Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Brown, Thomas W 1839 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 12:09 pm

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

THOMAS W. BROWN. 

As a sagacious, practical, industrious farmer, the subject of this 
biographical review has played an important part in the development of the 
rich agricultural interests of Plainfield Township, and his well-ordered farm, 
with its neat buildings and well-tilled fields, compare favorably with the 
finest in this part of the county. Mr. Brown, though looking after his 
agricultural affairs himself, does not occupy his farm but makes his home in 
the village, where a few years ago he purchased a fine residence, which is 
built in a modern and pretty style of architecture, and is well and tastefully 
furnished. Our subject was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, April 14, 1839. His 
father, John Brown, is thought to have been a native of Dumfrieshire, his 
father of the same name, being also a native of Scotland, and of Scotch 
ancestry. He was a weaver and followed that trade the greater part of his 
life. The father of our subject was reared to agricultural pursuits, but for a 
number of years after marriage, operated a stationary engine in a spinning 
factory. He continued to reside in the land of his birth until 1853, when with 
his wife and thirteen children he embarked for America in the month of August. 
Landing at New York he came directly to Chicago and after a short stay there, 
came to Will County, and settled in Wheatland Township, where he purchased a 
tract of land a few acres of which were broken and some small buildings were 
on the place. He was actively engaged in the management of that farm until his 
life was brought to a close in 1885, and thus passed away one of the worthy 
pioneers of the county. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was 
Lumsdale. She never came to America but died in her native Scotland, in 1849. 
The father married a second time. His wife survives him and still resides on 
the homestead in Wheatland Township. Mr. Brown was the father of eight 
children by his first marriage and five by the latter. The son, of whom we 
write, received his education in the schools of his native shire. He was 
fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents to America, and he 
commenced life here as a farm laborer, working by the month. After a few years 
he returned home to assist his father in the management of his farm and 
remained with him until his marriage, when he rented land in Kendall County. 
So well was he prospered that in 1870, he was enabled to become a land-owner 
himself, purchasing in that year sixty-two acres of land in Plainfield 
Township and a few years later, buying the seventy acres adjoining, and 
subsequently becoming the possessor of fifty acres more, so that his farm now 
contains one hundred and eighty-two acres of unsurpassing fertility whose 
improvements are of the best. He did not, however, settle on his farm but 
lived in Kendall County until 1888, when he removed to Plainfield to his 
present fine residence. Mr. Brown has been twice married. In 1859, he was 
wedded to Marian Vandervort, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of John 
Vandervort. The following four children were born of that marriage: Marian 
Elizabeth, Silas A., Florence E. and Dilroy M. Our subject's second marriage 
occurred in 1879, when he was united to Miss Hannah M. Smith, a native of 
Kickapoo, Ill. Her father, Daniel Smith, was born in Kent, England, and came 
to America with his wife and three children. He resided in New York for a time 
and then, coming to Illinois, was a pioneer of Peoria County. About 1842, he 
came to Will County and bought a farm in Plainfield Township, on which he 
resided until his mortal career was brought to a close in 1863. The maiden 
name of his wife was Mary Bachelor. She was born in England and died in 
Plainfield. Mr. Brown is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word; with 
sound understanding developed by intelligent reading and careful observation, 
a stable character and industrious habits, he is an influence for good in this 
community with whose social, religious, and material interest he is 
associated. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
by their conduct in the every day affairs of life show themselves to be 
sincere Christians. A citizen of public spirit and always evincing a general 
interest in the welfare of the township and county, our subject interests 
himself in politics and is a devoted follower of the Republican party.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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