Joseph Brown

As printed in 1906

JOSEPH BROWN.

Joseph Brown, a son of Isaac and Rebecca (Besen) Brown, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of May, 1807, and after many years' residence in Henry county reported this life honored and respected by all who knew him because of an upright, straightforward career. In early life he became a resident of Harrison county, Ohio, and afterward took up his above in Jefferson county, Ohio. In 1842 he arrived in Iowa, locating near Lowell, where he built a home aid mill, which he operated for many years, being thus closely associated with industrial interests. He had previously learned the trade of cabinet-making, and while residing in Jefferson county, Ohio, had engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, so that at different times he has been connected with varied industrial interests. He continued as a woolen manufacturer for eight years, and following his removal to Iowa he engaged in the operation of a feed mill and also in the conduct of a sawmill. At a later day he built a larger grist mill across the river, now owned by Mr. Lewis. He gave strict attention to his business affairs, neglecting no detail and his enterprising efforts resulted in the acquirement of success. As he prospered he invested in land and became the owner of two hundred and forty acres, which he divided between his heirs and widow.

It was in 1837 that Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Jane Alexander, who was born in Maryland in 1808 and who died in Ohio in October, 1840. For his second wife he those Mary Smith, whom he wedded on the loth of August, 1843. She was born in North Carolina in 1808 and was called to her final rest in January, 1860, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of John Jackman. For his third wife our subject those Hannah Brown, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 20, 1825, a daughter of Joel and Leah (Hester) Brown. This wedding was celebrated on the 7th of April, 1862, and was blessed with two children: Justus, born July 27, 1864, and Amelia, who was born May 14, 1869, and is the wife of William Morrow, a merchant of Lowell.

Mr. Brown was very prominent and influential in community affairs. He held all of the school offices and in 1860 was elected county supervisor for Baltimore township, to which position he was reelected in 1861, serving in all for three years. The name of AlcCarverstown was originally given to the village of Lowell, but Mr. Brown proposed changing the name to Lowell because of the superior water privileges here found, and this was done in the fall of 1842. He was led to the choice of Lowell as a place of residence because of its facilities for the conduct of manufacturing plants supplied by its water power. Mr. Brown had been reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, but left that organization because of trouble which arose among the sect. He then became identified with the Presbyterian church in 1838. and after establishing his home in Lowell joined the Methodist Episcopal church,- in which he held various offices. His life was ever upright and honorable and in all his business dealings he was straightforward and reliable. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he was very deeply interested in his party and its success. He took a Atvy helpful and active part in proiiKiting public progress and improvement in this county in an early day, and indeed continued a valued factor in public life up to the time of his demise.

His son, Justus Brown, lives with his mother and is superintending the farming interests. The home farm, which is now owned by Mrs. Joseph Brown, comprises sixty acres and Mr. Morrow owns twenty acres that were taken from the original tract. Xo history- of this section of the state would be complete without mention of the Brown family, for from early pioneer times its representatives have been prominent in the work of development and upbuilding here.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.