Wm. Henry Brown (1861-1911)

BROWN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/15/2023 at 17:30:46

William Henry Brown
(March 24, 1861 - September 2, 1911)

Professor W. H. Brown, who is principal of the high school of Lake City, has devoted his entire time and attention to educational work since attaining to man's estate and his ability in the line of his profession is most marked, gaining him high rank among the successful educators of this part of the state. He is numbered among Iowa's native sons, his birth occurring in Black Hawk County, March 24, 1861. His father, Homer Brown, was horn in Kilkenny County, Armagh, Ireland, in 1821, and in 1834, when thirteen years of age, accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. In 1849 the father of our subject sought a home in the Mississippi Valley, settling in DeKalb County, Illinois. At that time there were only thirteen houses in Chicago and many districts of the state were still largely unimproved. Mr. Brown followed farming in DeKalb County until 1852, when he removed to Black Hawk County, Iowa, casting in his lot with its early settlers and there living in the primitive manner of the frontier. He covered his first log house with sod and secured his claim through pre-empting government land, which he transformed into a very valuable tract, the rich fields yielding to him a golden tribute. For six years Mr. Brown resided in Mount Vernon, Iowa, and in La Porte City, Iowa, in order to educate his children, but spent the remainder of the time in this state until his death, which occurred April 14, 1891. After coming to this country he had married Jane Gray, whose death occurred on the same date, when she was seventy years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born seven sons and three daughters: Thomas, a farmer of Oklahoma; George, a grain buyer of Rudd, Iowa; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Henry Kellas, her death occurring in Kansas; Maria, now Mrs. McFadden, of LaPorte City, Iowa; James, who died at the age of forty-eight years; John, a farmer of Primghar, Iowa; Mary A., the wife of J. M. McQuilkin, of LaPorte City; Robert, a liveryman of that place; W. H, of this review; and F. E., a practicing physician of Sanborn, Iowa. In the public schools of his native county Professor Brown acquired his early education and later matriculated in Cornell College, in which he was graduated with the class of 1885, on the completion of a course in civil engineering. When eighteen years of age he began teaching and has since followed that profession through each winter season with the exception of the winter spent in college. He first had charge of a school in Benton County before he was eighteen years of age and he early demonstrated his ability in this line. After his graduation he was elected principal of the schools of Shell Rock, Iowa, where he remained until 1887, after which he was principal at Dysart, Iowa, for three years. On the expiration of that period he was principal of the collegiate institute in Waterloo, Iowa, until 1893 after which he spent one year in traveling. Subsequently he was for one year principal of the schools of Paullina, Iowa, and of the Wesley schools for two years, and in 1897 he came to Lake City, Iowa, to accept the superintendence of the schools of this place. He is an excellent disciplinarian and he has the ability of imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge he has acquired and of inspiring teachers and pupils with his own zeal and interest in the work. He gives good satisfaction wherever employed and his work is of a nature to produce practical results and rapid advancement. Professor Brown was married in Lisbon, Iowa, July 25, 1885 to Miss Jeanette Kenderdine, who was born in Lisbon, and who by her marriage has become the mother of two children: Ralph W., born June 24, 1886; and Alma Lucile. born July 25, 1891. In his fraternal relation Mr. Brown is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Waterloo, Iowa. He also has membership relations with Yeoman Lodge, of Lake City; the I. O. O. F., of Wesley; the Royal Arcanum, at Water Camp and the Modern Woodmen, Wesley, Iowa. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his life is consistent with its principles. His entire time and attention are devoted to such interests as tend to elevate humanity and promote the welfare of his fellow men and his life record is therefore worthy of emulation. His nature is one that could never content itself with mediocrity
and his course has been marked by progress to a foremost place among the educators of this county, and at the same time under his guidance the schools with which he has been connected have been materially advanced.
[Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.517]