Henry Brown

As printed in 1888

ENRY BROWN, one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, residing on section 3, Center Townsliip, was born in F.fayette ji County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1819, and is a son of John and Mary (Tate) Brown. They were natives of Frederick County, Va., emigrating to Fayette County in an early day. They were the parents of five sons and six daughters, seven of whom.are still living: Sydney, of Appanoose County, Iowa; Lucinda, of this county; Manley, of Washington County, Iowa; Jackson, now a resident of S.alem County, Mo.; Ellen, wife of John Tendergrass, of W.washington County, Iowa; William, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Brown came to Iowa, remaining here until their death, the father dying in Washington County, and the mother in Des Moines. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat. They were people highly respected in the community where they resided.

The subject of this sketch in his boyhood diiys

remained on a farm in Fayette County, Ohio, and like so many other boys of that time, attended the log school-house with its luncheon floors, slab seats, greased paper windows and immense fireplace. In 1841 Mr. Brown led to the marriage altar Miss Barbara A. Helphrey, a native of Ohio, born in Licking County in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had a family of six children, five of whom are now living: Alice, wife of Cyrus Bush, of Washington County, Iowa; George, still an inmate of the parental home; Rosa, also at home; Florence, wife of David Durst, of Washington County, Iowa, and Parrott, of Mt. Pleasant. In 1846 Mr. Brown emigrated to Iowa, making the journey with teams, settling near Burlington for about two years, but subsequently removing to Henry County. He remained in this county for twenty-two years, then removed to Washington County, Iowa, which place he made his home for fourteen years. In the spring of 1882 he returned to Henry County, purchasing a farm, as before stated, in Center Township, and here he still resides.

In early life our subject exerted his influence for and voted with the Democratic party until the breaking out of the war, since which time he has always voted with the Republican party. Mr. I'rown came to this county a poor man, but with a willingheart and a strong arm, he patiently labored until he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of Henry County. His farm, consisting of 120 acres, situated a mile and a half from Mt. Pleasant, is one of the best cultivated in this part of the State. The beloved wife was called from her happy home on earth to the better one above, March 13, 1881. Mr. Brown is one of the early settlers of the county, is always ready to aid in any public enterprises for the public good, and is universally esteemed.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biog (1888). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.