Reuben Furman Browning was born on May 27, 1822, in Pennsylvania to Joseph Browning and Sarah Ann Coleman. His father died around 1830. He married Adelia Wealthy Gregory in Laceyville, Pennsylvania, on March 25, 1847, and they had at least three children: Mason, born around 1848; Melville, born around 1858; and Bradley, born around 1863. The family lived in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. In 1860, Browning was working as a farmer, and he owned $1,500 of real estate and $863 of personal property. Adelia died around 1885, and he married Fanny Hill in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, on December 21, 1886. He died in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, on May 26, 1895.