BROWN, ALEXANDER J.

BROWN, BURT, BARR, SEELEY, HINDLE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/21/2004 at 15:00:49

Biography reproduced from page 702 of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Among its native sons, of whom Kossuth county is proud, is Alexander J. Brown, who owns and operates the farm on which he was born. He has increased his original place until it now comprises five hundred and eight acres and he engages in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Cresco township, June 26, 1871, a son of Alexander E. and Margaret (Burt) Brown, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Scotland. The father emigrated to the new world with his parents when a child, in 1842, his birth having occurred in 1838. They landed at St. Johns, New Brunswick, where the family made their home until 1844, when they removed to Massachusetts, in which state they resided for eleven years. In 1855 they came to Kossuth county, the greater part of the journey being made by ox teams. The grandfather, Alexander Brown, entered one hundred and twenty acres of government land in Cresco township, where he erected a log cabin and otherwise improved the place, conducting a diversified system of farming.

Alexander E. Brown, the father of our subject, remained with his parents in Iowa for one year after attaining his majority and then returned to Massachusetts, where he worked as government machinist in a gun factory and in the navy yard at Boston. He continued working for the government throughout the course of the Civil war and was employed much of the time in making bayonets for the use of the troops. In 1865 he returned to Kossuth county and settled on section 14, Cresco township, his father’s old place, which he took charge of. He added to his original holdings until he owned four hundred and seventy acres at one time. He continued operating this place until 1883, when he retired and turned his property over to his son, the subject of this review. The father, however, continued to make his home on the farm, where he remained until his death, which occurred June 26, 1907. On March 25, 1868, at Algona, he had wedded Miss Margaret Burt, who survives her husband and continues to make her home on the old homestead, having attained the age of sixty-five years. To them were born the following children: Rosa, who became the wife of George Barr and is deceased; Alexander J.; Agnes E., the wife of James Seeley; and Thomas W., who is engaged in farming in Kossuth county.

Alexander J. Brown was reared in Kossuth county and educated in the district schools. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and then took charge of the place, which he has since operated. After the death of his father he bought out the interests of the other heirs and added to the old homestead thirty-eight acres of timber land, making his entire holdings five hundred and eight acres, all of which is highly improved. He is operating a dairy, keeping about fifty head of cattle and has fourteen horses, and raises about sixty hogs a year.

Mr. Brown was married December 23, 1898, to Miss Hattie Hindle, a daughter of Anthony and Ella (Barr) Hindle, the former a native of England and the latter of Scotland. The father emigrated to the new world in an early day and after living in various places settled in Fayette county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm which he improved until 1892, when he retired. At the age of thirteen years he emigrated to this country unaccompanied by any of his relatives and settled in Wisconsin, where he worked in the pineries until he attained the age of twenty-nine years. He then removed to Fayette county, Iowa, and purchased the farm on which he and his wife still reside, at the ages of seventy and sixty years respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of six children, Carl, John, Ralph, Loren, Doris and Ruth.

Politically Mr. Brown is a republican and is one of the trustees of his township, an office which he has held for six terms. Fraternally he belongs to the United Workmen and Yeomen. He and his family affiliate with the Congregational church, giving to that denomination their earnest support. Mr. Brown is not only one of the most successful farmers and business men of Kossuth county but he is and has long been one of the prominent men in political and social affairs of the community in which he lives, being regarded as one of its leading citizens. He takes an active interest in the welfare of the community and there are few men in the county who can lay claim to having been more useful citizens than he. He has an extensive acquaintance and has many business and personal friends.