Brown, William H.
WILLIAM H. BROWN
Source: Bowen, A.W., History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: A.W. Bowen, 1913, p. 872
The name of the late William H. Brown stands out distinctly in the list of enterprising and skillful farmer and successful stock raisers in Montgomery County in a past generation, for he was a man who believed in carrying into his everyday work progressive ideas and so far as practicable transplanting the old order of things to the new; however, he had to admit as do all fair and broad-minded men that many of the methods employed by our father and grandfathers in agricultural pursuits have never been improved upon. Mr. Brown was a good citizen and a splendid neighbor, hence was popular with all who knew him. He supported every movement that had for its object the general good of the community, delighting in seeing new reforms enforced. He, while laboring for his own advancement, never neglected his duties to his neighbors, but was helpful, kind, obliging and believed in the old adage that it was better to live and let live. So he was a good man, and his name is eminently deserving of perpetuation on the pages of local history. Mr. Brown was born on November 8, 1830 in Rush County, Indiana. He was a son of Lucius Brown and wife, who were from the state of New Jersey, having made the long westward journey over the mountains and through the vast wildernesses as early as 1828, locatin gin Rush County, Indiana where they remained a number of years, then removed to Boone County, this state, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm and on that place our subject remained until a young man, when he went to Illinois, where he remained two years then came back to Boone this state. When 21 he came to Montgomery County, where he purchased 40 acres of land, to which he later added, prospering through hard work and good management until he owned several fine farms totaling nearly 600 acres, which he brought up to an excellent state of improvement and cultivation and on which he kept a good grade of livestock and had established a comfortable set of building. He also owned property in the city of Newport. Mr. Brown was twice married, first to Nancy J. Routh on May 8, 1853. To this union 9 children were born: Ailey A; Mary E; Eliza E; John M.L.; Telitha E; Willis T; Edward L; Charles K, deceased and James O. Nancy J. Routh, the mother died Dec 30, 1873. Mr. Brown was married the second time on April 19, 1878 to Priscilla Hays, daughter of John Newton and Martha (Martin) Hays. The father was born in Ohio and mother in KY. Grandfather Hays came to Montgomery county, Indiana in a very early day and settled in Union Twp, where he farmed. Martha Martin came to this county when a young girl with her brother and they settled in Union Twp. HIs family consisted of 5 children namely: Berilla Ann; George T; Phoebe; Daniel C; all deceased; Priscilla who married the subject of this memoir. Seven children were born to William H. Brown and wife, namely: Esta, Bertha A; Martha; Stelle E is deceased; Newton H and Lulu. By her first marriage to Henry R. Canine, Mrs. Brown became the mother of one child, Maud M. Canine. Politically, Mr. Brown was a Republican but he never sought or held public office. He was a member of the Christian Disciple Church and fraternally belonge to Free & Accepted Masons. The death of Mr. Brown occurred in 1906 at age 76 years (note: 16 Dec 1906 Death Record Montgomery County, Book H 34 p 35) - typed by kbz