This January 29th marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of my Uncle Alvin, who must have inherited physical stamina and endurance. He was named Alvin Rudolph Brown, but we always called him Uncle A. Alvin was the second child and oldest son of Charles Weldie Brown and Lucy Belle Swank. He was born in Davidson Township, Sullivan County according to his birth certificate, which his father signed, indicating there was no doctor or midwife present during his delivery.
In his early life, Alvin suffered a couple of near fatal incidents. When he was a baby, his mother Lucy laid him down on a blanket in the yard not far from her while she did some tasks. He began crying and she went over to him. Lucy saw a rattlesnake nearby and noticed that Alvin had been bitten in the chest. They rushed him to the hospital, uncertain if he would live. Lucy stated Alvin turned the color of the snake while he was in the hospital. He was very fortunate to survive his encounter with the snake.
Later as a toddler, Alvin had another calamity. His mother was cooking in the kitchen and must have turned her back for a moment. Alvin reached up at the stove, and pulled a pan of hot grease down on himself, severely burning his chest. Although he recovered from the burns, he retained the scar of the scalding and the bite mark of the snake throughout his life.
Alvin’s early years were spent in Lycoming County where the Brown homestead was, and in Cayuga County NY when his father moved there for work opportunities. They returned to Lycoming County for a short time before settling in Indiana County PA in 1918, where Alvin would live the remainder of his life. In the 1930 census there are two enumerations for Alvin and his brother, Emery. The first shows both living with their parents, but several pages later, Alvin is listed, with Emery as a relative, and William Rouch as a boarder in their household.
Like many in the family, Alvin spent much of his life working in the coal mines. In the two 1930 census, Alvin was first listed as a coal miner in the enumeration with his parents, but in the one a few pages later, he was recorded as a laborer doing road work. Around 1940 Alvin worked as a laborer for Consolidated Lumber and Supply Company in Indiana PA. At some point he returned to working in the mines and retired from Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Company around 1970.
In 1937 Alvin married Vera Lydick, daughter of Smith and Edith Walker Lydick. They raised two sons, and enjoyed five grandchildren. Vera, who was a diabetic, battled with complications from that disease. Sadly, she died January 26, 1974 in Indiana PA, at only age 55. Although Alvin had some health issues, he lived to be 86 years of age and died November 26, 1995 in Indiana PA.
Alvin and Vera stood as witnesses for my parents when they got married. During the early years of my parents’ marriage they lived in Indiana PA and spent time with Alvin and Vera, especially camping in Tionesta. After my parents moved to the next county over, they continued to visit family in Indiana County a few times a year. Alvin lived between Indiana and Homer City and we would often stop to visit on our way home from visiting my aunts in Indiana. After I graduated from High School, I was busy with college and work, so I didn’t always make it over with my parents.
When I did accompany my parents, I always enjoyed dropping by to see Uncle A. Like his siblings, Alvin was easy going and would joke around. I wish I could recall more of the stories he might have told about the family during our stops, but there is one image of him that often comes to mind. I was about 4 or 5 years old, and we were getting into our car to head home after our visit with Alvin. Uncle A stood near the car window, laughing and joking as we got ready to drive away. His disposition seemed so cheerful, that even today, I can’t help but smile when I recall Uncle A.
Relatively Speaking Blog 