John Brown

As printed in 1910

JOHN BROWN.

All credit and respect is due the old pioneers who blazed the way for succeeding generations and labored unceasingly that those who should come after them might be happy and prosperous. We of the aftermath are phone to lose sight of the wonderful deeds they did and the unselfish sacrifices they made; nevertheless, all honor is due them. Such a one is John Brown, one of Nodaway county's venerable citizens, who has lived to take part in every stage of development of this locality, having come here when the wild best and the red man roamed at will over prairie sod and through primeval woods. He was born in Jackson county, Tennessee, August 23, 1824, and is the son of Andrew and Mary (Yount) Brown. The mother was a na five of North Carolina, from which state she came to Tennessee with her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Yount. John’s father was a native of Sullivan county, Kentucky, who came to Tennessee with his parents, George Brown and wife. When John Brown-was a boy, not over ten years of age, the family came to Clinton county, Missouri, and after remaining there one

6/6 winter moved to Platte county and lived there ten years. In 1841 or 1842 they came to where the town of Graham, Nodaway county, is now located and the father and his children secured a section of government land, when there were but few settlers here, but there was a good supply of timber and several families were located within a few miles. At that time they did not think the prairies could or would be settled. After going a mile or two from where they settled no more houses were seen until Maryville was reached. There were no roads except Indian trials to Maryville, and, of course, no bridges. The vicinity of Graham was then a part of Andrew county. There were no schools. The town of Graham was started by Andrew Brown, who platted part of his farm and sold lots and called the place Brownsville, which name it bore until after the Civil war. The father of John Brown died in 1874, his wife having preceded him to the grave seven months. They were the parents of nine children, three of whom died in childhood, six living to maturity, Jacob Madison, John, Isaiah, Wilson G., Sarah and Nancy Emeline, wife of Rev. John Tate.

John Brown, of this review, was married February 6, 1845, to Priscilla Bohannan, daughter of Thomas and Penelope (Bartlett) Bohannan. They were married where the town of Skidmore now stands, just west of where the Christian church is now located; that was about thirty-five years before the town was started. Mr. Brown followed farming all his life, with the exception of a few years devoted to blacksmithing. He is a remnant of that hardy band that crossed the dreary western plains to California in 1850 during the gold excitement, and he remained on the Pacific coast two years. His stories of those days and of the early pioneer times in this country are, indeed, instructive and fascinating. Mr. Brown was a soldier in the Confederate army during the Civil war, being under Captain Burris. He took part in the fights at Blue Mills and Lexington, both of which were severe, although not of extensive magnitude. He served four years, or through the war, and was honorably discharged. After the war he went to Nebraska where he farmer several years, then came back to Nodaway county where he has since made his home.

When fourteen years old he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and he was one of the early members of the Masonic lodge of this county and is now the oldest Mason in the county having membership here. For many years he was taler of Skidmore Lodge, serving up to his eighty-fifth birthday. His wife was called to her reward on November 4, 1877. Nine children were born to them, named as follows: Adeline married John

Mast, whose sketch appears herein; Andrew Jackson; Mary Ellen married George Sharp; Amanda Jane died in infancy; Elizabeth married Ephreim Tilton, of Maryville; Zelda E. married James A. Clark; Hester Cordelia is the wife of Oren Masters; George and Frank. John Brown has eleven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild living.

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