What is the name of the clergyman mentioned in the song "Winter Wonderland"?

The classic line from "Winter Wonderland":

"In the meadow we can build a snowman

Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say 'Are you married ?', We'll say 'No man,

For you can do the job when you're in town.'"

Despite its upbeat character, the story behind this hugely popular song is anything but joyful. In a particularly cold and long winter during the early 1930's, a young man named Richard Smith who had been suffering from tuberculosis found himself in a home in Pennsylvania recovering from yet another bout of the deadly infection. Days were long and spent in the comfort of his room watching the children play in the snow. This inspired the young man to write a beautiful poem, invoking the carefree fun of a day in the snow. Smith even worked a bit of local flavor into his poem when he mentioned “Parson Brown” - a reference to parsons, or independent priests of the Protestant faith who were not associated with any specific parishes or churches.

Happy with the result, Smith showed the lyrics to his friend and musician Felix Bernard in 1934. Touched by his sick friend's lovely poem which clearly expressed his desire to flee the limitations his illness had put upon him, Bernard immediately set to work at composing a melody to go along with the words. Sadly, Smith never really saw the fruits of his work as he passed away ravaged by the disease at the young age of 34, a year after Bernard wrote the unforgettable music to Smith's poem.