SILAS MERCER BROWN-my second great grandfather

An interesting turn of events happened yesterday in the book of my life-I received information about my 2nd great grandfather, Silas Mercer Brown. I have been searching for him many, many years and a cousin obtained the death certificate for his daughter, Eliza Caroline Brown Beall and had the parents names-Mercer Brown and Eliza Chandler. Now the fun begins as I search for his parents. Found her parents as she is the second cousin of my great grandfather, Noble Newnan Beall who married Silas' daughter. Also, an interesting thing happened when I went to the website findagrave.com to view his memorial. There was a note of thanks for contributions to "Sacred Harp" music. Says he was a noted singer and songwriter and published in this book. This tells me that just about all the music ability in the family came from this man and I thought it all came from the Beall side as my grandfather and all his brothers wrote gospel music. Just wish my dad had known all about him. Well I have alot more relatives to find and maybe contact the living ones if they have a tree on ancestry.

S. M. Brown 1811, March 29, 1881. Was born in South Carolina and moved to Georgia in 1834, settling in what would become Haralson County. His given name is something of a mystery as it is given as Silas in the1870 Federal census, but Samuel in the 1880 census. He married Elizabeth Chandler (Eliza or Lucy) in 1836. A farmer, he served as Justice of the Peace in 1868-69. Brown was the first secretary of the Tallapoosa Musical Convention in 1867 and also participated in the Chattahoochee Convention. He contributed several truly memorable tunes to the 1870 Sacred Harp, all marked "original" indicating that they had not even been published previously. His obituary in the 15 April 1881 Carroll County Times reads:

     "We regret to chronicle the death of Hon. S. M. Brown of Haralson county. He died of chronic liver disease. He was well known to all the old citizens of Carroll and adjoining counties and was thought well of far and near. He was a good singer and a composer of music. He had several pieces of music in the Sacred Harp and we hope Bro. Ripples will sing two of his compositions found on page 138 and 384 of the Sacred Harp, in remembrance of Bro. Brown, as it was his request to have them sung before his death by his friends."

Later that year, on 14 August, the Tallapoosa Musical Convention passed a memorial resolution stating:

     "Since our last meeting, Death has visited our musical family. Bro. S. M. Brown was born in South Carolina in 1811 and moved to Georgia in 1834 and in 1836 was married to Miss Lucy Chandler. He never made any public profession of religion, but his walk and conversation imitated that of a christian. He was a dear lover of music. Just before his death, he raised his hands toward heaven and said, "I want to go up yonder." He breathed his last on March 29th, 1881. He was a kind father and an affectionate husband. He has left a kind wife, eight children and many friends to mourn his loss.
     .
     1. Resolved, that in the death of Brother Brown, the convention has lost one of its best standards.
     2. Resolved, that we would say to the children to try and imitate the steps of their father.
     3. Resolved, that our prayer is that when we leave this land of toil we may strike hands with him beyond the river Jordan.
     4. Resolved that we sing the tune "Span of Life" led by Bro. C. J. Cook and engage in prayer, led by Bro. T. L. Lassiter.
     5. Resolved that the proceedings be recorded on the convention book and a copy sent to the Carroll County Times for publication and request that the Cedartown paper to copy, and a copy be sent to the family of the deceased Brother.

J.M. Hamrick / B.O. Monroe / S/ Edwards, Committee

page 138 "Ogletree"

    Frequent the day of God's return
    To shed its quick'ning beams;
    And yet how slow devotion burns,
    How languid are its flames.

page 322 "Man's Redemption"

The glorious plan of man's redemption
By the Son of God was wrought,
To save the lost and ruined nation,
So to Heav'n we might be brought.

Chorus:

Glory, honor, and salvation,
To the Lamb who once was slain;
Sound His praise thro' ev'ry nation,
May it never cease again.

 page 384 "Panting for Heaven"

    O when will the period appear
    When I shall unite in your song?
    I’m weary of lingering here,
    And I to your Savior belong.
    I’m fettered and chained up in clay,
    I struggle and pant to be free,
    I long to be soaring away,
    My God and my Savior to see.

page 379 "Span of Life"
My span of life will soon be gone,
The passing moments say;
As length’ning shadows o’er the mead
Proclaim the close of day.
O that my heart might dwell aloof
From all created things,
And learn that wisdom from above,
Whence true contentment springs.