In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of Saline County, Missouri (1910), History of Saline County, Missouri, carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources ... with a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; a military rec (1881)
MASON G. BROWN, P. O., Brownsville. Cashier of the Brownsville Bank, is a son of John S. and Mary A. Brown, and was born in Pettis county, Missouri, December 21, 1842. He was educated at Salem, Pettis county, and his early life was spent on his father's farm. At the age of nineteen he was employed as salesman for John T. Brown, of Sedalia, and continued as such for five years. He then moved to Brownsville, and embarked in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Brown & Buckner, and continued until 1875, when he withdrew, and became cashier of the Brownsville Savings Bank. November 27, 1866, he was married to Miss Mary E. Hurt, daughter of Ossimus Hurt, of Saline county. They have one child, Ernest M. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
As printed in History of Saline County, Missouri, carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources ... with a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; a military rec (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
MASOX GEORGE BROWN.
It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor or of sudden meteoric accomplishment, must around in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the representative men of Saline county, Missouri, his enterprise and progressive methods having contributed in a definite measure to the growth and development of the county, and a work of this nature would be incomplete without specific mention of him.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
where he bought land, which he cleared and improved and developed into a good farm. He continued the operation of this farm up to the time of his death. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife's religious faith was that of the Baptist church. In politics he was an old-line Whig. They were the parents of seven children: James H., who died in Birmingham, Alabama; Sarah J., wife of W. G. Buckner, of Fulton, Missouri; Mary C, who died in 1865; John T, who is president of the Home Savings Bank at Fulton, Missouri; Mason G., the subject; Henrietta, wife of G. W. Smith, of Sweet Springs; Mary Belle died in infancy.
Mason G. Brown remained on the parental homestead until he was nineteen years of age and in the meanwhile he received a good education in the public and private schools. In 1865 he came to Sweet Springs, Saline county, and went into business for himself, running a general store with marked success for several years. In 1871 he assisted in the organization of the Bank of Sweet Springs, of which he was a stockholder, though he did not become a member of the executive force of the bank until 1875, when he entered the bank as cashier and assumed the position of president in 1890. This institution, which has enjoyed a remarkably prosperous career, was first capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, but in 1887 the capital stock was increased to one hundred thousand dollars, this being rendered necessary by the rapid increase of business which was coming to it. The present officers of the Bank of Sweet Springs are as follows: President, Mason G. Brown; cashier, Lewis King; vice-president, J. T. Wilson; assistant cashier, George Weber. As the head of the Bank of Sweet Springs, Mr. Brown has evinced business qualities of the highest order and much of the present prosperity of the institution is undoubtedly due to his efforts and methods. He gives the closest attention to the details of the bank and is liberal, though at the same time wisely conservative, in his treatment of patrons of the bank. As a bank naturally stands in a large degree as the consti-vator of the financial prosperity of a community, so it is that in Sweet Springs the bank of which the subject is the head has to a very great extent had a hand in the material advancement which has characterized this section of the county. Besides his banking interests, Mr. Brown is also the owner of much valuable real estate in this county, which also requires his attention. His home, on Bridge street. Sweet Springs, is g"eiierally considered one of the finest residences in Saline county, being well built, conveniently arranged and furnished with the best of taste throughout. Mr. Brown is a close reader of the best literature and is a keen observer of men and events, being considered an unusually well informed man.
In 1866 Mr. Brown married Mary E. Hurt, the daughter of Judge Ossinins Hurt, and they have become the parents of one child, Ernest M., who is married and lives in Kansas City, Missouri. In politics the subject is a Democrat and takes a lively interest in local public affairs, though he has never held public office of any nature. His genial disposition and worthy qualities of character have combined to win for him the unbounded respect and friendship of all whom he meets.
As printed in Past and present of Saline County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: George Weber (b. 1841)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.