Calvin S. Brown 1845-1912

BROWN, FLEETWOOD, SPITZER, MCDONALD, BOOTH

Posted By: Volunteer - Nancy Lowe
Date: 4/28/2003 at 20:22:23

CALVIN S. BROWN, PIONEER OF COUNTY, DIED AT TOLEDO, OHIO

Calvin Stewart Brown, son of James A. and Rachel Brown, was born in Bentonsport April 17, 1845. He was united in marriage with Jennie Fleetwood in New York in 1872, and to whom was born one daughter, Mrs. Edna Spitzer of Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Brown passed away in 1912. There are four granddaughters: Suzanne, Sally, Jane and Nancy Spitzer of Toledo and a number of nieces and nephews, among whom are J. Brown Moore and Mrs. Cora McDonald of Bonaparte and Mrs. Elizabeth Booth of Des Moines.

When a lad of sixteen years, in 1861, he ran away from home in company with five other young men to join the Federal troops. His services were refused on account of his youth. In 1862 his parents permitted him to go to Colorado with an uncle in search of gold. Denver was then a town of about 2000.

He worked for two months as cook for a company of 25 men at Georgia Gulch, receiving $2 per day. He next located near Colorado Springs where he herded cattle. He attempted to join the Second Colorado Cavalry but an older brother intervened.

In Dec. 1863 at the age of 18 he was successful in enlisting in the Third Iowa Cavalry and served until the end of the war, participating in the last battle of that war on April 16 at Columbus Georgia.

After the war he came back to Iowa and attended business college. He became a hay buyer in the stockyards at Buffalo, was married and located in Toledo where he has since made his home

He was a member of the Elks, a 32nd degree Mason, Shriner and G.A.R. He passed away on March 29 at his home in Belvidere Apartments, Toledo. His age would have been 88 years on April 17.

[submitted by Chuck and Joy Hanson of the Mason House Inn, Bentonsport]