James De Crush Brown

As printed in 1914

JAMES DE CRUSH BROWN.

although a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, James De Crush Brown at one time made his home in Ottumwa and is well known here to many of the citizens of Wapello county, where his brother, Charles P. Brown, still resides. He was born February 9, 1846, in Le Claire township, Scott county, Iowa, a few miles west of the Mississippi river, when that district was a pioneer region, the nearest neighbor living a half mile to the south. Wolves could be heard howling at night, prairie chickens and other wild game could be had in abundance and Indians were occasional visitors in the neighborhood. With the usual experiences of frontier life James D. Brown and the others of the household became familiar. He had but limited educational privileges, but he was a great reader and in the school of experience learned many valuable lessons. He spent a few terms in teaching school in the country districts, and in 1867 he began work for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co., acting with the locating engineers on the Iowa & Dakota division. Later he was operator at various stations on the Iowa & Minnesota division and was agent at Lime Spring for fifteen years.

On the ist of February, 1889, he entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as agent at Fairfield and on the ist of April, 1890, he came to Ottuniwa, wlicre he remained until June i, 1903. He was very popular as a citizen of Ottumwa. He possessed the social qualities which brought him warm regard and the sterling traits of character which enabled him to retain the friendship of those with whom he was associated. On the ist of June, 1903, he became traveling freight agent for the Indiana, Iowa & Illinois Railroad and that he won advancement is indicated in the fact that in the fall of 1905 he was promoted to the position of general agent at St. Joseph, Missouri, for the New York Central lines. His success has been worthily won, and he stands today among those who control important railway interests, directing mammoth affairs with the ease and ability that come through long practice and intelligently directed effort.

In 1862 Mr. Brown enlisted in the Sixteenth United States Regiment of Infantry, being then sixteen years of age. An acute and serious illness unfitted him for service and caused his discharge on account of disability a few months later to his great disappointment and regret. The spirit of patriotism has ever been a dominant one in his life, however, and has been manifest in support of many worthy public measures. His business record is a notable and honorable one, placing him in a distinguished position, where he controls important interests. Ottumwa remembers with pleasure the period of his residence here, and through visits to his brother he continues his acquaintance with many of his old-time friends in Wapello county.

As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.