Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Brown, Rev Adelford J 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 12:58 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Rev. Adelford J. Brown, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sterling, was 
born in Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1850. His parents were William (a mason by 
trade) and Elizabeth (Belknap) Brown. At the age of 13 years he was "bound 
out" to Amos Hemstreet, a farmer, until of age, with the understanding that he 
should then receive $150 and two suits of clothes; but his behavior was so 
good that he was set free at 18 with this bonus. The reason that he was "bound 
out" was his father's entering the United States Army in 1862, when the family 
was too large and dependent to remain together at home. Two of the children 
were accordingly indentured. When Mr. Brown left Mr. Hemstreet, he attended 
the Cazenovia (N. Y.) Seminary three years and graduated, and then attended 
the Syracuse (N. Y.) University two years. Making a profession of religion at 
the age of 17, he continued his Christian career with zeal and began to preach 
the gospel while a student at Syracuse, having his appointment at Colmar, six 
miles distant. He was Pastor of the Baptist Church at the latter place, and 
while sustaining this relation he was blest with a revival, resulting in 104 
conversions. After leaving Colmar he taught school at Upper Lisle, Broome Co., 
N. Y., and next, by the advice of his father-in-law, he purchased a farm in 
Chenango County, and followed agriculture three years; then, receiving a call 
from West Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., he sold his farm and engaged in the 
ministry as a "supply" at that place. He was ordained May 7, 1879, at Scott's 
Corners, Seneca Co., N. Y., and accepted a call from the Baptist Church at 
that place and was in their service three years. Next, he accepted a call from 
the Baptist Church at Sennett, Cayuga Co., N. Y., where he served two years; 
then he served the Church at Dansville, N. Y., about two years; and finally, 
in January, 1885, he received and accepted a call from the Sterling (Ill.) 
Baptist Church, and he removed here and commenced his pastoral labors on the 
15th day of February following. His flock numbers 240. An account of the 
Church is given on a subsequent page, under the heading of "Sterling." Oct. 
28, 1873, Mr. Brown married Miss Hattie R. Eaton, a native of Willett, 
Cortland Co., N. Y., and a daughter of Peter Eaton, a Methodist clergyman. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brown have two children,—Earl O. and Hattie E.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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