The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. From History of North Washington, published 1903, now in public domain. Submitted by Candy L. Grubb March 27, 1997. Both above notices must remain when copied or downloaded. candyg@ieway.com _____________________________________________________________________________ FRANCIS M. BROWN When the clouds of fratricidal life were hovering and the minions of treason were trampling the stars and stripes in the dust, the subject of this article was one of those honorable men who responded quickly and fought bravely until the banner was retrieved from insult and the last gun of rebellion was silenced forever. His enlistment was in January, 1862, at Iola, Kansas, in Company F, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, under General Blunt. His discharge occurred in January, 1865. During the time of service he fought in many of the leading battles of Missouri and Arkansas as Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Cain Hill, Lutonia and Lone Jack. In the meantime he was almost constantly in the skirmishes with the bushwhackers. This character of service was among the most trying and disastrous of the entire Rebellion. On many occasions Mr. Brown was in the utmost danger and although his clothing was pierced frequently by bullets, he never received a wound. He is now a member of the G.A.R. and takes great interest in the affairs of that order. Francis M. Brown was born on February 11, 1847, in Poke county, Illinois, the son of George and Nancy (Fry) Brown, natives respectively of North Carolina and Ohio. The paternal grandfather, John Brown, was one of noble patriots of the Revolution. The father died in 1867 and widow in 1861. At the age of seven our subject went with his parents to Jasper county, Missouri, and there grew to manhood and received his education. After the war, he returned to Coffey county, Kansas and there in August, 1865, he married Miss Lucy, daughter of Joseph and Relefa (Turner) McKee, natives of Kentucky and Germany respectively. Mrs. Brown was born in Jefferson county, Missouri on June 10,1849. Her mother came from Germany when a child and was reared in Kentucky. In 1873, our subject went to Colorado, locating where Leadville now is. Two years later he went to Boise, Idaho and did mining and farming until 1884 when he settled where Arzina post office is now located. Soon after he located his present place about one mile southwest of Rice post office. At that time the country was wild and very few white settlers lived there. Mr. Brown gave himself up to building a home, raising stock and general farming and he now has a good farm, well improved. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Nancy R., wife of L.F. Ledgerwood, of Harvey; John R.; Mary E., wife of R.S. Ledgerwood of Kettle Falls and now deceased. Mr. Brown is a member of the I.O.O.F. while his wife belongs to the circle of the W.W. and the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. Brown has two brothers, George W. and William H., who enlisted at the same time and place as our subject and fought through the entire war, all three taking their honorable discharge at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, when the struggle was at an end. They were mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas. Mr. Brown also had three sisters, Louisa, deceased; Mrs. Llewellyn Hurst and Mrs. Amanda C. Losey.