John Brown

As printed in 1915

JOHN BROWN.

In the demise of John Brown, Madison county lost one of its well known pioneer farmers and stockmen. He was born in Morrow county, Ohio, January 28, 1826, the oldest child of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dillon) Brown, both of whom were of German lineage. His grandfathers were Robert Dillon and Luther Brown.

Mr. Brown was reared upon a farm and received the usual training of farm boys, assisting his father with the cultivation of the fields and the care of the stock and attending the district schools in the acquirement of an education. When he had attained his majority he began farming on his own account and in 1854 removed to this county, purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of land in Madison township. He proved an excellent farmer and stockman and gave considerable attention to the raising of cattle and sheep. He brought his land to such a high state of cultivation and made such good improvements upon the place that when it was sold he received the sum of ten thousand dollars for it. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Lincoln township, adjoining the corporate limits of Winterset, and there resided for a number of years. He was among the leaders in the movement to improve the stock in the county and kept the best breeds of cattle and horses. About 1885 he retired from active life and rented his farm. He took up his above in Winterset and resided there until his death, which occurred on the loth of April, 191 1, when he was eighty-five years of age. As his life had been lived in harmony with the laws of health he was active and hearty until a short time before his demise.

On the ist of November, 1857, Mr. Brown married Miss Nancy M. Powell, who was born in Marion county, Indiana, on the 3d of May, 1839, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Conger) Powell. Her father was born in Brown county, Pennsylvania, in 1796, of Welsh descent, and her mother in Essex county, New Jersey, in 1801. Mr. Powell was a farmer and became a pioneer resident of Madison county. In 1852 he removed from Indiana to Oquawka, Illinois, but in the spring of 1834 came to this county and purchased twelve hundred acres of land. He passed away in 1868 and was survived by his wife until 1881: her death occurring when she was eighty-eight years of age. They had twelve children, six of whom died in Indiana. Mrs. Brown is the only one now living. Her father gave her two hundred acres of land in Douglas township. After she and Mr. Brown were married they began housekeeping in a little log cabin fourteen feet square and lived in the simplest manner, as did all of the pioneers. Four years later they had prospered so that Mr. Brown was able to build a good stone house, the first on Coon divide. To their union was born a daughter, Elizabeth Olive, whose birth occurred on the 7th of April, 1859. She

As printed in History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.