BROWN, David L. 1840 - 1869

BROWN, DALTON, HOPKIRK, REDPATH

Posted By: Doris Challis (email)
Date: 12/15/2003 at 10:57:31

V. 2, Fulton's History of Jefferson County,
Pub. 1912, pp. 64-66

DAVID L. BROWN.

It has often been said that death is no respecter of persons, but when the aged are called, although regret is often felt at their passing, it yet seems to be in the course of nature. When the young are called, however, no such feeling palliates the deep grief that comes to those who are left behind and there must ever remain a feeling of sorrow that a career is thus cut short. Many of the older citizens of Jefferson county remember with pleasure their acquaintance with David L. BROWN, who was identified with the coal mining interests of Coalport before the Civil war and again from the time he returned, a wounded soldier, until death claimed him in 1869.

He was born in Clinton, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1840, his parents being John B. and Jane (DALTON) Brown, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of the Keystone state. On coming to the new world, John B. BROWN settled in Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1849, when, attracted by the discovery of gold in California and the opportunities there offered, in a business way, he went to the Pacific coast, where he remained until 1859. In that year he retraced his steps as far as Jefferson county, Iowa, where he took up his abode, turning his attention to the coal mining business at Coalport. He was thus engaged throughout the remainder of his life and both he and his wife passed away in this county.

David L. BROWN was a little lad of eight years when the long journey was made to California, and a youth of nineteen when the family came to Jefferson county. His education, which was begun in the schools of the Golden State, was continued after he reached Iowa and his home training stimulated in him habits of industry and resolute purpose. On August 9, 1862, he enlisted for service as a member of Company G, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, and served until the charge on Vicksburg, when he was seriously wounded and because of his condition was forced to return home. For a year thereafter he was obliged to go about on crutches. On again coming to Jefferson county he reentered the coal business, in which he had previously engaged, and on the death of his father in 1865 took charge of his coal interests at Coalport. He found, however, that the heavy work was more than he could stand and the drain upon his strength and vitality was such that his health became undermined and he passed away on the 29th of April, 1869.

Mr. BROWN left a young widow, having married on the 10th of December, 1867, to Miss Mary U. HOPKIRK, daughter of William and Jane (REDPATH) HOPKIRK, natives of Scotland. ...To Mr. and Mrs. BROWN was born one child, Mary J., born November 21, 1868; she graduated from the Fairfield high school in 1888 and has taught school for twenty years; she is now a teacher in the Logan school at Fairfield. Mr. BROWN and his wife attend the Methodist church, but Mrs. BROWN later on joined the Baptist denomination in Lockridge and about 1887 she and her daughter became members of the Methodist church here. His political belief Mr. BROWN accorded the republican party. His was regarded as a most untimely death, for he had not yet passed the twenty-eighth (sic - 29th) milestone on life's journey. He was laid to rest with full military honors and is yet remembered by many of the older settlers as a young man of good business ability, whose sterling qualities were such as to gain for him the admiration and the friendship of many. His associates and friends all mourned his death but the loss came with greatest force to his little family and though more than forty years have come and gone since he was laid to rest, his widow yet remains true to his memory.

Transcribed by Doris Challis from Jefferson County Records, Vol. 6. Not related to the subject.

Admin. note: David is buried in Hopkirk Cemetery. Wife Mary U. and their daughter Mary Jane are both buried in Lockridge Cemetery. David is also noted on his wife's stone in Lockridge.