BIO: Joshua BROWN, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 158-159. __________________________________________________________________ JOSHUA BROWN, Selea, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born March 25, 1825, in Springfield township, Huntingdon county. He is a son of Caleb and Sarah (Wagner) Brown. His grandfather, also known as Joshua Brown, was a native of Lancaster county, Pa.; he removed before his marriage to Huntingdon county, and resided where the town of Maddensville now stands. He married Charlotte Morrison; they remained on the homestead during their entire lives. Their children were: Hannah, married Richard Hyte, and they resided in Springfield township, until they went to Ohio, resided there for some time, then removed farther west, and both died there; Caleb; John, married Annie Wagner, and both died in Springfield township; Rebecca, married William Corbin, and resided in Clay township, Mr. Corbin dying in Huntingdon, and Mrs. Corbin in Fulton county; Richard, married Sarah Troxler, resided in Springfield township, where both died; Joshua, went to Ohio, where he married, and removed still further west, after which, leaving his family, he went to California, and remained there prospecting for gold for nearly twenty- five years, then returned to his family, and died; Charlotte, married Abraham Wagner, resided in Clay township until his death, and she afterwards died with her children in Orbisonia; Sarah, married to George Link, went west, made frequent visits to Pennsylvania, finally removed to Iowa, where they died; Washington, married in southern Iowa, where he resides; and Jeremiah, married Nancy Madden, went to Iowa, where both died. The elder Joshua Brown died about 1834. His eldest son, Caleb Brown, was born in Springfield township, March 24, 1793. He obtained his education in subscription schools, learned farming practically in his boyhood, and when he was a young man, was employed in carrying brick for the bricklayers. He carried the first brick for the first building in Huntingdon. Before and after his marriage, he rented a farm. In 1829, he bought 100 acres of land, to which he subsequently added two hundred more. Part of this land is now owned by his son Joshua. Caleb Brown was married, June 28, 1817, to Sarah Wagner, born in Clay township September 23, 1798. Theirs was a thrifty household. There was a large family of girls and boys, who were taught industry both by example and by precept. The father was a hard working man, and his children knew that he expected them to be early risers and diligent workers, like himself, the boys on the farm and the girls at the spinning-wheel. They spun and made up all the clothing and the bed-linen used in the household. Mr. Brown had the first house built of round logs in his neighborhood; the doorway was so low that a full grown person could not enter it without stooping. Mr. Brown adhered to the Republican party. He was a militia captain; he was preparing to fight the "whiskey boys," when he received word that his company was not needed. The children of this family are: William, married Catherine Greenland, resided in Cass township, Huntingdon county, where both died; Morris, died young; Amelia, married William Hyde, of York county, Pa., they reside in the town of York; Delilah, married Jeremiah Nead, a native of Fulton county, Pa., who served two years and eleven months in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, during the war of the Rebellion, and resided in Springfield township until his death, had seven children, with one of whom a daughter, in Saltillo, Pa., Mrs. Nead now has her home; Joshua; Cyrus, married Mrs. Mary Bucher, resides in Orbisonia, Pa.; Miles, married Susan Ramsey, resides in Saltillo; Rebecca, married John W. Heeter, who died, and she is now Mrs. George Godard, of Mapleton, Pa.; Caleb, married Missouri Greenland, resides at Everett, Pa.; Melissa, married Austin Ramsey, resides at Saltillo, Pa.; George, an adopted child, is now living in Clay township. Caleb Brown was a Baptist, of the old school. His wife died in 1878; he survived her until 1881. Joshua Brown, the younger, enjoyed in addition to the old-fashioned subscription school, the advantages of a public school education. He was, however, set at work upon the farm early in life, and remained at home, employed in tilling the soil, until he was twenty-two, at which time he began driving a team between Fort Littleton and Chambersburg, Pa., hauling grain and lumber. For seven years he continued this business, and then bought his present place, containing 166 acres, and turned his attention to farming. He has been a successful man, and his many excellent qualities have won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Brown is a Republican. He has served his township as school director, supervisor and inspector of elections. In Springfield township, November 20, 1852, Joshua Brown was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Wilson) Spicer. Their children are: Louisa Ellen (Mrs. Henry Rorer), of Springfield township; Edward Randolph, a school teacher, married Nettie Johns, and resides in Orbisonia, Pa.; Scott Marion, M.D., married Elizabeth Neal, and resides at Concord, Franklin county, Pa.; and Idenza V., (Mrs. David Hess), who, with her husband, resides with Mr. Brown.