Tales Tombstones Tell 2025 - Thomas Brown
36th Annual Tales Tombstones Tell Self - Guided Tour
Step back in time with us for the 36th annual Tales Tombstones Tell — a beloved community tradition that brings local history to life, one gravestone at a time.
Each video in this series features a stop from our Oakwood Cemetery walk, sharing the stories of the people, families, and events that helped shape our town’s past. Whether you’re exploring for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, these tales reveal the humanity, humor, and heart found among the stones.
Thomas Brown (1812–1884) and his wife Cornelia Van Patten Brown were early English settlers whose farm once stood on the land that became Turner. Their home still stands near Route 59 and Conde Street — one of the oldest in the area.
Interpreted by: Dan
Hello there — this story is about Thomas Brown.
He’s buried here, along with some of his family members.
Thomas Brown was from Yorkshire, England.
He left behind the hills and cottages of his homeland for the open plains of Illinois — quite the change of scenery!
He met his wife, Cornelia, here in the United States.
Thomas was born on December 7, 1812 — remember that date when December 7th rolls around, and you can say, “Ah! Tom told me his birthday!”
Cornelia was born the same year, 1812, in Rotterdam, New York.
Together, Thomas and Cornelia built their life here.
I’ve been coming to Tales Tombstones Tell for eighteen years — well, more than that, since I’ve been buried here all this time — and even I’ve learned a few things! For one, I used to think the first town here was called Turner Junction.
But it turns out that’s not quite right.
It was first called Turner, then later Junction, and now, of course, West Chicago.
That’s one of the nice things about coming to these events — you always learn something new about your community.
Cornelia, as I mentioned, was born in Rotterdam, New York, and her family roots ran deep in the Hudson Valley.
When Thomas and Cornelia married in 1834, they soon felt the pull of the West.
Nine years later, in 1843, they packed up their lives and came westward, settling on farmland where Turner would eventually grow.
Back then, it was all open plains and fields.
They were farmers — hard-working, steady folks who wanted to build a life from the soil.
The land where their farm once stood was on the southern edge of Turner, though the street later named after them — Brown Street — is now near the middle of town, close to the middle school.
Even though the location shifted over time, their name remains part of the town’s heart.
Their farmhouse stood on the west side of what’s now Route 59 and Conde Street, and the house still stands today — a living reminder of what they built.
(If you’re curious to see it, the folks at the West Chicago City Museum can tell you more — they’re open Thursdays and Fridays, 9:30 to 2:30!)
Life on the farm was never easy, but it was full.
Thomas and Cornelia raised four children — Mary, Jacob, Mark, and William Henry.
Each carved their own path, though they never strayed far from their parents’ hearts.
Jacob stayed close to home, becoming the steady hand of the homestead. The ladies of the community often said he was “as dependable as the sunrise.”
The other boys, though — William Henry and Mark — were restless.
After William served in the Union Army during the Civil War, he and Mark headed west to Montana, chasing gold and adventure.
Mark had been just seventeen when he enlisted in the 141st Illinois Infantry for a hundred-day term. He came home safely, thank goodness, but the war — and the tales of gold — had changed him.
He went west again and stayed there nearly thirty years, working in mining and law enforcement, and even serving as sheriff in Montana. He lived a life of danger and adventure that we can hardly imagine from our quiet home here in Turner.
Back home, the Browns’ farmhouse was a hub of family and friendship.
Thomas remembered especially the night of January 16, 1884 — their 50th wedding anniversary.
The house was full to overflowing — over a hundred guests!
Old settlers, young friends — all gathered to celebrate. There was laughter, stories, and a splendid meal. It was a golden night, one they carried in their hearts forever.
From Yorkshire to New York, from prairie to railroad town, from quiet farm fields to sons in the distant mountains — the Browns’ story is written into Turner’s soil.
Though the years pass, I hope folks will remember us — not just for the street that bears our name, but for the life we lived, the children we raised, and the community we helped to grow.
Thank you for coming out tonight — and thank you for remembering the Browns, one of the original families who helped build this community.
