The Brown Families of Henry County, Iowa

Joseph Brown, a son of Isaac and Rebecca (Besen) Brown, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of May, 1807, and after many years' residence in Henry county reported this life honored and respected by all who knew him because of an upright, straightforward career. In early life he became a resident of Harrison county, Ohio, and afterward took up his above in Jefferson county, Ohio. In 1842 he arrived in Iowa, locating near Lowell, where he built a home aid mill, which he operated for many years, being thus closely associated with industrial interests. He had previously learned the trade of cabinet-making, and while residing in Jefferson county, Ohio, had engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, so that at different times he has been connected with varied industrial interests. He continued as a woolen manufacturer for eight years, and following his removal to Iowa he engaged in the operation of a feed mill and also in the conduct of a sawmill. At a later day he built a larger grist mill across the river, now owned by Mr. Lewis. He gave strict attention to his business affairs, neglecting no detail and his enterprising efforts resulted in the acquirement of success. As he prospered he invested in land and became the owner of two hundred and forty acres, which he divided between his heirs and widow.

It was in 1837 that Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Jane Alexander, who was born in Maryland in 1808 and who died in Ohio in October, 1840. For his second wife he those Mary Smith, whom he wedded on the loth of August, 1843. She was born in North Carolina in 1808 and was called to her final rest in January, 1860, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of John Jackman. For his third wife our subject those Hannah Brown, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 20, 1825, a daughter of Joel and Leah (Hester) Brown. This wedding was celebrated on the 7th of April, 1862, and was blessed with two children: Justus, born July 27, 1864, and Amelia, who was born May 14, 1869, and is the wife of William Morrow, a merchant of Lowell.

Mr. Brown was very prominent and influential in community affairs. He held all of the school offices and in 1860 was elected county supervisor for Baltimore township, to which position he was reelected in 1861, serving in all for three years. The name of AlcCarverstown was originally given to the village of Lowell, but Mr. Brown proposed changing the name to Lowell because of the superior water privileges here found, and this was done in the fall of 1842. He was led to the choice of Lowell as a place of residence because of its facilities for the conduct of manufacturing plants supplied by its water power. Mr. Brown had been reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, but left that organization because of trouble which arose among the sect. He then became identified with the Presbyterian church in 1838. and after establishing his home in Lowell joined the Methodist Episcopal church,- in which he held various offices. His life was ever upright and honorable and in all his business dealings he was straightforward and reliable. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he was very deeply interested in his party and its success. He took a Atvy helpful and active part in proiiKiting public progress and improvement in this county in an early day, and indeed continued a valued factor in public life up to the time of his demise.

His son, Justus Brown, lives with his mother and is superintending the farming interests. The home farm, which is now owned by Mrs. Joseph Brown, comprises sixty acres and Mr. Morrow owns twenty acres that were taken from the original tract. Xo history- of this section of the state would be complete without mention of the Brown family, for from early pioneer times its representatives have been prominent in the work of development and upbuilding here.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY BROWN, one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, residing on section 3, Center Township, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1819, and is a son of John and Mary (Tate) Brown. They were natives of Frederick County, Va., emigrating to Fayette County in an early day. They were the parents of five sons and six daughters, seven of whom.are still living: Sydney, of Appanoose County, Iowa; Lucinda, of this county; Manley, of Washington County, Iowa; Jackson, now a resident of S.alem County, Mo.; Ellen, wife of John Tendergrass, of W.washington County, Iowa; William, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Brown came to Iowa, remaining here until their death, the father dying in Washington County, and the mother in Des Moines. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat. They were people highly respected in the community where they resided.

The subject of this sketch in his boyhood diiys

remained on a farm in Fayette County, Ohio, and like so many other boys of that time, attended the log school-house with its luncheon floors, slab seats, greased paper windows and immense fireplace. In 1841 Mr. Brown led to the marriage altar Miss Barbara A. Helphrey, a native of Ohio, born in Licking County in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had a family of six children, five of whom are now living: Alice, wife of Cyrus Bush, of Washington County, Iowa; George, still an inmate of the parental home; Rosa, also at home; Florence, wife of David Durst, of Washington County, Iowa, and Parrott, of Mt. Pleasant. In 1846 Mr. Brown emigrated to Iowa, making the journey with teams, settling near Burlington for about two years, but subsequently removing to Henry County. He remained in this county for twenty-two years, then removed to Washington County, Iowa, which place he made his home for fourteen years. In the spring of 1882 he returned to Henry County, purchasing a farm, as before stated, in Center Township, and here he still resides.

In early life our subject exerted his influence for and voted with the Democratic party until the breaking out of the war, since which time he has always voted with the Republican party. Mr. I'rown came to this county a poor man, but with a willingheart and a strong arm, he patiently labored until he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of Henry County. His farm, consisting of 120 acres, situated a mile and a half from Mt. Pleasant, is one of the best cultivated in this part of the State. The beloved wife was called from her happy home on earth to the better one above, March 13, 1881. Mr. Brown is one of the early settlers of the county, is always ready to aid in any public enterprises for the public good, and is universally esteemed.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Samuel Brown, living on section 17, Marion township, was reared to the occupation of farming. He has made it his life work, and is today accounted one of the leading and prosperous agriculturists of the county. He was born January 23, 1830, in Rush county, Indiana, a son of Steward and Matilda (Kinton) Brown. His paternal grandparents, natives of England, came to America about 1805 and settled in Pennsylvania, where the grandfather. Steward Brown, followed his trade of coverlid weaver. After about ten years he removed with his family to Ohio. His son. Steward Brown, was born in Westmoreland, England, in 1799, and was about six years of age at the time of the emigration of his parents to the new world. At the age of fifteen years he accompanied them to Ohio and there he learned the trade of coverlid weaving from his father. He wedded Miss Matilda Kinton, who was born in 1800. Her father, Thomas Kinton, was born and reared in Germany, and coming to the United States, became a soldier of the war of 181 2. When thirty years of age Steward Brown removed to

Indiana, where he carried on weaving, doing all kinds of work in that line. He was reared in the faith of the Democratic party, but afterward joined the ranks of the republican party. He died in Indiana in 1868, and his wife survived until September, 1 88 1. In their family were thirteen children, twelve of whom reached adult age, while six are yet living, namely: Samuel; Robert, who married Miss Mary E. Bowen and lives in Center township, Henry county, Iowa; James H., who married Alice Lemons and resides in Pulaski county, Indiana; Nathaniel, who wedded Mary Rhodes and lives near Logansport; Richard is a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Phoebe A., of Indianapolis, whose husband was a soldier of the Civil war. Thomas Brown, a brother of our subject, now deceased, responded to the last call for troops and served with the Twenty-eighth Indiana Regiment until the close of hostilities. Martin, another brother, enlisted twice in the same regiment, serving throughout the period of hostilities and participating in the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Chattanooga. John Brown, a third brother, served in the same regiment, but after two months in the army, died at Gallatin. Tennessee.

Samuel Brown never attended school except for six months in his life, but by study, investigation and observation he has acquired a good general knowledge, and in the school of experience has learned many valuable lessons. He remained upon his father's farm in his youth, and as he was the eldest, the labor and management of the place largely devolved upon him, while his father gave his attention to weaving. Subsequently, Mr. Brown of this review spent two years at work as a farm hand in Indiana, and then came to Henry county, Iowa, where he was employed for three years and three months, working with James Leech on his farm on the shares. This was opposite his present place of residence.

On the 8th of January. 1856, Mr. Brown was married to Aliss Jincy Ray, who was born in Indiana in 1832 and died in 1866. Mr. Brown made his Avay to Iowa first and earned a certain sum of money before he felt that he was justified in assuming the cares of married life. He soon accumulated this sum, however, and following his marriage settled in Shelby county, Indiana, where he lived until after the death of his wife. They were the parents of two children, of whom one is now living, Robert M., who was born January 2, 1857, in Shelby county, Indiana, and who came with his father to Heniy county, Iowa, in 1870. Here he has since carried on farming in Marion township, and in 1894 he built his present attractive home. He has one hundred and twenty acres of land, which constitute a valuable and productive farm, and he has made all of the improvements upon this property. He also owns forty acres of land in Wayne township, and his father resides with him upon the farm in Marion township. In politics he adheres to democratic principles, but at local elections where no issues are involved he votes independently. He has been a school director for several years and is an enterprising, wide-awake citizen, active and alert in business and in public affairs as well. R. M. Brown is a member of the Methodist church, in which he is serving as steward. He was married in March, 1885, to ]Miss Man- E. Collins, who was born in Tippecanoe township, Henry county, in April, 1861, and is a daughter of John and Alartha (Heck) Collins. Her father was born in Germany, February 7, 1825, and came to America when ten years of age. He was married in this country to Miss Martha Heck, Avhose birth occurred in Virginia, April 27, 1827. In the '40s he came to Iowa, settling upon a farm in Henry county, and his death occurred here in March, 1895. He was a republican in his political views and in religious faith a Friend, or Quaker, while his wife is a member of the Methodist church. She still survives her husband and is living upon the home farm in Tippecanoe township at the age of seventy-eight years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Collins were ten children: Sarah, who married Joel Campbell and died January 26, 1873; Alice, the deceased wife of John Laird; Edward, who married Ella Wilmet and resides in Salem township; Eliza, who is the widow of Alfred ittlesy and makes her home in Mount Pleasant; Mary E., the wife of Robert M. Brown, of Marion township; Cornelius S., who is living in WtsX. Oakland, Iowa; Lydia C, who married Joseph Needder, of Kansas; Harvey J., who resides with his mother; Delia, the wife of John Gopin, of Danville, Iowa and one who died in infancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Brown have been born three children: Ray C, born September 17, 1887: Florence Ruth, October 12, 1892: and Gilbert, December 29, 1899. On the 28th of September. 1868, Samuel Brown was a second time married, Mrs. Marv M. jones becoming his wife.

She was born in Virginia, June 5, 1828, and was the last surviving member of a family of six children, whose parents were George and Elizabeth Torronce, natives of Virginia and farming people, who died in Iniiiana. For her first husband Mary AI. Torronce those Wesley Jones, and after his death gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Brown. She died March 7, 1900, at the age of sexnty-two years and her remains were interred in Nebraska.

Following the death of his first wife, Mr. Brovn came to Iowa and for ten years resided upon a farm in Wayne township, Henry county. He then removed to Nebraska, settling upon a farm, where he lived until the death of his second wife. For fifty-nine summers he engaged in the cultivation of corn and then sold his farm and went to live with his son Robert, with whom he now finds a pleasant home. He cases his ballot for the presidential nominees of the democratic party, but at local elections votes independently. He first supported Franklin Pierce. He and his second wife were members of the United Brethren church, but he has since joined the Methodist church. When he first came to Iowa there were no homes of any note in the county and straggling bands of Indians were frequently seen. Mount Pleasant was but a small village, in which there was no railroad and no telegraphic or telephonic communication. The settlers were widely scattered, but Mr. Brown has lived to witness the introduction of all modern invention and improvement, while the county has become thickly settled with a prosperous and contented people. He is entirely a self-made man, having never received but two hundred dollars as a gift in his life, his father giving him one hundred dollars and his father-in-law an equal amount. He has, however, made a good living as the years have gone by and has been generous of his means with others less fortunate. Honest and upright, his name is a synonym for integrity, and he is greatly respected by all who know him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.