Stahancyk, Kent, Johnson & Hook is pleased to announce that Teresa L. Foster, managing attorney of our Vancouver office, has been elected as a shareholder of the firm. Everyday we see the hard work and dedication Teresa puts into her work. Congratulations, Teresa!

Charles S. Wilson was born January 7, 1913 in Raymond, Washington to Charles E. and Frances Brown Wilson. His father died when he was three years old, leaving his mother to raise young Charles alone. Unfortunately, this did not last long. Tragedy struck again when his mother died under mysterious circumstances while the two were living in Laguna Beach, California. Orphaned by the age of seven, Charles’ aunt Floy DuBois drove to California from Vancouver to pick him up and bring him back with her. Charles lived with his aunt, uncle and two cousins for about a year until family friend Alice Hubbard offered to take him in. Coincidentally, Alice rented part of the house Charles’ mother Frances grew up in, now the Charles Brown House, named for his grandfather. Ed Brown, brother of Charles Brown, owned and lived in the house as well with his wife Ada. Shortly thereafter Alice purchased the house and Ed and Ada Brown moved to Pasadena, California. Charles graduated from Vancouver High School in 1930 and went on to attend the University of Washington and Harvard Business School. As a teenager in Vancouver he met Marjorie Warren. The two were married in 1937.
The couple moved to Corvallis, Oregon in 1940 and acquired the Ford dealership, Wilson Motors, where Charles continues to work today. Charles was very active socially in Corvallis as a member of the Corvallis Country Club and also the Badminton Club.
Sadly, Charles’ wife Marjorie passed away in February 2007. The couple has three children, Richard, Kathryn, and Carol, and four grandchildren.

Liza Wilson, daughter in law of Charles Wilson, sent us a thank you card for a donation we made to the Clark County Genealogical Society on behalf of her mother in law Marjorie who passed away last month. Charles Wilson is the grandson of Charles Brown and grew up right here in the Brown House.

The Charles Brown House website has won another award! This time it is the Genealogy Award for preserving family history, presented by Connie’s Family History Pages. The award and Connie’s comments about the site are below.

Hello Vince,

Thank you so much for writing and drawing my attention to your website. Yes,
I agree, you may be the first law firm to not only revitalize a local
historical building, but also to research and share your findings of the
family and history of the building. Well done!

I’m happy to send this well deserved award from Connie’s Family History
Pages!

Thanks for sharing your research with the world.

P.S. Your restoration looks beautiful!

Connie Spindel

Connie’s Family History Pages

We recently donated photographs and other historical information regarding the Brown family to the Clark County Historical Museum. The information we donated was placed in their research library for the community to use. Here is the thank you note they sent the firm.

Was the date the law firm of Bates and Burnett finalized the sale of the Brown House to James Gregg, who still practices and shares space with us in the house today. Bates and Burnett were innovative in that they were not only the first decentralized law office in the City of Vancouver, but also the first decentralized office used by any professionals in Vancouver as well. Below is the deed showing the transfer of property from Bates and Burnett to James Gregg. Click to enlarge.

Letter written to Charles Brown regarding his father Samuel’s life assurance. The letter is dated October 29, 1897. Click on the image to enlarge.

The Charles Brown House website has won the Heritage Award for genealogical websites. The award recognizes and encourages development of websites that contribute to the depth and breadth of trustworthy genealogical information available on the web.

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