Walter T. Brown Family

Walter Theodore Brown, son of Julia Meshke and Henry Peet Brown married Angeline Elizabeth Meidam, daughter of Anna Phillippi and George Meidam in Clintonville, Wisconsin, on 12 October 1925.

Ancestors of the Brown-Meidam families resided in England, Prussia, Austria and Holland. The earliest known family members to immigrate to America were:
- Henry Peet Brown, father of Walter Theodore Brown was born in England, probably immigrated to the US in the 1880's or 1890's
- Elizabeth Klavitter Meshke, Walter Brown's maternal grandmother, emigrated from the Province of Pozen Germany in 1865.
- John & Mary Meidam, Great-Grandparents of Angeline Meidam Brown probably emigrated from Holland, buried at Grand Chute Cemetery, Appleton, WI.
- William & Louisa Meidam, (John & Mary's son and his wife)) emigrated from Amsterdam Holland in 1847.
- George Phillippi Sr., Grandfather of Angeline Meidam Brown, was born in Prussia and emigrated to the US in 1851. His wife, Elizabeth Long Phillippi was born in Austria. The date of her immigration is unknown at this time.


Pete Brown	Mrs. Pete Brown

Pete Brown, father of Henry Peet Brown, is the earliest known member of the Brown Family ancestry. His birth and death dates are unknown. Pete and his wife, (maiden name unknown), had the above pictures taken in St. Louis, MO. It is not known at this time if they lived there or were just visiting. They had 9 children:

Henry Peet (Harry), (possibly Henry Peete), born 26 Sep 1861, died 15 Aug 1904.
George
Walter
James
Charles Pete
Thomas Peter (Chicago)
Agnes (died Chicago)
Ann
Lillian (or Lilyian)

Henry Peet Brown, (nicknamed Harry) was born in England. He met Julia Meshke in Chicago where Julia was visiting her sister Mary James. Henry married Julia and the couple had 3 children:

Helen Catherine, born 28 May 1896, died 24 Aug 1979.
William J., born 18 Jun, 1901, died 28 Oct, 1979
Walter Thomas, born 8 Dec 1902, died 10 Oct 1998.


Henry Peet Brown	Julia Meshke

Henry Peet and Julia separated, probably in 1903 or 1904. Henry may have returned to the Chicago area. Walter Brown said that Henry was not a Catholic and that caused a problem with Julia's family. He thought that His father lived in New London a short time and then moved to Chicago. He also thought they were possibly divorced in 1903 or 1904. Henry Peet died when he fell through a skylight while working as a painter in 1904. The location of his death and burial is unknown. The Chicago area newspapers were checked for an obituary without results.

Helen was born in Illinois and baptized at Holy Rosary Church, Chicago, on 13 July1896. She married John Charley, (Jack), Felsner on 26 Feb 1919 at New London, WI. They had no children. Their wedding license lists Jack as a cabinet finisher. They both liked to fish and play cards and Jack was noted for his "spoon" playing where he entertained the kids by clapping spoons together, alternating between his hands and thighs etc. Jack passed away in 1966. Helen is buried at Most Precious Blood Cemetery in New London, WI.
William married Esther Socha; they had no children. They lived in Park Ridge, IL, a Chicago suburb. He served in the US Army during WW2 and prior to the war worked for the Pullman Co. before retiring in the 1960's. Esther was born 28 Mar 1915 and died 31 Mar 1974. They are buried in Maryhill Cemetery, Park Ridge, IL.
Walter Thomas Brown, born, Chicago, IL, married Angeline Meidam 12 Oct 1925 at Clintonville, WI. They had 7 children:
- Patricia, born 12 Jan, 1927
- Mary, born 20 Jul, 1929
- Dorothy, born 28 Apr, 1931
- Angela, born 11 Nov, 1932
- Robert Elmer, born 16 Sep, 1934
- Walter Theodore, (Bud), born 20 Sep, 1936
- Rachel Ann, born 29 Aug, 1937


Angeline Meidam	Walter Brown	Walter & Angeline

Brown Family

Angeline passed away on December 16, 1989. (Click here for a Tribute & Bio)

Walter passed away on October 9, 1997. (Click here for a Tribute & Bio)

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