Biography of Julia A. Brown, widow of Horace Nathan Brown, of Brown Township, Linn County, Iowa Prepared for Linn County, Iowa GenWeb Archives by Ruth Keating 10-19-2000 ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ===================================================================== Biography of Julia A. Brown, widow of Horace Nathan Brown, of Brown Township, Linn County, Iowa MRS. JULIA A. BROWN This Biography is taken from "Biographical Records of Linn Co., Iowa." Julia A. Brown, widow of Horace Nathan Brown, has been a resident of Linn county since I854, and during all these years has made her home on the farm where she now lives. It is one of the most desirable Places in Brown township, being valuable and well improved tract on five hundred and eighty-five acres on section 32, conveniently located within two miles of Springville A native of Ohio, Mrs. Brown was born in what is now Ashland county, and is a daughter of Lemuel and Ruth (Hardinger) Chapman, both natives of Pennsylvania, who when you removed to Ohio and were there married. They made their home in Ashland county, where the father was engaged in farming throughout his active business life, His wife survived him a number of years, he dying in that county, while his widow died in DeKalb county, Indiana. they were the parents of thirteen children namely: William, who died in Ohio: Nathaniel and Daniel, who both died in Linn county, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Bemmenderfer: Mrs. Mary Duncan, deceased; Lewis, a resident of Indiana; Mrs. Nancy Shadrick, of Nebraska; Mrs. Jane Duncan deceased; Ellen, who resides with Mrs. Brown; and Richard, a resident of Ohio. Mrs. Brown spent her early life in her native county and when a young lady came to Linn county, Iowa, in 1853, to visit her brother, Nathaniel Chapman, one of the first settlers of this county. She returned to Ohio in the fall of the same year, and was there married December 22, 1853 to Horace N Brown, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1822 and was quite young when he came to Iowa. His father, Nathan Brown, was a native of Westchester county, New York and was married in Onondaga county, that state. On coming west in 1838, he first located in Geneva, Kane County, Illinois, and two years later came to Linn county, Iowa, taking up his residence in Brown township, which was named in his honor. Mrs. Brown;s husband assisted in bui lding the first school house in Linn township, where he pursued his studies for a time, his sister being the first teacher employed there. Mr. and Mrs. Brown became acquainted while she was visiting her brother in this county. they began their domestic life upon a tract of land in Brown township, which he had previously entered, and on which he erected a hewed-log house, making it their home for a few years, while he opened up and improved his farm. Subsequently it was replaced by a neat and commodious residence; two large barns and other outbuildings were also erected; and fruit and shade trees were planted. As time passed and he prospered in his farming operations Mr. Brown added to the original tract until he owned nearly seven hundred acres of rich and arable land all in one body. He always gave considerable attention to the raising and feeding of cattle and hogs for market, and some seasons fed as high as one hundred head of cattle and five hundred hogs upon his farm. He was one of the most energetic and successful agriculturists and stock dealers in the eastern part of the county. He continued in active business up to the time of his death, which occurred in the spring of 1893, and he was laid to rest in the Springville cemetery by the side of his parents. In his political affiliations Mr. Brown was a Democrat, but he never cared for official honors. In early life, however, he served as justice of the peace and was president of the school board for a number of years. He also filled the office of county treasurer one term prior to his marriage, having been elected to that position soon after attaining his majority. He was a believer in Prohibition and often made temperance speeches, while religiously he was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Knight Temlar Mason and a prominent member of the order. As a citizen he was public-spirited and progressive, ever ready to aid in any enterprise calculated to advance the interests of his township or county, and was recognized as one of the leading citizens of the community. On the death of her husband Mrs. Brown took charge of the farm and business, and in the successful management of her affairs has displayed wonderful business and executive ability. As a foreman she employs John McAtee, who has superintended the operation of the farm for the past eight years, and also worked on the place for several years prior to her husband's death. Although she has no children of her own she has reared four, two of whom were her brother's children. All are now grown and married with the exception of one. She has also given homes to several others, and her place is often called the Orphans' Home. She, too, is an active and devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and gave liberally toward the erection of the church and parsonage at Springville. Quiet and unassuming, she delights in aiding those in need and has given generously to suffering humanity and worthy causes. She stands high in the community where she has so long made her home, and those who know her best are numbered among her warmest friends. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's from the "History of LInn County" and when I went to the library to find out exactly which one they couldn't find it again so it must be misshelved. Yes I am Ruth Keating, but no I did not write it. Just did the research. Prepared for Iowa GenWeb Archives by Ruth Keating