Lake County IN Archives Biographies.....Brown, John 1840 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 7, 2006, 7:36 pm Author: T. H. Ball (1904) JOHN BROWN. John Brown, for many years one of the forceful and honored factors in financial circles in Lake county and one whose influence has not been a minor element among the financiers of northwestern Indiana, has attained to prominence through the inherent force of his character, the exercise of his native talent and the utilization of surrounding opportunities. He has become a capitalist whose business career excites the admiration and has won the respect of his contemporaries, yet it is not this alone that entitles him to rank as one of the foremost men of his day in Lake county. His connection with the public interests of Crown Point is far-reaching and beneficial, and he has aided largely in promoting community affairs which have for their object the welfare of the general public. He is now the president of the First National Bank of Crown Point and he has extensive landed possessions, his realty holdings comprising six thousand acres. Moreover, Mr. Brown is entitled to mention in this volume from the fact that he is one of the native sons of Lake county, his birth having occurred in Eagle Creek township, on the 7th of October, 1840. The family is of Scotch lineage, and the grandfather, John Brown, was a native of New York and took a very active and prominent part in public affairs. He served as a major in the war of 1812 and lived to the very advanced age of ninety-three years. Alexander F. Brown, the father of our subject, was born in Schenectady county,. New York, in 1804, and there remained until 1837, when he removed to Lake county, Indiana, settling in Eagle Creek township. There he secured land from the government and developed and improved a farm. He was widely recognized as one of the leading and influential residents of this county, and his influence was a marked element in shaping the public policy. He became a recognized leader in forming public thought and opinion, and all who knew him respected him for his loyalty to his honest convictions and his devotion to the general welfare. In his political views he was a stanch Whig and he held membership in the Presbyterian church, holding office therein, taking a very helpful part in its work and contributing liberally and generously of his time and means to various church activities. He was killed in a runaway accident in 1849 when forty-five years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza M. Barringer, was a native of Schenectady county, New York, and there spent the days of her girlhood. She lived to be seventy-three years of age and died in Lake county, Indiana. On her husband's death she was left to care for a family of five children, one of whom was born after his demise. The eldest, a daughter, Mary, now the deceased wife of Thomas Fisher, was but twelve years of age at the time of the runaway accident which terminated the active and useful career of the husband and father. John was the second of the family. William B., the third, is a resident of Crown Point. Anna is the wife of William C. Nicholson, of Crown Point. George, the youngest, died when twenty-nine years of age, leaving a widow and three sons. Mrs. Alexander Brown reared her family of five children and much credit is due her for their success in life. She desired that they should have good educational privileges and thus be well fitted to meet life's practical and responsible duties, and she put forth every effort in her power to thus qualify them. She was one of the noble pioneer women of Lake county and all praise is due her from her children and friends. John Brown remained with his mother assisting her in the work of the home farm until, feeling that his first duty was to his country, he enlisted as a member of Company I, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. He joined the army as a private in 1861, was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was captured with his regiment at Sunshine church in Georgia when on the Stoneman raid. He was held a prisoner for seven months. He was in many hard-fought battles. He took part in the entire Atlanta campaign until captured with Stoneman at Sunshine church, near Macon, Georgia. At Indianapolis, June 27, 1865, he was mustered out, having served for three years, during which time he was ever faithful to his duty, following the old flag in many a hotly contested battle, where he displayed marked valor and loyalty. Mr. Brown at the close of the war returned to Lake county, where he began farming, following that occupation until 1870, when he was elected county treasurer upon the Republican ticket. He discharged the duties of the position so faithfully that in 1872 he was reelected, and in 1876 he was chosen for the office of county auditor. In 1880 he was once more elected to that position and served for eight years, retiring from the office as he had entered it—with the confidence and good will of all concerned. He served for four years as county treasurer and was township treasurer for a number of years, and in all these different public positions he displayed marked business and executive ability as well as unfaltering fidelity to the trust reposed in him. In the meantime he had become actively identified with financial interests of the county, having in 1874 established the First National Bank at Crown Point. He was one of the charter members and stockholders of this institution, which was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. Its first president was James Burge, who was succeeded by David Turner, and Mr. Brown became the third president and is now acting in that capacity. He also has other business interests in the county, including a fine stock farm of about six thousand acres located in Eagle Creek and Cedar Creek townships. On this place he keeps about one thousand head of cattle and his annual sales of stock are very extensive and add materially to his income. In business affairs he is far-sighted and energetic, his judgment is correct and his plans are carried forward to successful completion. Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Almira Clark, and there were three children, a son and two daughters, born to them: Neil, who is now residing upon his father's extensive ranch; Mary Alice; and Grace Almira, who is the wife of E. S. Davis, of Chicago. For his second wife Mr. Brown chose Myrtle E. Ashton, and his present wife bore the maiden name of Jennie E. Northrup. Mr. Brown is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, identified with John Wheeler Post No. 149. He is also connected with the Masonic fraternity of Crown Point and holds membership with the Knights Templar at Valparaiso. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and it was upon that ticket that he was elected to the different positions which he has so capably filled. He has indeed been a prominent factor in community interests, and although he has conducted important and extensive business affairs he has never been remiss in citizenship, but on the contrary has contributed in large degree to the general welfare and progress. Additional Comments: Extracted from: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Genealogy and Biography OF LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 1834—1904 A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. REV. T. H. BALL OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO NEW YORK THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1904 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/lake/bios/brown383gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb