Brownell, Willard Clayton

Willard Clayton Brownell

Birth

Willard C. Brownell was born in Clarksville N.Y. on May 13, 1896 the son of John Brownell and Bertha Wright

Education

Willard attended the one room school house at the end of Bennett Hill Road in Clarksville N.Y.

Occupation

Willard worked as a chauffeur his entire life. His first job was with the Stevens Family of Albany N.Y. who owned and operated the Normanskill Dairy. The Steven's family had a large farm beside the Normanskill Creek near the present Delmar viaduct. In later years a large portion of this farm was donated to the city of Albany and is now a visitors center. Willard made many cross country trips both South and West driving Mrs. Stevens and her daughter. When gas was rationed during WWII, Willard was given a job driving a horse drawn milk wagon for the dairy in the city. He finished his chauffeurs career by driving for Mr. Matthew Bender of Albany N.Y. Mr. Bender was a partner in Bender Printing Co. of Albany N.Y. Willard retired when Mr. Bender stopped working and no longer needed a driver. Willard also worked for many years as a bartender on the weekends. He was one of the main bartenders at Osterhout's Indian Ladder Lodge, one of the Capital Districts most popular restaurant and dancing facility near Thacher Park. After Osterhout's was sold in 1957, he worked for Carp's Tavern on Lark St. in Albany until he retired.

Marriage & Children

Willard C. Brownell married Hazel Long about 1915. This union produced three daughters, Helen Brownell born Oct. 9,1916 died Nov. 29, 1978, Elizabeth Brownell born about 1919 died July 1, 2007 and Doris Brownell

Death

Willard Brownell died in May 1974 and is buried in the Onesquethaw Cemetery in Clarksville N.Y.

Additional Media

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  Willard Brownell and friend 1901
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  A young lad
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  A handsome boy
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  Spring St. garage in Albany N.Y.
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  Willard on his Henderson motorcycle
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  Willard in his chauffeurs uniform
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  Willard Brownell holding his grandson Willard Osterhout at Warner Lake in 1941
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  Willard and the car he drove
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  Willard and Hazel Brownell
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  Newspaper notice of Willard Brownells death
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  A young Willard Brownell
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  Willard with one of his hunting dogs
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  Willard with his mother Bertha and his brother Elmer and sister Olive in Clarksville NY
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  L-R John and Bertha Brownell, Willard Brownell, Edward and Anna Zeh at Indian Head rock formation on the Onesquethaw Creek in Clarksville NY about 1900
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  Willards driving license from 1976
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  A much later picture of Willard which was used on his chauffeurs license
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  Willard on the right when he tended bar at Carp's Tavern on Lark St. in Albany NY
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  Tending bar at Carp's tavern
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  Willard with his daughters Helen and Betty
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  Willard Brownell and Pauline Carpenter
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  Willard when he drove for the Steven's family who owned the Normanskill Dairy
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  Willard in his apartment at 4 Deleware St. Albany NY
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  Willard with his father John wearing the hat
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  Willard, Betty and Hazel Brownell
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  Willard with 4 of his grandsons
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  Willard Brownell with his grandson Willard Osterhout
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  Hazel and Willard Brownell at their daughter Helen's home in New Salem NY
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  Betty Strauss, Hazel and Willard Brownell with Olive and Carl Herrpwyn at the Strauss camp on Galway Lake
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  WSillard, Olive, Hazel, Carl and Betty at 4 Deleware St. Albany NY
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• Willard 35.jpg

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Sources

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