Nelson S. Brown

As printed in 1911

NELSON S. BROWN.

Among the steady-going men of Muscatine county who have done a great deal of work in their lives and are now living practically retired, having attained a competence, may be named Nelson S. Brown, whose home is in Nichols, Pike township. He is a native of Sweden, born March 3, 1835, and is a son of Sebe and Rainel Brown, who were also natives of that country. The family emigrated to America in 1842, settling in Galesburg. Illinois, where the father worked in a wagon shop for two years and later as a carpenter. He also followed various other occupations until he retired at the age of seventy-two years. The mother died from cholera within a week after landing in America.

Nelson S. Brown came to America in boyhood with his parents and since the age of fifteen years has been dependent upon his own exertions. He began work in a blacksmith shop, but subsequently went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he attended school for one year, having previously received his early training in the schools of Galesburg. After laying aside his books he went to Huron, Iowa, where he conducted a blacksmith shop for three years, then moving to Northfield, Iowa, and continuing in the same line for five years. By this time he had become acquainted with the advantages of farming in Muscatine county and accordingly he traded all his property for forty acres of land in this county, which he proceeded to cultivate, at the same time having charge of a blacksmith shop for a period of twelve years. Selling out, he purchased eighty acres in Pike township but later removed to Davenport, where he made his home for twelve years. In 1893 he came to Nichols and opened a blacksmith shop, which was destroyed by fire. He later resumed work in the same line and is now conducting a flourishing establishment.

On the 16th of July, 1859, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Susanne Nichols, of Des Moines county, Iowa, and five children blessed their union, three of whom are now living, namely: Henry J., a farmer of Pike township, Muscatine county; George W., now living on his father's farm in Pike township; and Elsie, the wife of James Jinn, of East Chicago, Indiana. Mrs. Brown having departed this life in 1885, our subject was married in 1904 to Mrs. Mary Anderson, of Clinton, Iowa, the widow of George Anderson, of Moline, Illinois.

Mr. Brown has been a resident of the United States for sixty years during a period of remarkable progress in every line of industry. He came to Iowa while the stream of immigration was still pouring in and has contributed according to his ability in the great movement that has made this state one of the most prosperous in the Union. In the course of his life he has made many friends by a readiness to oblige others and a kindness of heart with which he was endowed by worthy parents. He and his family are consistent members of the Methodist church and politically he is identified with the republican party. For two years he held the office of road supervisor of Sweetland township.

As printed in History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time; (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.