brown and family, in Cedar Valley, Stone County Missouri. Charles did not like to go to school, but his uncle was a strict man and he insisted that he go to school, often giving him a whipping to make him go. When he was around 8 or 9 years old, his uncle thrashed him soundly one morning and told him to get to school. Dad Brown told me that was the last whipping the old man ever gave him because he ran off, never to return.

Charles walked until he came upon a large camp of people getting ready to go to Texas, so he joined up with a family whose name was Brown. They had several boys, one being about his age. They went to Texas. No one knew but what Johnny Brown and Charles were brothers. I don't know how long it was until James Brown, the father, decided to move to New Mexico. Johnny and Charles drove the cattle and the family moved to west central New Mexico, settling somewhere between Datil and Pie town. Johnny and Charles were just big old kids when they heard that Toles Cosper, down on the Blue, was always looking for cowboys, so they saddled up and rode to Blue river, getting a cowboying job. Johnny had rather take care of the cows but Charles had rather ride the bucking horses.

From then on Charles was on his own. He married Lydia Jane Jackson and raised 10 children, 5 boys and 5 girls. He was noted for being a top "rough string rider", riding horses that others couldn't begin to ride. He was a cowboy, freighter,logger, and farmer. He was a hard worker and a more honest man you'd never meet. His word was as good as gold. Johnny and Dad stayed best friends all their life.

Dad worked his last roundup at McNeil, Arizona when he was 95 years old. Someone had to put his saddle on his horse, but when he got mounted, he was as good as the next cowboy.

Dad died in Safford, Arizona, August 19, 1964 and was buried in the Show Low Cemetery by others of his family. He is missed by his family and all who knew him.