Charles Brown

As printed in 1909

CHARLES BROWN.

Charles Brown is one of the representative citizens of Lime Creek township who is worthy to be classed among the self-made men of the community. Left an orphan at a very tender age, he has, by his indefatigable industry, untiring energy and unfaltering determination, risen from a comparatively humble position to a place of prominence among his fellow citizens. He was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, June 30, 1835, a son of William and Lucy J. (Smith) Brown, natives of the same state, where their entire lives were spent. In their family were four children, of whom Charles, of this review, and Margaret of Connecticut, are the only surviving members.

At the usual age Charles Brown entered the common schools in the acquirement of an education, but when only seven years old he lost both parents and he was then bound out until seventeen years of age. At the e.expiration of this period he became an apprentice to the clock business, and was thus engaged for six or seven years. In 1860 he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he secured employment in the Illinois Central car shops. Subsequently he was employed by the board of public works to manage the city water works of Chicago, in which capacity he served for fourteen years, and while discharging his duties in this connection he manifested much administrative ability and executive control. In September, 1879, however, he withdrew from this institution and came to Washington county, Iowa, locating on the farm which is now his home, having purchased the property five or six years prior to his arrival in this county. It is an excellent farm of one hundred and four acres situated on section 20, Lime Creek township, and with characteristic energy and perseverance he set about improving and cultivating his fields with the result that today the property is a valuable one, returning to its owner rich annual harvests. He has devoted considerable attention to the dairy business, keeping Jersey cows for that purpose and for a time shipped his butter direct to Chicago but has not done any shipping for the past five years.

On the /th of June, 1865, Mr. Brown was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Eunice E. Brown, a daughter of John P. and Annie (Bacon) Brown, natives of England and Connecticut, respectively. This union was blessed with five children, namely: William J., residing in Lime Creek township: Harry, at home; Eunice J., of Chicago; and Emma H. and Charles J., both at home. Mrs. Brown holds membership in the Episcopal church, and takes an active interest in all the phases of the church work.

In politics Mr. Brown is a republican and stands loyally by the principles of that party, while during the Civil war he was a member of the Union League. He has been called to office by his fellow citizens, having served as school director for six years and as supervisor for eight years. With no favoring advantages at the outset of his career, he has. throughout the intervening years, overcome all obstacles and difficulties that lay in his path to progress and he stands today as one of the representative citizens of the community in which he lives, his life having been one of continuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of labor.

As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.