Constant Brown

As printed in 1910

CONSTANT BROWN.

Constant Brown, pleasant and genial in manner and faithful to every trust reposed in him, is well qualified for the position which he is now filling as freight and ticket agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company, at Geneseo. His life record began on the 20th of March, 1845, the place of his nativity being Canajoharie, Montgomery county. New York. He was named for his paternal grandfather, Constant Brown, Sr., who was also a native of the Empire state. He was prominent in community affairs there, served as sheriff of Montgomery county for several years and was also justice of the peace. He was likewise a soldier of the war of 1812, and his military record and his official career were alike creditable and honorable. He married Miss Phoebe Albertson, and they continued their residence in New York until called to their final rest, Mr. Brown passing away at the age of eighty-six years, while his wife died when sixty-eight years of age. They had two sons and two daughters: Julia, Eliza, Charles H. and Constant. The last named, however, was drowned when six years of age.

Oiarles H. Brown, the father of our subject, was born in New York and devoted his entire life to business as a merchant tailor. He wedded Susan H. Hees, who was likewise a native of the Empire state, as were her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Lipe) Hees. Her father was for many years a farmer of Montgomery county, New York, and was of Holland-Dutch descent. He passed away when sixty-five years of age, while his wife lived to the advanced age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are now deceased. This number included Mrs. Susan H. Brown. For years after their marriage the parents of our subject remained in New York but when well advanced in years sought a home in Geneseo in 1889. Here the death of Mr. Brown occurred in 1903, when he was eighty-four years of age. His wife survived him and died in 1907 at the age of eighty-five years. Both were consistent Christian people and held membership in the Presbyterian church, and their upright lives won them the love and esteem of all who knew them. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters, three of whom reached years of maturity: Mary E., the deceased wife of J. E. H. Kelley; Constant; and Jacob H., who is living in Cleveland, Ohio.

Constant Brown spent the first eight years of his life in the place of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal from Montgomery county to Oneida county. New York, living in Rome and Utica until twenty years of age. He attended the public schools there and was graduated from the Rome Academy in 1862. He afterward taught school for two winters and one summer and in 1865 came west to Illinois. Through the succeeding winter he engaged in teaching in Bureau county and in the following summer was employed ai farm labor. On the 17th of October, 1866, he entered the service of the Rock Island Railway Company as agent of what was then called Pond Creek but is now Wyanet. There he continued until the ist of July, 1884, when he came to Geneseo and was made freight and ticket agent here, which position he has filled continuously since for a period of a quarter of a century.

On the 23d of August, 1866, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Annie M. Wilcox, a daughter of Oliver G. Wilcox. Mrs. Brown was born in Oswego county. New York, and her parents were also natives of that state. Arriving in Illinois in 1853 they settled at Princeton, where their remaining days were passed. The father was a soldier of the war of 1812. Mrs. Brown attended the first county fair held in Bureau county, over a half century ago, the place being in a schoolhouse, the exhibits being displayed on the school desks. She has lived to see many notable changes in this part of the state, as northern Illinois has put off the evidences of frontier life and taken on all the advantages of modern civilization.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born seven children. Charles H., who is now station agent at Marquette, Illinois, married Nelly O'Leary, and they have three daughters: Annie M., Beatrice and Helen. Constant, who married Matie Striker, is engaged in the grain and stock business at Wyanet.

Fred H., a grocer at Geneseo, married Jessie L. Sargent, and they have two children: Dorothy and Constant. Harry E. is a lawyer of Geneseo, who married Mabel Welton. Roy W., who married Grace McLean, is manager of the Globe Manufacturing Company, of Amsterdam, New York. Susan H., who married Elmer C. Wilcox, lives in Argentine, Kansas. And Leslie R. died at the age of nineteen years on board a hospital ship during the Spanish-American war and was buried at sea.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist church, interested in its work and active in various movements for its upbuilding. Mr. Brown is serving as one of the church trustees. He belongs to Stewart Lodge, No. 92, A. F. & A. M., and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. For three years he was a member of the board of education, and his work in behalf of the schools was far-reaching and effective. That he has remained with the railroad company in one position for twenty-five years is unmistakable proof of his ability and trustworthiness, and his manner is at once so courteous and ob- Uging as to make him a most popular official with the patrons of the road.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.