Miss Elizabeth CHILDRESS, the subject of this sketch, was the daughter of Maj. John W. CHILDRESS and the beautiful Mrs. Sarah Williams CHILDRESS, of the historic town of Murfreesboro Tenn. Her alma mater was the old Nashville Female Academy, that institution which has turned out so many noble, cultured women, with Dr. C.D. ELLIOTT as principal. Miss CHILDRESS entered the school at an early age, and remained there until she graduated, receiving the first honors of her class. As a young lady, she was a great belle throughout the South, spending much of her time at Polk Place with her aunt, Mrs. James K. POLK,and assisting her in receiving the General Assembly and other distinguished visitors from all parts of the world. The Civil War came on while she was still a young lady, and she met many distinguished officers, quite a number of whom were suitors for her hand. She was finally captured by the handsome, gallant major general, John C. BROWN, of the Army of Tennessee. Their marriage was like a romance. Elaborate preparations had been made at the home for the event, and the usual rich trousseau of a lovely Southern girl had been created under the deft hands of the most fashionable modistes of the time. The invitations had been issued for nine o’clock in the evening of February 23, 1864. The groom, accompanied by the officers of his staff, arrived in Griffin, Ga., where Miss CHILDRESS was then resident, on the day previous to that set for the wedding. It was a delightful reunion; but on the morning of his marriage day the heart of the expectant bridegroom, thrilling with happy hope, suddenly received a shock in the shape of a telegram from Gen. Joe JOHNSTON, ordering him to report at once to his command at Rome, Ga. The officers accompanying him were also recalled. Perplexed, the General sought an interview with his affianced bride and acquainted her with the situation. ”You will have to return to your command,” she acquiesced. Bishop QUINTARD, who was to officiate at the nuptials, was apprised of the change of plans, and, in the presences of the family and a few friends, united the happy couple at one o’clock in the afternoon; then the bridegroom bade his bride good-by and hastened on the first train for the seat of war. Two weeks later, General BROWN returned on leave of absence, and the happy pair went on a bridal tour to Charleston and other points.
Later on Mrs. BROWN followed the fortunes of war with her husband to its close; he surrendered his command at Greensboro, N.C.
The war over, General BROWN resumed his profession of law at Pulaski, Tenn., where four children were born to them – a son and three daughters. Marie, now deceased, became the wife of Gov. McMILLIN; Daisy died at the age of seventeen years; Elizabeth is the wife of Mr. John C. BURCH, son of the well-known editor and writer; John C. BROWN Jr., is a rising young lawyer of the Nashville bar.
In 1871 General BROWN was elected Governor of this State, and was chosen for a second term, filling the office very acceptably to the people. During his terms of office Mrs. BROWN filled her high position with graceful dignity. Her entertainments were frequent and elaborate, and she gave much assistance to her distinguished husband.
On retiring from politics, Governor BROWN accepted the presidency of large railroad interests, which called him to distant cities, where he was always accompanied by his wife. Some years later he served as president of the Tennessee, Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company, at which time he purchased a handsome residence on Spruce street, where, since his death, Mrs. BROWN resides. He left one of the finest libraries in the South to his son. The magnificent home holds many exquisite art treasures.
Mrs. BROWN is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and has held the presidency of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She has a life-size statue of Governor BROWN, in Confederate uniform, placed at his last resting place in Pulaski – a fitting memorial of her gallant soldier husband. She is president of the Vanderbilt Aid Society, being a woman of fine executive ability, looking to the assistance of young student, and is consistent member of the Episcopal Church. She spends the winters in her city home and the summers at beautiful Colonial Hall, at Pulaski. The mansion on Spruce street abounds in beautiful works of art statuary, paintings, copies from the old masters, plate and sets of gold-chased Venetian glass brought from abroad.
Mrs. BROWN visited the Charleston Exposition in 1902, and was at Fort Sumter on the anniversary of her marriage. She received much attention during her visit to the old, historic city.
Source: Gilchrist, Annie S. Some Representative Women of Tennessee. Nashville: McQuiddy Print. Co, 1902.
