A. Brown

As printed in 1901

A. BROWN, a well known farmer and stock raiser, residing in Columbia township, Wapello county, Iowa, was born in Columbia township, a mile and three-quarters southeast of his present farm, June 17, 1849. He is a son of David and Eliza (Forester) Brown, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother, of Indiana.

David Brown moved to Indiana with his parents when a small hoy, and settled in Johnson county, where he grew to manhood. He was a farmer, and owned a small tract of land there, which he disposed of and then moved to Missouri. In 1846 he came to Mahaska county, Iowa, where lie took up a claim and remained for two years. He then disposed of his claim and moved to Columbia township, \Vapello county, on the farm now owned by Philip Dotts and his son, Gideon Dotts. He entered this tract of 160 acres, on which he made many improvements and which he put under a high state of cultivation. He added to his original entry until he had a farm of upwards of 640 acres, and was at one time considered the wealthiest farmer in the township. He was industrious, honest and upright in all his transactions, and stood very high in the community. His union with Eliza Forester resulted in the following offspring; Catherine, Martha, Lewis V., Barbara Ellen, Rachel E., W. A. and George W. and Jackson, twins. After the death of his first wife he married Barbara Foglesong, a native of Indiana, by whom he had four children, as follows: Alary Jane, Florence, Mack L. and Mattie. Mr. Brown was a member of the Lutheran church and helped to erect a church at Eddyville. Politically he was a Democrat. He died in May, 1900, at the age of eighty-three years.

William Brown received a common-school education in Columbia township, Wapello county, lkjwa, and remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He engaged in farming for himself, and in 1882 made his first purchase of land, — a tract of 40 acres. This he subsequently sold, and purchased a tract of 155 acres of Alexander Black, which is his present homestead. The farm is devoted to general farming and stock raising. He raises good crops of corn, wheat and oats, and in stock raising — makes a specialty of high-grade hogs, — always keeping on an average 45 head of the Poland-China breed. His farm is well adapted to raising stock, as it is well watered by springs and also by Kavanaugh Creek, a small stream that seldom runs dry. He has made a great success ui his occupation, and stands \\ell in the county in which he has lived all his life.

Mr. Brown was united in matrimonial bonds in 1878 with Maretta Chapman, a daughter of W'ells Chapman, a native of Ohio, where she was born May 12, 1855. She came with her parents to Missouri, thence to Illinois, and in 1872 to Iowa, settling in Mahaska county. The parents of Mrs. Brown now reside in Monroe county, Iowa, where they own a farm. This union resulted in the birth of the following children; AVilliam L.; Ida AI., deceased; Mary Ellen; Minnie Esther, wife of William S. Hindman, of Mahaska county; Elizabeth; Bertie L.; and Edna AI., deceased. In political views Mr. Brown is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of Day Lodge, Xo. 26, I. O. O. F., and of the Alodern Woodmen of America.

OHN AIURRAA This gentleman is one of the prominent farmers living in Pleasant township, Wapello county, Iowa. He was born in Ohio in 1839, and is a son of Adam ami Charit\' ( Elliott) Alurray.

Adam Alurray was born in Virginia, where he Hvecl ah his Hfe. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. He married Cliarity Ehiott, a native of West Virginia, and the)' reared 12 children, namely: Margaret; John: Andrew, deceased: William; Fanny, deceased; Simon; Alary E.; George and Andy, deceased; Elliott, who lives on a farm in Ohio: Thomas, A\ ho is a farmer in Pleasant township; and Catherine, deceased.

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

Mr. Alurray is a member of the Republican party. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his wife are members of the Alethodist church.

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.