The Brown Family

Michael Brown in Biographical Record of Preble County, Ohio

The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

MICHAEL BROWN.

Of the thousands of occupations listed in the United States census re- port, there is hardly more than one which is absolutely necessary to man's existence. The three things without which man cannot live are food, cloth- ing and shelter. The farmer not only controls the food supply, but also the clothing products of the world. His is the only occupation which can exist independently of the others. Within recent years, the business of farming has taken on increased dignity. The farmer of today has the advantage of working with machinery which renders his work free from many of its former disadvantages. Competition, however, requires the very best efforts in all lines of endeavor and this is especially true of farming. From the time of the earliest spring planting until the crops are harvested, the farmer's life is a busy one and the good wife must toil as unceasingly as her husband. One of the prosperous farmers of Preble county, who is now living retired, is

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Michael Brown, of Harrison township, a man who has always taken a deep interest in agriculture and has recognized industry and management as the basis of success.

Michael Brown was born on February i, 1844, in Harrison township, Preble county, Ohio, the son of Eli and Mary (Cox) Brown, who were the parents of nine children, Mrs. Martha Hecathorn, deceased ; Severe and Nel- son, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Odell, a resident of Ithaca, Ohio; Michael, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Jerusha Banta, a resident of Castine, Ohio; Mrs. Amanda Bosman, of Brookville, Ohio ; Mrs. Mary Parks, of Harrison town- ship; and Mrs. Catherine Minich, of Manchester, Ohio.

Eli Brown, the father of Michael, was born in 1815, in Harrison town- ship, Preble county, and was a farmer all of his life. He died in 1898 and his wife died eleven years before.

Michael Brown was married in 1865 to Almira Dinwiddie, the daughter of James R. and Sarah (Niswonger) Dinwiddie. Mrs. Brown was born August 8, 1842, on the farm where she now resides. Her father was born in 1817 at Centerville, Ohio, and came to Preble county, Ohio, with his father, who settled in section 1 5, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. Brown’s mother died when she was only eighteen months old.

Michael Brown has always been a hard-working, industrious fanner. He was a renter for many years, and was very successful in his farming operations. He is a stockholder in several concerns, and financially, has ac- cumulated a handsome competence for old age. Mr. and Mrs. Brown to- gether own two hundred and sixty acres- of land, and have made extensive improvements upon this property. They have always kept a high grade of stock. They have now turned the active management of the farm over to their son, August W., who makes a specialty of breeding full-blooded Jersey cattle.

To Mr. and Mrs. Brown ten children have been born: Mrs. Ida Hinea, who is referred to elsewhere in this volume; Frank, who assists in farming his father’s land; Myrtle, deceased; Osborne, also deceased; August, living at home and farming the home place ; Mrs. Carrie Howell, living in Harrison township; Mrs. Zella Studebaker, deceased; Charles, deceased; Mrs. Amanda Gebhart, living in Harrison township; and Goldsmith, unmarried and living at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are active members of the United Brethren church, in whose welfare they are interested, and to whose support they are liberal contributors. They are prominent citizens of the community where they re- side, and are admired and respected by their neighbors and friends.

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Source: Biographical Record of Preble County, Ohio. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.