In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1838
From The history of Buchanan County, Missouri (1881)
A. M. BROWN, farmer and fine stock breeder, section 11, postoffice DeKalb, was born May 4, 183,8., and is a native of Decatur County, Indiana. In the fall of that year he was brought to Buchanan County, when, after receiving a fair education in the common schools, he attended the high school at Weston. He spent his boyhood days on a farm till sixteen years of age, after which he was engaged in the mercantile trade for several years. With this exception he has followed agricultural pursuits. He and his mother-in-law own 433 acres, their home farm containing 163 acres. He was married December 28, 1859, to Miss Julia Kendley. She was born in Kentucky, February 22, 1844. They have one child, Mary S., now Mrs. Steele, born October 8, 1861. Mr. Brown is a Mason, and a member of Wellington Lodge No. 22.
As printed in The history of Buchanan County, Missouri (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.