Age: 72 years, 7 months, 2 days
WILFORD S. BROWN
DOB: December 23, 1868
Michigan, USA
DOD: July 24, 1941
Calumet, IN, USA
Parentage Unknown; both born in New York according to the census reports
Husband of Mary L. (maiden name unknown), married December, 1919 in Lake County, Indiana
Step-Father to: Lucille Gross (John Henry Mattes), Olivette Gross (Ralph H Crosby), Culver Gross (Margaret, maiden name unknown) and Leone M Gross (Harold F. Oltz)
HAMMOND TIMES JULY 25, 1941
WILFORD BROWN SUCCUMBS AT 72
Wilford S. Brown, 72, resident of the Calumet area for 50 years and pensioned in 1934 by the Standard Oil Company at Whiting, suffered a fatal heart attack last night in the Southmoor apartment residence in Hammond of his step-daughter, Mrs. Leone Oltz.
Brown, who had a temporary Sibley Street address and did vast traveling, was ill for a year. His wife died five years ago.
Surviving are three step-daughters, Mrs. Oltz of Hammond, Mrs. Lucille Mattes of Baltimore, MD. and Mrs. Oilvette Crosby of New York City; a step-son, Culver Gross of Hammond and three grandchildren.
The body lies at the (Emmerling) Funeral Home at 6020 Hohman Avenue. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Editor’s notes:
1910 census listed him as a Teamster – S. Oil Co., Whiting, Indiana. Standard Oil bought the Sinclair Oil Co, Whiting, IN in 1911 (when he was 42)
This is not Wilford in the photo, but an image of what a 1910 oil teamster may have looked like
1920 census listed him as a “Pumper – Standard Oil”, Whiting, IN (when he was 52)
1930 Census listed him as a Laborer – Oil Refinery, Whiting, IN (when he was 62)
1940 Census: he was not working, living with Lucille, her 2nd husband John Henry Mattes and Lucille’s son Harold Culp in Hammond, Indiana
Wilford’s family members also resting in the mausoleum are:
Wife : Mary L. (maiden name unknown) Brown