Joseph A. Brown

As printed in 1884

JOSEPH A. BROWN was born in Ashland County, Ohio, July 16, 1844. He is a son of James S. and Rebecca (Zimmerman) Brown, the former a native of Ross County, Ohio, the latter of Huntingdon County, Penn. He was reared to manhood in his native county and educated in the district schools, enlisting May 1, 1861, in Company G, Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under command of Gen. Rosecraus. His regiment at length halted on the banks of the Monongahela, West Virginia, from whence Mr. Brown made his first trip as scout, engaging in an action near Fort Pickens with a party of " bushwhackers," and on his return to camp at Camp Scott, his father, who was a teamster in the same company, was fatally seized with typhoid fever. He was afterward moved to Camp Lookout, where he died October 1, 1861, at the home of a colored family. In this situation, Mr. Brown had the trying experience of making his own father's coffin, of boards torn from an old corn crib, and burying him with his own hands in an old graveyard near by. He then joined his regiment, and in the winter of 1862, with a scouting party of twenty, captured twenty prisoners, and fired but three shots, after which he was ordered East in August of that year. He subsequently participated in the battles of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, aod other's. Being wounded at the latter place, he was kept at the hospital several weeks, joining his regiment at Charleston, where he x'e-enlisted December 18, 18G3. He was afterward engaged as scout under Capt. Blazer for Gens. Crooks and Sheridan, and passed through some thrilling experiences. On the morning of October 4, 1864, he was captured by four of Mosby's rebels, disguised as Union soldiers, while on his way to Cedar Creek, and escaped only by shooting three of the guards, this being done by the assistance of a fellow-prisoner. The history of this capture and escape is replete with incident and interest, but the limits of this sketch will not admit its thrilling details. Besides the battles enumerated above, Mr. Brown was engaged at Opequon, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Snicker's Gap, Fisher's Hill, Cloyd's Mountain, Lynchburg, Petersburg and Fredericksburg. He was honorably discharged August 5, 1865, and returned to Wellington, Lorain County, where he engaged in the tinner's trade one year. He then removed to Ashland, where he engaged in the same business till 1867, when he came to Nevada, and went into the employ of David and William Balliet, with whom he remained live years. Mr. Brown was married, August 4, 1867, to Miss Mary J. Smith, whose letters addressed to him in " care of Capt. Blazer, commanding scouts," had so nearly betrayed his position to his captors. She is the daughter of Wilson and Eliza (Simmons) Smith, early settlers of Crawford County. This marriage has been followed by four children, viz., iona (born July 27, 1870), Adella (November 15, 1872), James W. (September 10, 1874), Daisy (November 10, 1878). Mrs. B. was born in Crawford County December 3, 1846. Mr. Brown has been chief of the fire department in Nevada since its organization in 1870; was Marshal one term, and now a member of the Council. He is a member of the K. of H., L O. O. F., and

As printed in The history of Wyandot county, Ohio, containing a history of the county: its townships, towns, churches, schools, etc.; (1884). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.