The Brown Families of Knox County, Ohio

JAMES M. BROWN.

Knox county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the northeastern part of the great Buckeye state, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material advancement of this section. One of the well known agriculturists and public-spirited citizens, whose fine landed estate in Morgan township is admired by all, is James M. Brown. His enterprise has been crowned by success, as the result of rightly applied principles which never fail in their ultimate effect when coupled with integrity, uprightness and a congenial disposition, as they have been done in his case, judging from the high standing of Mr. Brown among his fellow citizens whose undivided esteem he has won and retained.

Mr. Brown was born on October 9, 1869, on the farm where he still resides and where he has spent his life, two miles northeast of Morgan Center, Knox county. He is the son of James S. and C'hristene (Chipps) Brown. The father was also born on this farm, while the mother was born in Chester township, now a part of Morrow county. Grandfather Jonathan Brown was born in New Jersey, May 22, 1800. His parents dying when he was young, he was bound out to Abraham Day, a farmer. In 1816 these two gentlemen came to Ohio, Mr. Brown remaining in Mr. Day’s service until he was twenty-one years of age, then went to work for himself, his first employment beingmaking rails at twenty-five cents per one hundred, which money he used for the purpose of buying clothes. Soon afterwards he was united in marriage with Mary Larson, daughter of Sylvester Larson, a pioneer of Knox county. She had fifty acres of land and this was the beginning of Mr. Brown's future success. Later he purchased lands one and one-half miles northeast of Morgan Center and with the aid of his sons this was cleared for farming. His death occurred on November 16, 1879, his wife having died on December 5, 1867, at the age of sixty-four years, and both are buried in Owl Creek Baptist church cemetery, near the family home. Their family consisted of nine children, namely: Thomas R., Josel F., James S.; Anna Eliza married Samuel Clutter; Jonathan H.; Mary J. married Leander Buxton; Phoebe S. married Thomas Bodle, and James S.. father of the subject of this sketch; two died in infancy.

James S. Brown, father of the subject, was born on September 7, 1831, and his death occurred on June 27, 1910. He grew to manhood on the home farm and received such education as he could in the old-time schools of his community. Upon reaching manhood he married Catherine Chipp, who was born January 5, 1831, and died November 8, 1867, and both are buried in Owl Creek Baptist church cemetery. They were the parents of two children, namely: William X., of New Albany, Ohio, and James M., of this review.

The father became the owner of over two hundred acres of good land, which he farmer on an extensive scale. Politically, he was a Democrat until 1860, when he espoused Republican principles and ever afterwards voted the Republican ticket. While he was always interested in public matters, he was never an office seeker and never held office. He was a man of strong convictions and great moral and physical courage. After the death of his first wife, he married Catherine Stockdale, daughter of William Stockdale, who was born on June 14, 1868, which union was without issue. This wife died on August 13, 1905, and she was buried in Owl Creek cemetery.

James M. Brown, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and was educated in the district schools. He was married on October 24, 1888, to Virginia Arrington, daughter of William J. and Minerva (Wigington) Arrington, both born in Franklin county, Virginia, where they grew up and were married. They came to Knox county in 1869. The father was a soldier in the Confederate army during the Civil war and he was twice wounded. After coming to Knox county he engaged in farming and is still living near Morgan Center in Morgan township. His wife died on Februarv 11, 1885, and is buried in Owl Creek cemetery.

Three children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Joseph S., married and living in Harrison township, this county: Harry W. lives at home: Bertie May also lives at home.

Mr. Brown has lived since his marriage on the farm where he was born and reared and is engaged in general farming and stock raising and feeding all kinds of live stock, making a specialty of sheep. For a number of years he was with the Logan Gas Company, also the Homer Gas Company in various capacities, but later he gave his entire attention to his fine farm and his live stock and he has met with large success in both. His farm lies in the Knox county gas belt and on it are several producing wells.

Politically, Mr. Brown is a Republican and he keeps well posted on current events, taking an interest in the welfare of his community, though he has never been an office seeker or office holder, with the exception of serving as a member of the district school board. He is a member of the Masonic order of Mt. Vernon and he and his son, Harry A., belong to the Knights of the Maccabees. He is also a member of the Morgan Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, with his wife and son, being a charter member. He and his family belong to the Owl Creek Baptist church, and they are prominent in the social life of the locality.

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

ELMER J. BROWN.

The great task of clearing the land of its timber in early years can scarcely be realized by the people of today. Not a crop could be sown nor an orchard tree planted until the large trees, the patriarchs of the forest primeval, had been cut down and removed with fire or with a team of oxen or horses. Even then the stumps were a great hindrance, and it is doubtful if so much as a half crop could be raised until they had been gotten rid of in some manner. The amount of hard labor required to remove the timber seems almost incredible. It was a task that seemed never to end, and all members of the family were required to assist early and late and at all seasons of the year. The ancestors of Elmer J. Brown had their full share of this work, for they invaded Knox county when it was still wild and the home of the Indian and various species of wild beasts; but they were men of sterling traits and never permitted obstacles to thwart them in their purposes, undergoing the hardships and privations incident to the life of a first settler in such a wilderness without a murmur and here carving out good farms and did their full share in the early development of the county, and their descendants have carried on most admirably the work that they inaugurated here.

Elmer J. Brown was born on October 20, 1865, in Wayne township, this county, and spent most of his life in Monroe and Pleasant townships. He is the son of Joseph and Anna (Scott) Brown, both also natives of this county. Grandfather William Brown came from Maryland to this county in the early pioneer days, where he established his home. The father of the subject was born and grew up to manhood in Monroe township, and he spent his life here engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1890, when he went to Effingham county, Illinois, and there engaged in farming. The mother of the subject died when he was a small boy. A brother of the subject, Harry M., is a dentist in Elwood, Indiana, and a sister, Mary E., is a professional nurse in Indianapolis, Indiana, the subject having been third in order of birth in this family.

Elmer J. Brown spent his youth on the farm, and he attended the district schools and later the Northern University at Ada, Ohio, taking the teacher's course. Thus well prepared for his chosen profession, he taught for a period of fifteen years in the public schools of Knox county, and became one of the leading educators of the county, his services being in great demand. His teaching was principally in Monroe and Pleasant townships. He also engaged some in farming during that period.

Mr. Brown was married on June 6, 1891, to Jennie C. Sellers, daughter of Frank and Frances (Durbin) Sellers, of Knox county, and this union has resulted in the birth of five sons, namely: Sterl C., a graduate of the Gambier high school of the class of 1910. He has prepared himself for a teacher. Ray, who is attending high school at Gambier; Paul C., Carl S. and Lloyd.

Mr. Brown has lived on a farm since his marriage, and in 1897 he gave up teaching and devoted his exclusive attention to general farming, making

;86 a specialty of raising potatoes and chickens, making a great success with both. He has sixty-two acres of finely improved and productive land. He farms on the “intensive” plan, and employs the most advanced methods in all his work.

Politically, Mr. Brown is a Democrat and a member of the school board in Pleasant township. He has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. He and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a trustee and steward in the church and active in church and Sunday school work. Personally, he is a broad-minded, well educated and obliging gentleman, indorsing all movements having as their object the general improvement of his locality along all lines.

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

It is the pride of the inhabitants of this country that when the great Civil war closed all the vast army of citizen soldiers quietly laid down their arms and returned to the pursuits of peace. It was predicted by the governments of Europe, not only that the country would be divided, but that after the war an enormous army would be kept up and a military dictatorship be established on the fragments of perhaps every state Foreign nations did not understand the spirit of the people of this country, that is, the spirit of the people in all of the free states. They could not understand how we had come to love the name of liberty and be willing to sacrifice blood and treasure to save a country founded upon the rock of freedom. In view of these misguided ideas, the most of the foreign nations stood ready to ounce upon the fragments when the smoke of war had rolled away. But they beheld a splendid spectacle instead; they saw the great armies melt away, saw a reunited country in which liberty was a fact as well as a name, and saw the soldiers return to their farms, mills, shops and various other vocations.

One of the gallant boys in blue thus to return was John Brown, for many years a well known farmer of Wayne township, Knox county. He was born on June 17, 1844, on Jamaica Island, near Falmouth. His parents were Andrew and Catherine (Dexter) Brown, the father of Scotch blood and the mother of English descent, her father having been Captain William Dexter, of the English army. The subject's father went to Jamaica as a young man, having been employed there by an English company, and while there he was married and for many years engaged in operating a plantation. In January, 1855, he came to the United States with his family, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, from there proceeding to Wayne township, Knox county, some friends having preceded them to this locality from Jamaica.

The father purchased a farm two miles southwest of Fredericktown and engaged in farming, his place consisting of over one hundred acres. He was a sturdy Scot, honest, industrious, and of decided convictions and firm opinions. His death occurred in February, 1876, his widow surviving until in June, 1882; both are buried at Fredericktown. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters, namely: John, of this review; William, of

Black River, New York; Robert lives in Fredericktown; James lives in Wayne township; Thomas lives in Arkansas; Sarah is deceased; Catherine lives in Fredericktown.

John Brown, of this sketch, was sent, with his brother, William, when the former was eight years of age, to Scotland for school privileges; these brothers remained in Scotland several years, finally coming to America to join their parents in Knox county, Ohio, and after coming here John attended the district schools and the schools of Fredericktown. He assisted his father on the home place. In May, 1864, he proved his loyalty to his adopted country by enlisting in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he served very faithfully for one hundred days, until in September. 1864, under General Butler on the James river, seeing considerable active service during that brief period. Returning home from the army, he remained on the farm until the spring of 1870, when he moved to Vernon county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming, remaining there until 1882, and during that period was married, in April, 1875, t0 Alice Heskett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Heskett In 1882 he returned to Wayne township, Knox county, Ohio, and here he has remained to the present time, successfully engaged in farming. His wife died in October, 1882, soon after coming to Ohio. Two children, a son and a daughter, were born to this union, Catherine, who married William Galiagaugher, lives on the farm with Mr. Brown; Clarence lives in New York City.

Mr. Brown owns a well-improved and very productive farm of one hundred and five acres one and one-half miles southwest of Fredericktown, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has a good home and his place is well stocked.

Politically, Mr. Brown is a Republican and he has long been active in public affairs. He has served as constable of Wayne township and for seven years was trustee of this township, and after an interval of five years he was re-elected to that office and again re-elected in the fall of 1911, being still the incumbent of the same. While in Missouri he was a member of the board of education in his district. He is regarded as a most able and conscientious public servant. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has filled all the offices of the local post, taking much interest in the same. He is a member of the Fredericktown Presbyterian church. Fie is a man of exemplary character and stands high with those who know him.

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

JOSEPH C. BROWN.

As a young man this gentleman came to America, and without capital started out in a strange land to overcome the difficulties and obstacles in the path to prosperity. His youthful dreams have been realized, and in their happy fulfillment he sees the fitting reward of his earnest toil. He is now recognized as one of the leading and successful agriculturists of Knox county.

Mr. Brown was born in county Cork, Ireland, on the 15th of November, 183 1, and was reared on a farm in his native land. In 1856, in company with his parents, he left the land of his birth, and on a sailing vessel crossed the broad Atlantic to the new world, spending thirty-nine days on the voyage. After their arrival here the family located in Clermont county, Ohio, where our subject was engaged at farm labor by the month for the following six years. On the expiration of that period he located in College township, Knox county, where he purchased twenty acres of land and immediately set about the task of making a home. He cleared and improved his land, and thereon erected a small log cabin, but in 1865 he sold that place and purchased fifty-eight acres of partially improved land in Pleasant township, remaining there until 1894. In that year he came to his present homestead, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which is under a fine state of cultivation, improved with good and substantial buildings and everything about the place indicates the care and supervision of a practical and progressive owner. The marriage of Mr. Brown was celebrated on the 31st of March, 1861, when Mary

Clark became his wife. Seven children have brightened and blessed their home, namely: Mary E., who is still with her parents; Martha J., the wife of John R. Seymour, of Monroe township, Knox county; John T., a member of the firm of Brown Brothers, prominent liverymen of Gambier; Clark G., who is engaged in business with his brother John; Margaret C, deceased; Alice, who is conducting a millinery store in Mount Vernon; and Joseph H., at home. The Democracy receives Mr. Brown's hearty support sud co-operation, and religiously he is a member of tJe Episcopal church. His course in life has ever been such as to command the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact, and he justly merits the high regard in which he is held by his fellow men.

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

ARTHUR W. BROWN, D. D. S.

To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is always honored and respected even from childhood deserves more than mere mention. It is no easy task to resist the many temptations of youth and early manhood and plant a character in the minds and hearts of associates that will remain an unstained figure for all time. One may take his place in public life through some vigorous stroke of public policy, and even remain in the hearts of friends and neighbors, but to take the same position by dint of the practice of an upright life and without a craving for exaltation and popularity is worthy of the highest praise and commendation. Arthur W. Brown, of Centerburg, recognized throughout Knox county as one of the leading dentists of the younger professional fraternity in this locality, has won the honor and respect of the people here since casting his lot among them a few years ago, not because of the vigorous training of his special talents, lint because of his daily life, passed upon in the light of real true manhood.

Doctor Brown was born on September 5, 1881, in Maple Rapids, Michigan. He is the son of D. D. and Isabelle (Frazier) Brown, both of Scotch ancestry; neither ever became residents of Ohio. The father is deceased, having died when his son, Arthur W., was only seven years old. The mother survives.

Dr. Arthur W. Brown was educated in the schools of Maple Rapids, Michigan, and was graduated from the high school in 1898. He then entered the University of Michigan in 1901, department of dentistry, in which he remained one year. In the fall of 1902 he entered the dental department of the Ohio Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, and was graduated from the same in 1904, having made an excellent record, winning the admiration of his colleagues and the praise of the instructors. Thus well equipped for his chosen life work he located the year of his graduation at Centerburg, Knox county, this state, and here he has continued to successfully practice his profession, having enjoyed a large and ever-growing patronage from the first and taking his place in the front rank of dentists in this and adjoining counties. He has a neat, well arranged and modernly equipped office, in fact, every approved appliance for the prompt, safe and skillful performance of all phases of dental work.

Doctor Brown was married on June 5, 1907, to Edna Florence Faraba, daughter of Marion and Claude (Brentlinger) Faraba, a highly respected family, and this union has been graced by the birth of two children, Faraba Devon and Marian Isabelle Brown.

Fraternally, Doctor Brown is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, and politically he is a Republican. He belongs to the Ohio State Dental Society, and while in college he was a member of the Xi Psi Phi fraternity. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is at present clerk of the town council at Centerburg.

The Doctor is fond of athletics and was well known in this field while in school. Since coming to Centerburg he and his wife have made a host of warm personal friends and they take an active part in local social affairs.

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