William Charles Browning (1833-1904)

He was born at 25 Gouverneur Street, New York City, when the skies were lit up with a meteor shower. In 1868, he went into business with Henry W. King, of Chicago, and when they opened up stores across the country the firm became known as Browning, King & Co., reputedly the largest wholesale clothing manufacturers in the world. He lived between of 552 Fifth Avenue, New York City, and Hopewell Hall in Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands. His wife was a niece of George Opdyke, Mayor of New York City. They were the parents of three sons (listed).