Samuel Brown

As printed in 1906

SAMUEL BROWN.

Samuel Brown, living on section 17, Marion township, was reared to the occupation of farming. He has made it his life work, and is today accounted one of the leading and prosperous agriculturists of the county. He was born January 23, 1830, in Rush county, Indiana, a son of Steward and Matilda (Kinton) Brown. His paternal grandparents, natives of England, came to America about 1805 and settled in Pennsylvania, where the grandfather. Steward Brown, followed his trade of coverlid weaver. After about ten years he removed with his family to Ohio. His son. Steward Brown, was born in Westmoreland, England, in 1799, and was about six years of age at the time of the emigration of his parents to the new world. At the age of fifteen years he accompanied them to Ohio and there he learned the trade of coverlid weaving from his father. He wedded Miss Matilda Kinton, who was born in 1800. Her father, Thomas Kinton, was born and reared in Germany, and coming to the United States, became a soldier of the war of 181 2. When thirty years of age Steward Brown removed to

Indiana, where he carried on weaving, doing all kinds of work in that line. He was reared in the faith of the Democratic party, but afterward joined the ranks of the republican party. He died in Indiana in 1868, and his wife survived until September, 1 88 1. In their family were thirteen children, twelve of whom reached adult age, while six are yet living, namely: Samuel; Robert, who married Miss Mary E. Bowen and lives in Center township, Henry county, Iowa; James H., who married Alice Lemons and resides in Pulaski county, Indiana; Nathaniel, who wedded Mary Rhodes and lives near Logansport; Richard is a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Phoebe A., of Indianapolis, whose husband was a soldier of the Civil war. Thomas Brown, a brother of our subject, now deceased, responded to the last call for troops and served with the Twenty-eighth Indiana Regiment until the close of hostilities. Martin, another brother, enlisted twice in the same regiment, serving throughout the period of hostilities and participating in the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Chattanooga. John Brown, a third brother, served in the same regiment, but after two months in the army, died at Gallatin. Tennessee.

Samuel Brown never attended school except for six months in his life, but by study, investigation and observation he has acquired a good general knowledge, and in the school of experience has learned many valuable lessons. He remained upon his father's farm in his youth, and as he was the eldest, the labor and management of the place largely devolved upon him, while his father gave his attention to weaving. Subsequently, Mr. Brown of this review spent two years at work as a farm hand in Indiana, and then came to Henry county, Iowa, where he was employed for three years and three months, working with James Leech on his farm on the shares. This was opposite his present place of residence.

On the 8th of January. 1856, Mr. Brown was married to Aliss Jincy Ray, who was born in Indiana in 1832 and died in 1866. Mr. Brown made his Avay to Iowa first and earned a certain sum of money before he felt that he was justified in assuming the cares of married life. He soon accumulated this sum, however, and following his marriage settled in Shelby county, Indiana, where he lived until after the death of his wife. They were the parents of two children, of whom one is now living, Robert M., who was born January 2, 1857, in Shelby county, Indiana, and who came with his father to Heniy county, Iowa, in 1870. Here he has since carried on farming in Marion township, and in 1894 he built his present attractive home. He has one hundred and twenty acres of land, which constitute a valuable and productive farm, and he has made all of the improvements upon this property. He also owns forty acres of land in Wayne township, and his father resides with him upon the farm in Marion township. In politics he adheres to democratic principles, but at local elections where no issues are involved he votes independently. He has been a school director for several years and is an enterprising, wide-awake citizen, active and alert in business and in public affairs as well. R. M. Brown is a member of the Methodist church, in which he is serving as steward. He was married in March, 1885, to ]Miss Man- E. Collins, who was born in Tippecanoe township, Henry county, in April, 1861, and is a daughter of John and Alartha (Heck) Collins. Her father was born in Germany, February 7, 1825, and came to America when ten years of age. He was married in this country to Miss Martha Heck, Avhose birth occurred in Virginia, April 27, 1827. In the '40s he came to Iowa, settling upon a farm in Henry county, and his death occurred here in March, 1895. He was a republican in his political views and in religious faith a Friend, or Quaker, while his wife is a member of the Methodist church. She still survives her husband and is living upon the home farm in Tippecanoe township at the age of seventy-eight years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Collins were ten children: Sarah, who married Joel Campbell and died January 26, 1873; Alice, the deceased wife of John Laird; Edward, who married Ella Wilmet and resides in Salem township; Eliza, who is the widow of Alfred ittlesy and makes her home in Mount Pleasant; Mary E., the wife of Robert M. Brown, of Marion township; Cornelius S., who is living in WtsX. Oakland, Iowa; Lydia C, who married Joseph Needder, of Kansas; Harvey J., who resides with his mother; Delia, the wife of John Gopin, of Danville, Iowa and one who died in infancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Brown have been born three children: Ray C, born September 17, 1887: Florence Ruth, October 12, 1892: and Gilbert, December 29, 1899. On the 28th of September. 1868, Samuel Brown was a second time married, Mrs. Marv M. jones becoming his wife.

She was born in Virginia, June 5, 1828, and was the last surviving member of a family of six children, whose parents were George and Elizabeth Torronce, natives of Virginia and farming people, who died in Iniiiana. For her first husband Mary AI. Torronce those Wesley Jones, and after his death gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Brown. She died March 7, 1900, at the age of sexnty-two years and her remains were interred in Nebraska.

Following the death of his first wife, Mr. Brovn came to Iowa and for ten years resided upon a farm in Wayne township, Henry county. He then removed to Nebraska, settling upon a farm, where he lived until the death of his second wife. For fifty-nine summers he engaged in the cultivation of corn and then sold his farm and went to live with his son Robert, with whom he now finds a pleasant home. He cases his ballot for the presidential nominees of the democratic party, but at local elections votes independently. He first supported Franklin Pierce. He and his second wife were members of the United Brethren church, but he has since joined the Methodist church. When he first came to Iowa there were no homes of any note in the county and straggling bands of Indians were frequently seen. Mount Pleasant was but a small village, in which there was no railroad and no telegraphic or telephonic communication. The settlers were widely scattered, but Mr. Brown has lived to witness the introduction of all modern invention and improvement, while the county has become thickly settled with a prosperous and contented people. He is entirely a self-made man, having never received but two hundred dollars as a gift in his life, his father giving him one hundred dollars and his father-in-law an equal amount. He has, however, made a good living as the years have gone by and has been generous of his means with others less fortunate. Honest and upright, his name is a synonym for integrity, and he is greatly respected by all who know him.

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.