Frank J. Brown

As printed in 1901

FRANK J. BROWN.

This energetic and enterprising farmer, residing on section 2" Bertram township, was born on the 29th of Octoljer, 1868. in New York, and is a son of John and Phoebe (Brunk) Brown, both of whom were natives of New York, the former bkirn October 30, 1826. in Schoharie county, and the latter October 11, 1835. They were married in the Empire state July 4, 1855, and when our subject was nine months old removed with their fanny to Iowa, locating in Cedar county. About 1872 they came to Mt. Vernon, Linn county, where Frank attended school until 1878, when they located on a farm north of that place, and he became a student in the district school known as Laurel Hill, remaining there eight years. The father died in September, i88r, and was laid to rest in the Mt. Vernon cemetery. Subsecjuently the mother removed to Saline county, Nebraska, and rented a farm, which she operated with the assistance of our subject for two years. For her second husband she married Joseph Harvey. She died in December. 1891, and was also buried in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. The children born of her first marriage were Irvin, a resident of Minnesota, wiio first married Addie SaNvyer and after her death wedded Becky Harkness; Almyra, wife of John Howsel, of Spokane, Washington; Hettie. wife of James Resell, of Denver. Colorado; Frank J., our subject; Minnie, a resident of ilt. Vernon, Iowa; and Malissa. of State Center. Iowa.

After two years spent in Nebraska Frank J. Brown returned to Iowa, and for two years worked in the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad car shops at Cedar Rapids. He was next employed by the niiMith iin a farm near that city for the same length of time, and then worked as a farm hand in Bertram township for one year. He was married in Mt. Vernon October 7, 1891, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary E. Harrison, who was born in Linn Grove, this county, February 25, 1861, a daughter of Jacob and Ardelia (Look) Harrison, natives of New Jersey and New York respectively. They were married in Steuben county, New York, January 17, 185, and in September of the same year started for Kansas, but on reaching Mt. Vernon, Iowa, they decided to stop on account of Mrs. Harrison being in poor health. For about a year the father engaged in cutting timber, and then purchased a small farm at Linn Grove, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1863, when he went to Idaho during the gold excitement in that state. When he left for the mountains he sent his family to New York, and about the close of the Civil war rejoined them in that state, bringing them back to Linn county, Iowa. He purchased what is now known as the Caldwell farm, on which he lived for ten years, and in 1885 bought the James Berry farm of two hundred acres, which he sold, though he afterward removed to another farm, where he lived for nine years. His first wife died in the fall of 1890 and was buried in Mt. Vernon. He subsequently spent one year with a single daughter, then one year with Mrs. Brown and then went to California. He has since been back and forth a number of times, but has resided permanently in that state since his second marriage in the fall of

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

After his marriage Mr. Brown rented the farm which he now owns and occupies, it being the old Harrison homestead of two hundred acres on section 27, Bertram township. After renting it for eight years he purchased the place, and has since made many improvements thereon. He is engaged in raising and feeding stock for market, and being a good practical farmer of sound judgment and excellent business ability, he is meeting with well-merited success in his undertakings. He attends the Methodist Church and is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.

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