The Brown Families of Wayne County, Ohio

WILLIAM W. BROWN, son of John Buckuer and Mary (Morgan) Brown, was born on the farm now owned by Ralston B. Brown, in Clinton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, March 23, 1815. Thomas Brown, his grandfather, a native of Virginia, was a soldier during the War of the Revolution. His children were Elizabeth, John B., George, Lydia, Samuel B., William, Mary Ann and Thomas F., all now deceased. John B. was reared and educated in Loudoun County, Va., where he married Mary Morgan; they then located in West Virginia, where two children were born to them: Ann, born November 28, 1811, died August 12, 1812, and George H., born April 4, 1813, died in 1844.

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

STEPHEN BROWN, son of John \ B. and Mary (Morgan) Brown, was born in Clinton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, August 8, 1820, on the farm now owned by Ralston B.‘ Brown. January 31, 1850, he married Martha M., daughter of Jesse Riffle, and they then located in Franklin Township, where they remained five years; thence in 1855, they removed to the place Mr. Brown now owns in Clinton Township. Hero he built his present residence, made many improvements, and now has a farm of 240 acres. To them three children have been born: Herbert B., who married

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

From his boyhood the subject of this sketch has been a resident of Wayne county, and he is an honored representative of one of its pioneer families. His life has been one of usefulness and honor, and his memory links the later pioneer epoch, with its comparatively primitive surroundings and equipment, with this later era of prosperity and opulent achievement and condition which have marked the advent of the glorious twentieth century. As a representative farmer of the county and a public-spirited citizen, it is entirely consonant that there be here entered a review of the life history of Mr. Brown.

Elmer Brown, whose fine farm is located in section 10, Clinton township, Wayne county, was born August 8, 1857, a son of Thomas Ashford and Mary (Bird) Brown. Thomas Ashford Brown was a son of John Buckner Brown, who was the second child and oldest son of Thomas and Ann (Ash) Brown. John Buckner Brown was born January 28, 1788, in Prince William county, Virginia. In the spring of 1805 he accompanied his father and family west of the mountains to what is now known as Preston county. West Virginia, locating on what was called the ‘‘Stone House” property, consisting of five hundred and seventy-eight acres. About five years later, at which time he was twenty-two years of age, he married Mary Morgan, who lived on the east side of the Cheat river, near Kingwood, West Virginia. She was a daughter of Hugh Morgan, one of the pioneers of Preston county, West Virginia. She was born May 12, 1790, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children, nine of whom were girls. She was a quiet, Christian woman, of many excellent personal qualities, an excellent housekeeper and a faithful and loving mother. In the summer of 1811 John Buckner Brown came to Wayne county, Ohio, and entered land in section 20, Clinton township, on which he made some improvements. He then returned to his family in West Virginia, and in the fall of 1813 he brought the family to their new western home, arriving here on the 17th of September. The tedious journey required several weeks* time, during which time the members of the party were in constant danger from various sources. The trip incurred many hardships, the trail leading through unbroken forests and over bridgeless streams, while on every hand roamed bear, wolves, panthers, catamounts, wild red deer and wilder red men. The party arrived safely at their destination and at once the task was begun of getting the land in shape for cultivation. One who has not passed through this experience can have no definite idea as to the extent of the task. The timber had to be filled, chopped and burned, the ground broken, crops planted, fences built and other labor performed which was not incumbent on those who later took up the operation of the farms. These sturdy old pioneers did their work well and today they deserve the everlasting gratitude of those who are now enjoying the conditions made possible by their sacrifices and strenuous labors.

John B. Brown continued to reside on this farm until their deaths. His death occurred September 15, 1855, and hers on July 12, 1850, their remains being interred in the old Baptist cemetery in Holmes county, near their home. Mr. Brown was a member of the Disciples church and the first meeting ever held by that denomination in Wayne county was held in his home. Mr. Buckner was said to have been a man of fine personal appearance. He was five feet eight inches in height, weighed one hundred and sixty pounds, and had bright blue eyes and dark brown hair. He bore a splendid reputation in the community, his word being considered literally as good as his bond. At the time of the death of his father he received as his portion of the estate three or four slaves. Being bitterly opposed to the practice of slavery, he returned to Virginia, and hired out one of them, Rafe Harris, to Gen. Buckner Fairfax, for a term of six years, at the end of which time he and the other slaves were to be given their freedom, which was done. Politically, Mr. Brown was a Democrat until the campaign of 1840, from which time he gave his support to the Whig party. To him and his wife were born the following children: Ann, born November 28, 1811, died August 12, 1812; George Harrison, born April 4. 1813, died 1844, married Rebecca Hull; William Wesley, born March 23, 1815, died in June, 1893, married Phoebe Lee, who was born April 6, 1837, the daughter of James Lee, of Virginia, and died July 17, 1886; Hugh M., born October 14, 1816, married, on February 21, 1838, Margaret Neely, who was born June 25, 1819, and both are now deceased; Rebecca Ann, bom February 25, 1820, died in infancy; Thomas Ashford, born June 22, 1818, married Mary Bird March 5, 1845, and both are dead; John, born October 25, 1822, died April 19. 1889, married, in 1848, Rhoda Newkirk, who also is dead; Mercy, born December 19, 1823, died in infancy; Stephen, born August 8, 1826, now deceased, married, on January 31, 1850, Martha M. Riffle, also deceased, and had three children, Plerbert, G. E. and Alice (Mrs. Kick); Mary Ann, born August 25, 1828, became the wife of James K. Campbell on February 13, 1851, and both are deceased; Isaac, born April 3. 1831, married Elizabeth McConkey on February 13, 1851, and is now living in Holmes county, this state; Samuel Elery, born August 12, 1833, married Almira Caldwell November 4, 1854. He is now dead and his widow lives in Nebraska.

Of these children, Thomas Ashford Brown, father of the subject of this sketch, became a well-known and highly respected farmer of Clinton township. On March 5, 1845, he married Mary Bird, who was a native of

Holmes county, Ohio, and to them were born the following children: Ralston Buckner, bom January 28, 1846, died 1902, married Sarah J. Gill, February 25, 1869, she being now a resident of Wooster, this county; Bird Ashford, born February 25, 1848, died April 29, 1877; Salina J., bom September 12, 1849, became the wife of J. J. Sullivan on September 27, 1887, and they now reside in Cleveland, Ohio; Luderna died young; Mina J., born July 29, 1853, was married, on November 27, 1873, to W. C. Craig, of Wooster; Aurelia M., born August 29, 1855, married, on October 6, 1876, Lucustus Sidle, and they live in Wooster; Elmer, the subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth. He was reared on the paternal homestead in Clinton township and received his education in the common schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has spent his entire life as a miller of the soil in this township. He has been energetic and progressive and has so operated his farm as to realize a gratifying return for the labor bestowed. The place is well improved in every respect and is numbered among the best homesteads of the township. In addition to the tilling of the soil, Mr. Brown also devotes some attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which also he is successful.

Mr. Brown married Ida Dike, who was born June 18, 1871, in Plain township, this county, a daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Kugler) Dike. Her parents were both natives of Germany, having emigrated to the United States in 1851. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but here followed farming as an occupation. He died September 2, 1901, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his widow now makes her home with the subject and his wife, being now eighty-four years old. To the subject and his wife have been born the following children: Helen, born July 17, 1899;

Mary, born October 6, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Christian church, both giving their earnest and liberal support to this society. In politics Mr. Brown has given his support to the Republican party, though he is not in any sense an aspirant for public office. Standing “four square to every wind that blows,” he has so ordered his life as to win the unbounded confidence of all with whom he has had dealings and his friends are in number as his acquaintances.

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

One of the fine farm properties of Saltcreek and East Union townships, Wayne county. Ohio, is that owned by Allen Brown, who has here maintained his home for over three score and ten years and who is known as one of the progressive and successful business men of this section of the state, and as a citizen whose life has been dominated by high principles and a determination to achieve a success worthy of the name, so that he has not been denied the fullest measure of confidence and esteem. Such are the men who are particularly worthy of consideration in a publication of this nature, for though they have not stood in the great white light of publicity, they have been of the world’s workers and have played well their assigned part in the making of history.

The family history of Allen Brown, on the paternal side, is traced back to his grandfather, Caleb Brown, who was one of the earliest settlers in Wayne county, having entered government land in section 9. Saltcreek township, in 1816. He always followed farming and became prominent in the county’s early history. He was the father of seven children, five sons and two daughters. and all the sons attained to prominence in the county. The names of the children were Elizabeth. John, Bealy, Noah, Robert, Samuel and Sarah. Of these. Samuel, the subject’s father, was born in 1800 in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and when he was sixteen years old he was brought by his parents to Wayne county, where he lived continuously until his death, which occurred in 1882. He had received a fair education in the schools of his native state and when he came to the new Ohio home his attention and energy were directed to the task of clearing the land and rendering it fit for cultivation, a task of considerable magnitude. He remained at home until his marriage, at which time he located where the subject of this sketch now lives, his home at that time ideing in the midst of a dense forest. He was at that time the possessor of the magnificent sum of fifty cents, which comprised his total cash capital, but, nothing daunted, he went bravely to work to care out a fortune. He was a great worker and, despite some severe losses and other drawbacks, he eventually succeeded in accumulating a handsome property. He was an active worker in the interest of the Democratic party and was a persistent and skillful debater on political questions. He was not an office seeker, however, though he did serve one term as constable. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in the work of the society, being one of the most prominent men in his church. Erom boyhood he was a licensed exhorter and class leader. He, with the assistance of the Armstrongs, founded the Methodist Episcopal church at Eredericksburg and always gave that society

ALLEN BROWN lOOI an earnest and liberal support. In addition to agriculture, he was a over of horses, being considered one of the best judges of horseflesh in the county, and he dealt very extensively in them. He married Sarah Armstrong, whose parents were natives of Ireland, and she was born on the Atlantic ocean while they were en route to the United States in one of the old-fashioned slow-going sailing vessels. The Armstrong family was one of the first to settle in this part of Wayne county. To Samuel and Sarah Brown nine children were born, namely: Jane, who is the wife of Mr. Bartol, of Wooster, Ohio; Roliert, Elizabeth, Christine, John, Rachael and Margaret are deceased; Allen, the subject of this sketch; Whiteman, deceased.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In politics Mr. Brown has always been a Democrat and supports that ticket on national elections, but in local elections he is independent, believing that the personal fitness of the candidates should be considered regardless of party lines. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Apple Creek, to which he gives an earnest and generous support.

On the 22d of February, 1866, Mr. Brown was married to Emily Musser, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Musser, natives of Switzerland and early settlers here, Mrs. Brown having been born INIarch 17, 1841. on what is now the Crosby farm. To this union have been born five children, namely: William C., at home; Louis, who is in the plumbing business at Loraine, Ohio, married Sophia Hofacre, and they have three children, Bessie, Nellie and Leonard; Anna, a twin of Louis, is the wife of L. C. Huguelet, of Akron, Ohio, and they have two children, Lyman and Grace; Mina became the wife of James Graber, of near Mount Eaton, this county, and they have one child, Harlan; Rosa became the wife of Lyman Critchfield, Jr., of Wooster, and they are the parents of three children, Robert, Henry and Dorothy. William C., who remains at home with his parents, and who has assumed the burden of looking after the farm, is an enterprising and progressive man and has evinced qualities which stamp him as a man of unusual calibre. He has received a good education and is a man of decided literary tastes, and has given effective and appreciated service at various times as the local correspondent for the Orrville and Wooster papers. He is a successful hog raiser and his up-to-date hog barn is well arranged and is equipped with a feed grinder, run by a gasoline engine, which has proven a great convenience, much corn being ground here for the neighboring farmers as well. Mr. Brown is unmarried and devotes himself to the best interests of his parents, to whom he is devoted. He is a over of the home life and is a close and critical reader of the best literature. Because of his sterling qualities of character he enjoys the high regard and the unbounded confidence of all who know him, his friends being in number as his acquaintances.

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

JOSEPH McCAULEY BROWN.

A most exemplary citizen and an honored hero of the war of the Rebellion is Joseph M. Brown, a prominent citizen of Saltcreek township, Wayne county, Ohio. During his army career he was always found faithful to the duties imposed upon him, thus winning the confidence and regard of his comrades and superior officers, while in his business life and social relations he has ever manifested the same justice, integrity and reliability, and none know him save to wish him well. He is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Franklin county on the 17th of December, 1834. His father, John Brown, also was a native of Franklin county, born September 3, 1803, and in 1836 came to Massillon, Ohio, with his family, consisting of his wife and son, the subject of this sketch. Massillon was then the most important trading point in this section of the state, and he remained there a short time, subsequently moving to Holmes county. He was a plasterer by trade and a good workman, having been employed in that line during practically all his active years. He remained in Holmes county until 1865, when he came to YHyne county and located in Saltcreek township, where he spent his remaining years, his death occurring in his eighty-ninth year. He was a man of many fine qualities of character and was well likecBby all who knew him. In Pennsylvania John Brown married Elizabeth Thompson, who was born in Franklin county, that state, in 1817, her family having originally come from

JOSEPH iVI. BROWN

Scotland, where they belonged to the Clan Campbell, while the Brown ancestors were from Wales, where they were a prominent family, as they were also in the Keystone state. Mrs. Brown lived to the ripe age of eighty years. By her marriage with John Brown, she became the mother of ten children, briefly mentioned as follows: Joseph Me., the subject of this sketch, who was the only one of the children born in Pennsylvania; George A., deceased; John D., deceased; Amy Ann died in infancy; the next two children were twins, one of whom is dead, the other, Elizabeth, now making her home in Wooster; Joanna is the wife of Robert Hatfield, who lives north of Wooster; Calvin S., of near Apple Creek; William and Martha.

Joseph McCauley Brown attended the early subscription schools and secured a fair education, which has been liberally supplemented during the subsequent years by much reading and close observation of men and things, so that he is a well informed man. He early learned the trade of a carpenter, which he thereafter followed during most of his active years. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, when he went to northwestern Missouri, where he was employed at his trade until the outbreak of the Civil war. He enlisted in Company F, Eighteenth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served faithfully from October 10, 1861, until May 5, 1865. He took part in a number of heavy engagements with the enemy, besides much skirmishing and marching, and at the battle of Shiloh, he, together with the greater part of the regiment, was taken prisoner and was kept in confinement during the following nine months, being in the prison at Macon, Georgia. He there received very severe treatment and during a part of the time he was confined in the hospital. After being paroled, Mr. Brown rejoined his regiment and was with General Sherman on his march to the sea, and afterwards participated in the Grand Review at Washington. He saw much arduous service and was four times wounded. Enlisting as a private, his faithful services were recognized and he soon became a sergeant, subsequently attaining the rank of a first lieutenant, which rank he held when he was mustered out at Washington.

Immediately on the conclusion of his military service, Mr. Brown came to Saltcreek township, Wayne county, and has made his home here ever since. The greater part of the time he has been at his trade of carpenter, though for several years he has not performed any hard labor, advancing years admonishing him to husband his strength. He is the owner of some fine farming land in section 15, and is in fairly comfortable circumstances. His character and life has been such that he has merited and retained the universal regard of all who know him. He has taken an active part in local political affairs in the interest of the Republican party, having cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for President. He has never sought office for himself, but has been an active and influential man in the township. His religious affiliation is with the Congregational church, while his wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Brown formerly belonged to the Fredericksburg Post, Grand Army of the Republic, but his advancing age prevented his attending the meetings and he has taken a discharge.

On the 13th of November, 1866, Mr. Brown was married to Mary Jane Dunham, who was born in Saltcreek township, this county, May 21, 1840, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret Dunham, who were early settlers in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown the following children have been born: Anna Alice is the wife of William Herman, of Franklin township, and they have two children; Margaret Elizabeth, now deceased, was the wife of Theodore First, by whom she had three children; Thomas D., who is a postal mail clerk living at Mansfield, married Emma Christman; Maud died at the age of sixteen years.

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

THOMAS PENDLETON BROWN.

There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be follow'ed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly, after all; and when one man passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which properly encompass the whole human race.

Such thoughts are prompted by a study of the life record of Thomas Pendleton Brown, of Wooster, one of the most skillful civil engineers in this section of the Buckeye state, and he has achieved his envied position in this calling solely through individual efforts, with many obstacles against him. but he has surmounted them, one hy one, and, while yet a young man, his labors have been crowned by success, and the future holds much of promise for him.

Mr. Brown is a native of Wooster, having been born here on January 19, 1876, and he has continued to make Wayne county his home. He is the son of John B. and Marilla (Koch) Brown, being the eldest of their children. The father, for many years a well-known citizen of Wooster, was at one time deputy sheriff, filling out the unexpired term of Ethan A. Brown, turning over the office, which he had very creditably filled, to his successor in 1889.

Thomas P. Brown was always an ambitious lad. but not having a very flattering prospect to gain an education in his boyhood days, he set out to educate himself and he has succeeded admirably well. He passed through the Wooster high school and the Bixler Business College, and, as already intimated, learned civil engineering by studying at nights. In his younger years he engaged successfully for a time in the real estate business.

When the Spanish-American war broke out Mr. Brown was one of the first to volunteer his services in eradicating the tyranny of Spain, and enlisted in Company D, Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in April, 1898. The company was well drilled and was sent to Cuba, where it remained from July 11th to the latter part of August, but, much to the disappointment of Mr. Brown and his comrades, they had no opportunity to see active service on the firing line. They were ordered home and were mustered out at Wooster on November 10, 1908, being honorably discharged.

Mr. Brown was married on December 8, 1899, to Irene Taggart, daughter of Calvin Taggart, a highly-respected family of Wooster, and this union has resulted in the birth of one child, Marilla Irene, born January 2, 1903.

Mr. Brown is an active and influential member of the Baptist church, and he belongs to the Buckeye Camp, United Spanish-American War Veterans. He was elected ditch supervisor of Wooster township, in 1909, and is giving eminent satisfaction in that capacity.

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