Biography of John R Brown, Alpena and Saginaw, Michigan


Copyright © 1998 by J Brown. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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John R. Brown

This vigorous, middle-aged lumberman and farmer was born in Glasgow,
Scotland, May 15, 1851, a son of Thomas and Jeanette (Robinson) Brown, who
came to America in 1857, settled in Mussey township, one-half mile east of
the village of Capac, where he purchased the one-hundred acre tract of wild
land now known as the Frank Knoll farm.  There were no roads in this region
at that time, and Mr. Brown was compelled to carry his provisions on his
back as he threaded his way through the forest - these provisions consisting
almost entirely of game, which was very plentiful.  Mr. Brown never hunted,
however, but obtained his provisions from the indians, who were very
numerous, and with whom Mr. Brown carried on a regular business as a trader.
In one morning Mr. Brown counted forty-six Indian camps within the sweep of
his eye, and it may be inferred that he had at that time all the trading he
could well attend to.  Mr. Brown cleared up his land and converted it into a
first-class farm, on which he resided until 1890, when he sold out and
passed the remainder of his life with his children, dying November 5, 1901.  

Mr. Brown's family comprised six children, born and married in the following
order:  Peter and Hugh, both deceased, John R., whose name opens this
record:  Jennie and William, both of whom died in infancy, and Cecilia, who
is married to James Godder, an old soldier and a farmer in Goodland, Lapeer
county, and has a family of four children, viz: Daisy, wife of Thomas Clark;
Eva M., wife of George Clark, and George and Amy, still at home.  Thomas
Brown was among the earliest pioneers of Mussey township, and was largely
insturmental in clearing away the forest.  He was a Freemason in early
manhood, in politics was a Democrat, and as a citizen was held in the
highest esteem.  Mrs. Jeannette (Robinson) Brown, mother of John R. Brown,
was called away in 1859, and Mr. Brown chose for his second helpmate
Jeanette Dickson, who bore him four children, named as follows:  Mary, now
the wife of William Stein, who lives on a farm north of Brown City, and has
children:  Maggie, married to Henry Anderson, and living Goodland, Lapeer
county, Michigan;  Jennie, wife of Neil Connell, in Brockway township, and
one child who died in infancy.

John R. Brown lived with his father until he had attained the age of
seventeen years, and then went to Saginaw, Michigan, to work in the lumber
camps during the winter months, but continued to assist his father in the
summer until he reached the age of twenty-two. In 1873 he went to Alpena,
Michigan, where he worked in the lumber regions ten years and four months,
cutting lumber in the winter and driving lumber rafts down the rivers during
the summer for Talcott, McFee & Company.   Mr. Brown left Alpena with two
thousand seven hundred dollars in his pocket, the result of his industry,
came to Lynn Township, St. Clair County, and purchased the west half of the
northeast quarter of section 22, which was then a solid forest.  For two
summers after coming here Mr. Brown continued his vocation of raftsman on
Presque Isle Bay, and then settled down to farming on his present homestead,
which he now has fully cleared and improved.

March 18, 1872, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth
Jackson, daughter of David Yazer and widow of William Jackson.  This lady
was born in Grand River, Canada, but was married to Mr. Brown in Michigan.
Mrs. Brown has unfortunately become an invalid.

In politics Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and has filled the position of highway
comissioner for three years, having previously had much experience in road
work.  He has also been influential in securing the cutting through of the
Mill Creek drain, and its dredging, having carried a petition through Lynn
and Murray townships in order to secure the signatures of land owners most
interested in bringing about this most desireable end, and was also most
influential in securing the passage of the law which has resulted in the
present sound system of drainage.  Mr. Brown has also served as a delegate
to the county conventions of the Democratic party for twelve years.
Fraternally he has been a member of the Maccabees three years, and of the
Patrons of Husbandry one year.  As a citizen he is one of the most respected
in  Lynn township, and as a farmer has met with the success which almost
invariably rewards agriculturists of his nationality.





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