Harry E. Brown

As printed in 1910

HARRY E. BROWN.

There is no profession in which advancement depends more surely upon individual effort than in the law. It is a calling in which wealth or influence avail little or naught toward the attainment of success but where close application, earnest purpose and intellectual strength constitute the foundation on which prosperity is built. Mr. Brown now practicing at the Geneseo bar, has made a creditable record in connection with the work of the courts. He was born at Wyanet, Bureau county, Illinois, April 22, 1872, and is a son of Constant and Annie M. (Wilcox) Brown, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, and are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. It was also in New York that Charles H. Brown, the grandfather, was born and reared. He was of English lineage and a descendant of Peter Brown, who crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower during the formative period of our nation's history. Charles H. Brown belonged to the state militia of New York and while residing there engaged in business as a merchant tailor. He married Susan H. Hees and after living for many years in the east they removed to Geneseo, where Mr. Brown died when well advanced in years. His widow afterward went to Cleveland, Ohio, where her last days were passed. In their family were two sons and two daughters: Mary, who became the wife of J. E. H. Kelley; Helen, who died when a young lady; Constant, the father of our subject; and Jacob H., of Cleveland, Ohio.

In the material line Harry E. Brown can trace his ancestral history back to Joshua and Mollie Wilcox, the great-grandparents. The former served as a valiant soldier of the American army in the Revolutionary war. His son, Oliver G. Wilcox, was born in New York, October 27, 1795, and having arrived at years of maturity was married April 25, 1819, to Elizabeth Hees. He made farming his life work and died August 9, 1887, having for more than twenty-eight years survived his wife who died June 12, 1859. They were the parents of ten children: Josiah, Henrietta, Jerome, Clinton, Eveline, John J., William Henry, Oliver J., George W. and Annie M. The last named became the wife of Constant Brown and they are now residents of Geneseo.

Harry E. Brown resided in Bureau county, Illinois, until twelve years of age and during the period attended the Wyanet public schools. His early educational advantages were afterward supplemented by study in Geneseo where in 1889 he completed the high-school course. After determining upon the practice of law as a life work he became a student in the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, was graduated in 1895 and the same year was admitted to the bar. He then formed a partnership with Emery C. Graves, who is now a judge of the circuit court and for six years they practiced together. Since that time Mr. Brown has been alone and occupies beautiful offices over the Central

Trust and Savings Bank. His clientage is extensive and of a distinctively representative character. He is regarded as a wise counselor and able advocate and in the presentation of his cause before the court seldom fails to win the verdict desired.

On the 28th of April, 1904, occurred the marriage of Mr. Brown and Miss Mabel Welton, a native of Cambridge, Illinois, and a daughter of Frank G. and Ella M. (Clark) Welton. Her mother was born at Rockford, Illinois, while her father was a native of Connecticut. They were early settlers of Henry county, this state, the father coming here in his boyhood days in 185 1. He died August 8, 1907, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in Company B, Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was equally loyal to his country in days of peace and for thirty-two years was county clerk, filling that position at the time of his death. His wife, who was born December 13, 1849, is still living in Cambridge, Illinois. They were the parents of six children: Albert D.; Clarence W.; Kate C, the wife of Judge B. M. Smith, of Chicago; Mabel E., now Mrs. Brown; Susan B., the wife of Loring R. Sheppard; and Thomas, of Cambridge. There is also definite information to be had concerning the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Brown — Albert Welton. He was a native of Connecticut and in the east married Susan E. Bidwell. In 1851 they came to Henry county, Illinois, and were farming people here. His death occurred in Greenwood, Nebraska, in 1902, while his wife passed away in 1906. They were the parents of four children: Frank G., Mary E., George W. and Clarence W.

In his political views Mr. Brown has been an earnest republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise but the honors and emoluments of office have little attraction for him. He is a member of the Methodist church while his wife belonged to the Episcopal church and they occupy a pleasant and attractive home on Main street, which is the above of warm-hearted and generous hospitality. Mr. Brown is appreciative of the social amenities of life and his genial qualities have won him many friends but his attention is preeminently given to his professional duties, his devotion to his clients' interests being proverbial.

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.