The Brown Families of Randolph County, Indiana

EDWARD I. BROWN.

The most of people who have never lived on a farm think that it does not require any special skill to conduct the operations of husbandry. They are accustomed to think that the driving of a team of horses to a plow or harrow, a reaper or a wagon, the scores of other duties connected with general husbandry do not require a finished education or a high degree of intellectual activity. Neither does it to conduct a grocery store, a hotel or a foundry. In these cases it does require, however, a thorough knowledge of the subject. The farmer must know how to sow grain, how to select the best varieties and whether it is in good condition, when to cut his wheat and his grass, how it should be cured, when it is ready to stack, whether it has gone through the sweating process and is ready to thresh, in fact, "he must know a thousand such things, without a proper knowledge of which he is certain to lose heavily, a thing he can not afford to do, because the farmer's profits are some years small and he must figure very close if he is adequately repaid for his expenditure of hard labor. Such a farmer is Edward I. Brown, of Washington township, Randolph county.

Mr; Brown was born in Darke county, Ohio, April 29, 1850. He is a son of Elisha and Nancy W. (Thomas) Brown. The father was born in the same township and county as was our subject on November 17, 18 19. He was a son of John Brown, who was a native of Maryland from which state he came to Ohio when a young man and was one of the pioneer settlers of Darke county, where he spent the rest of his life, as did also his wife Sarah Stockdale, who was a native of Maryland, too. Elisha Brown grew to manhood amid pioneer conditions and had little opportunity to obtain an education. He followed farming in his native county until 1867 when he removed to Champaign county, Illinois where he lived two years, then came to Randolph county, Indiana and located in Greensfork township, buying one hundred and twenty acres which he farmer until his death, May 30, 1888. Politically, he was a Democrat and while living in Ohio was a school director in his district. He was an active member of the Christian church. He and Nancy W. Thomas were married March 1, 1849. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 28, 1833 and her death occurred May 16, 1890. To the parents of our subject seven children were born, five sons and two daughters.

Edward I. Brown grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a common school education. He began teaching in 1868 which he continued until 1871, teaching two terms in West River township and one in

Greensfork township, this county. He then took up farming, buying forty acres of land in Washington township and has continued general farming and stock raising to the present time, now owning a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres here. He makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs He takes a great interest in public affairs as affecting his own locality, especially the schools and has done much to improve them. Politically, he was formerly a Republican, but is now inclined to the Progressive party. In religious matters, he belongs to the Christian church and fraternally is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Brown was married March 1, 1871 to Mellsena J. Hinshaw, who was born in Washington township, February 22, 1852. Her death occurred July 7, 1892. She was a daughter of Timothy and Jane (Wright) Hinshaw. To this union four children were born namely: Aria M., who is secretary of the Poland-China Record Association in Winchester; William E., bom February 8, 1878, died October 16, 1897; Anna E., born March 12, 1882, married James E. Jennings, a farmer in Washington township; Grace R., born October 2, 1885 is the wife of Jesse A. Wright, a farmer of Washington township. Mr. Brown was again married on February 26, 1898, his last wife being Louisa O. (Wilmore) Lesley. She was the daughter of John L. and Mary Wilmore and widow of Charles Lesley. She had one son, Eldon T. who was born October 16, 1882. He graduated from Purdue in Civil Engineering in 1908 and is located at Memphis, Tennessee. Mrs. Brown before her marriage was a teacher in the public schools of Randolph county.

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

ARLA M. BROWN.

There is always satisfaction in writing, even briefly, of men of the type of Aria M. Brown, secretary of the National Poland-China Record Company and an extensive stock raiser, breeder and farmer, of Winchester, and one of the valued citizens of Randolph county; for it is a record of triumph after hard climbing up the steps of life, often in the face of obstacles and with little or no encouragement. It shows, in a word, what one may accomplish with the attributes of grit, perseverance and honorable impulses, when rightly directed. There is always a satisfaction, gained no other way, to the individual, who feels that his struggles have brought success, even if delayed.

Mr. Brown was born on January 24, 1872, in Washington township, Randolph county. He is a son of Edward I. and Melsena J. (Hinshaw) Brown. The father was born in Darke county, Ohio, and the mother in Randolph county, Indiana, both representing prominent pioneer families. The father is still engaged in farming in Washington township, where he is highly esteemed. The mother was called to her eternal rest on July 7, 1892.

Aria M. Brown was reared on the farm where he worked when growing to manhood, and he received his early education in the district schools and the Normal School at Danville, after which he began life for himself by teaching three years in the district schools of Randolph county. He was then deputy county treasurer under M. H. Rubey for some time, and deputy county auditor for over four years under Calvin S. Engle, giving very satisfactory service under both. In 1903 he became secretary of the National

Poland-China Record Company, with offices in Winchester. Prior to that he was secretary of the Ohio Poland-China Record Company at Dayton, Ohio, for a period of two years, then that association consolidated with the Poland-China Record Company of Indianapolis, becoming the National Poland-China Record Company, with international scope, including all the states of the Union, Canada, Argentine Republic and other countries. The general offices have been in Winchester since 1903. Mr. Brown has given eminent satisfaction as secretary, and although he is a very busy man he has found time to look after his farm, being extensively interested in general farming, feeding and breeding live stock, and he is regarded as one of the county's leading agriculturists and stock men. He is a stockholder in various banks and other interests and by his industry and good management has become one of our substantial citizens.

Fraternally, Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias, being grand chancellor of the latter in 1910 and a representative to the supreme lodge of the world in 191 1, which is a term lasting four years. Politically, he is a Republican and is active in public affairs.

Mr. Brown was married on February 11, 1892, to Eva E. Price, a daughter of James and Lydia (Woofter) Price, a highly respected family of Randolph county.

Four children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Floyd H. is a student of osteopathy at the Sill school at Kirksville, Missouri; Norville E., Mary M. and Mabel are attending high school.

Mr. Brown and family are members of the Friends church, and he is superintendent of the Sabbath school and has long been active in church and Sundav school work.

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

JOSEPH BROWN, farmer, P. 0. Union City. This industrious citizen was born August 2. 1821, in the State of Maryland. He immigrated to Miami County, Ohio, in 1823, and from thence settled in this county in October, 1844. Mr. Brown was united in marriage, November 25, 1847, to Nanoy A. Harshman, a native of this Stjite, who was born July 11, 1829. The following children blessed this union: William S., born October 8, 1848; Mary A., September 28, 1861; Daniel W., April 26, 1857; Tillie C, November 6, 1859; Abraham November 3, 1864; Isaac E., January 12, 1865: Francis M., Febuary 27, 1870, and Albert, August 19, 1872. His father, Joseph Brown, was a native of Germany, and was born ai)out the year 1798; came to the Stale of Maryland, and was married there to Margaret Lower. Abraham Horshuer, the father of Mrs. Brown, was a native of Preble County, Ohio; born in 1787, and was married to Hanna Garner, of his native county. He came to this county in 1831; deceased, September 13, 1866, his wife having died October 2, 1840. William S., the son of the subject of this sketch, was married, December 1, 1872, to Evaline Simmons; they have two children— Phebe L. and Dora. Mary A. was married to Ira Porter, May 1, 1868; they have two children-

Nancy E. and Rudolph. Mr. Brown owns a good farm of 200 acres of choice land, is Democratic in politics, and an enterprising citizen.

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

DANIEL WESLEY BROWN.

Having never been seized Avith the roaming desires that have led many of Randolph county's young men to other fields of endeavor and other states, where they have sought their fortunes, Daniel Wesley Brown, farmer of Jackson township, has been content to remain in his native community and here direct his efforts; and he has met with encouraging success in his chosen vocation and has at the same time so conducted himself before his fellow men as to gain their respect and confidence. He is a noted breeder of fancy Duroc-Jersey hogs.

Mr. Brown was born in this county, April 26, 1857. He is a son of Joseph Brown, who was born in Maryland. After spending his boyhood in the East he came west where he spent the rest of his life, being among the early settlers in Randolph county. Indiana, and here he developed a good farm and died in October, 1901; his wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Nancy Harshman, passing to the life beyond February 4, 1895. To these parents were born six sons and two daughters, namely: William S., whose death occurred in February, 1913; ilar A., who married Ira Porter, died in January, 1907; Lilly C. married Harvey Haley and they live at Ridgeville; Abraham, when last heard from, was living in Iowa; Isaac E. died October 13, 1885: Frank is a carpenter in Union City, this county; Albert died in 1895; and Daniel W., of this sketch.

Daniel W. Brown grew to manhood on the home farm, and he received his education in the common schools. He took up farming when but a boy and has always followed this line of work, commencing business for himself when twenty-five years of age, first buying the twenty acres where he now resides, and on this made good improvements, later buying ten acres more, then bought sixteen acres, finally secured fifty-one and one-half acres additional, and his father left him forty, making him in all one hundred and thirty-seven and one-half acres of fine land, all of which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and is carrying on general farming successfully, also is making a specialty of breeding thoroughbred hogs — Duroc Jerseys, which business he has carried on most successfully for a period of thirty-three years, and is regarded as one of the best hog raisers in the county, his fine stock finding a very ready market, owing to their superior quality. He has a good dwelling and numerous large outbuildings on his place. He has taken many premiums with his fine hogs at the Indiana state fair, at Indianapolis. At the fair of 19 1 3 the following premiums were awarded his exhibits, he having very strong competition by the best breeders of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky: First premium on aged boar, first and third under one year boar, first on under year sow, first on under year herd, first on get of boar, first on produce of sow, champion on under year boar, champion on under year sow; American specials, first, under year herd; national special, first on under year herd, and silver trophy on under year herd. Mr. Brown has judged swine four times at the Indiana state fairs of the past, three times at the Ohio state fair, and once at the Kentucky state fair, also once at the International Live Stock Exhibition in Chicago, and many county fairs. No better judge of hogs is to be found in the middle west, and Mr. Brown is widely known among the leading stock men of the county. He and his son raise and sell about seventy-five head of hogs annually for breeding purposes, their shipments going to all parts of the United States and Canada, and one shipment went to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. They are in position to fill orders for their fine stock at all times, at prices and quality to suit the customers. Theirs is all registered stock. While a great deal of their attention is thus claimed by their hogs, they raise large numbers of fine draft horses and carry on a general farming business.

Mr. Brown was married October 18, 1881 to Ida Nofifsinger, who was born in Bond county, Illinois, October i8, 1862. She is a daughter of Eli P. Noffsinger, whose death occurred August 6, 1910. Her mother, Mrs. Martha Noffsinger, lives with Dr. Noffsinger in Union City. Mrs. Brown had five brothers and three sisters, one of the brothers being now deceased. The Noffsinger children were named as follows: Henry is a practicing physician at Union City; Ida, wife of Mr. Brown; Elizabeth died when six years old; Noah lives in Union City; Joseph resides in Ohio; Edward died in 1893; Clara Jane died in 1908; Ora A. lives in Ohio.

To Mr. and Mrs. Brown the following children have been born: Glee, born July 13, 1884, was educated at North Manchester, Indiana, married Jessie M. Richer, and they reside in South Whitley, Indiana, where he is practicing dentistry; Joseph E., born July 27, 1887, also educated at North Manchester, is unmarried, and is at home, being a third partner with his father in the Hvestock and farming business; Vera, born December 28, 1888, a graduate at North Manchester, later spent one term at the State University at Bloomington; she married Elmer E. Jones, a professor in the University, and they reside in Bloomington. Mr. Brown has no grandchildren. Politically, he is a Democrat, but is no politician preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his large livestock and farming business. He is a man whose word is regarded by those who know him as being as good as the bond of most men, and he is a genial, obliging gentleman.

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