"NayNay"Nathan Harsh Brown BROWN

  General Notes:

Came to live with his sister's six children in 1930 and stayed with their father after they all moved away.

Musician, raconteur, much beloved. Favorite of all his great nieces and nephews. Also known as "Hunky." His nephew Arthur Chitty remembered him as "Never growing up." "He had no enemies." The only purpose in making money was to use it for giving something to someone. When he died he didn't even have a bank account. Amazing vocal range from deep bass to lyric tenor. A party planned by friends would be cancelled if he couldn't come.

He lived a double life, he was a homebody as far as his parents were concerned, but would party all weekend. Got everyone singing wherever he went.

A self-imposed duty was to teach all the children to use the telephone, so that he could call them from work.

Went to school at "The Rural" where about half the students were cousins. Teacher were "Fessor G.B. Kirkpatrick" and "Fessor Rutherford" (kin by marriage). Later went to Gallatin Public School and Nashville Grade School.

Worked in Nashville for Burts Men Store, later Harveys Dept. Store. He liked wrapping packages better than digging potatoes for .50 per day.

Family moved to Ponca Indian Reservation in Oklahoma, c. 1890. when his father was threatened with TB. Returned to TN, then back to OK. Indian beaded mocassins in possession of Arthur Ben Chitty, Jr. came from this time.

Rode the range, slept in the open, had a wonderful time with the Indians as a teenager, age 12-18. Learned some Ponca Indian language. “Noodahunga” was WWB Indian name, “Red Beard.”

Went to work for George Rutherford Harsh his cousin, manager of the 13th St. factory of Roberts Johnson and Rand Shoe Co. Then left for Jacksonville in 1905 (age 20) and cousin George got rich. Lived with his parents at 1427 Laura St. The three younger children went across Main St. to old Duval High and the church at First Christian, where we was eventually buried.

Worked for Jones Furniture Co., Porto Grape Juice Co., and later a ginger ale bottler which advertised with a steam calliope which he had visit the homes of his nieces and nephews.

Later operated Bensel & Brown Gas Station, but was closed by Crash of '29 and his own good natured credit policies. Worked the rest of his life for Chitty & Co.

He was considered by his brother in law to be shiftless, but when Arthur Chitty argued with him, all the family would take his side.

Supported his parents, especially after father's accident falling off the jetty while fishing. They died right before the Crash.

"The man who came to dinner" in 1930 after Hazel died, he moved in and raised Dolly and Gertrude.

A monograph on Nathan's life (by Arthur Chitty, Jr.) is in the files of his nieces and nephews.

Why he didnt get married, almost did, had a gorlfriend, got dressed up bought new shooes a little tight, rented a horse and buggy, took a ride was going to propose but my feet hurt, so I couldn’t wait to get back. Carol Bedgood was a girlfriend, Gertruse remembers taking Hunky over on Saturday, then someone would pick him up on Sunday at her apartment over the Western pig restaurant at San Juan and Hershcel in Jacksonville. Hunky would get so drunk he would lose the car downtown and household would have to walk around and find. He also once lost his false teeth at a poker game.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Businessman With Arthur Chitty, Sr.

• Education: Business College.

• Religion: Disciples Of Christ.