Biography: Clyde Leroy Brown

Today is the 119th anniversary of the birth of my Grand-Uncle, Clyde Leroy Brown. Born 12 Feb 1894, in Minnesota, he was the oldest of 13 children of Arthur Durwood and Mary Elizabeth Manning Brown. He grew up in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.

About 1902 he moved with his parents to Kidder County, North Dakota. 

In May of 1917, Clyde enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard. His regiment, the North Dakota 1st (aka 164th Infantry Regiment of the 41st Infantry Division). On 1 May 1918, his regiment headed to Europe as part of The American Expeditionary Forces. In France, the 41st Division received the disappointing news that they were designated a “replacement division” and would not go into combat as a unit. In October 1918, Clyde was assigned to the 116th Supply Train, which was the first of three support assignments. The War ended on 11/11/1918. He remained in Europe for another nine months being assigned to the Provisional Motor Transport Company Unit, then finally, Motor Transport Company No. 831. Before leaving France, he married Yvonne Caumont. 

He and Yvonne arrived in New York aboard the USS Imperator on 10 Aug 1919. The Imperator was the largest ship of its day, being larger than the Titanic when it was built.  Clyde was discharged on 11 Aug 1919 in Hoboken, New Jersey. 

Clyde and Yvonne settled in Baxter, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. In the next ten years, they have moved to Rosing, Morrison County, Minnesota, USA and had seven children,

Marie
Clarence
Marcelle
William
Bernice
Artie 
Baby (name not known)

Yvonne died in January 1932. 

The intervening years are a mystery.  I haven’t successfully found him in the 1940 census nor any other records until 5 Dec 1942, when he married Susan Harman in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.

He married Alice Marie Tyson about 1957.

He may have lived for a period in California, but by 1961 he returned to Minnesota, and he lived on Route 4, Brainerd.

He retired from the Northern Pacific Railway Company.

Clyde died on 4 Aug 1971 in Crow Wing County and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Block 10,  Lot 87, Section: SEC.

For my sources, please see Ancestry Sources File

If you have photos or additional information regarding Clyde Leroy Brown, please leave comments or email me directly.

Actions for the future:

Confirm the baby, name, and story.
Find Clyde and his children in the 1940 Census.
Investigate Susan Harman
Investigate Alice Tyson
See if he shows in any Northern Pacific Railway documents.