Tuscola-Kalamazoo-Saginaw County MI Archives Biographies.....Brown, George F. 1846 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 5, 2007, 11:27 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

GEORGE F. BROWN. Some men are fitted only to follow out the path marked for them
by those possessing a superior mind while others must make their own pathway
through life. The latter is the self-reliant and in dependent character which
accomplishes much in the world and who leaves a record to which his children can
point in future years with pride. To men of his stamina is the earth indebted
for much of its progress, for no one can labor and contrive successfully without
his operations having a bearing on the condition of those about him. The
products of his hands and brains are often wide-reaching, extending even to
people whom he may never have seen or known.

  Among those who possess the independence to step out of the ordinary path of
life and mark out a career for themselves, is the subject of this sketch. His
ancestors were farmers, but he chose a different avocation, having from an early
age engaged in the manufacture of staves. Success has crowned his efforts
financially, nor has he been less successful in establishing a solid reputation
as an upright, honest man, ever ready to lend a helping hand to those who have
been less fortunate than himself and contributing his quota to the development
of Tuscola County.

  A Canadian by birth, Mr. Brown was born in Norfolk County, Ontario, March 17,
1846. His parents were American citizens, possessing the thrifty and honorable
traits of character which individualize the people of our country. The father,
Goble, was a native of New Jersey and the mother, who was known in maidenhood as
Elsie Van Tuyl, was born in New York. When George F. was about six years old he
accompanied his parents in their removal from Canada to the United States,
settling in Indiana, where the father operated as a farmer. Our subject assisted
him in the labor of subduing the soil, erecting substantial farm buildings, and
sowing and reaping. He acquired a common-school education which was sufficiently
thorough to secure for him a teacher's certificate and he taught one term when
twenty. However, he continued to work for his father until he was twenty-four
years old.

  On January 27, 1870, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Addie, daughter of Elijah
and Abigail (Terry) Salisbury, of Dowagiac, Mich. Mrs. Brown had her nativity in
Barry County, this State, and her natal day was February 2, 1844. Not only has
she been a cheerful helpmate to her husband, but her children have found her a
mother, tender, wise and true. A great sorrow came to them April 6, 1884, when
their daughter, Beulah, was called from the scenes of earth and from the home
which her presence had brightened. At the time of her demise she was fourteen
years old, having been born October 27, 1870. The other children who remain to
bless the home are Guy S., born in St. Charles, April 1, 1872, and Jessie, born
in Caro, March 1, 1887.

  After his marriage Mr. Brown began operations on his own account, and for
about one year was manager of a lumber yard at Climax, this State. Later he was
in the employ of the same parties at St. Charles, until 1873, when the members
of the firm dissolved partnership. Next, Mr. Brown found employment with Francis
Hood in the manufacture of staves until 1881, being in St. Charles. In
connection with Mr. Hood he then established a stave mill at Caro, where he has
since remained engaged in the same business. The establishment was known as Hood
& Brown's Mill until 1889, when Mr. Hood selling out, left our subject sole
manager. He is doing a large business, putting out about thirty thousand staves
per day and two thousand five hundred sets of heading per day, and having about
forty men employed constantly. While Mr. Brown is in no sense of the word a
politician, he is a firm Republican and is now serving his fifth year as a
member of the village council. He has also held other local offices, in which it
has ever been his aim to serve the best interests of the public and promote the
welfare of Caro.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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