Brown, Jesse

BROWN, TETTER, CAHILL

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 8/7/2020 at 11:49:22

Jesse Brown, section 24, Dutch Creek Township, is a farmer and stock-raiser. He was born in Richmond County, Ohio, Jan. 5, 1834, and is the son of Jesse and Susan (Tetter) Brown, who were natives of Pennsylvania. When but about eleven years old, his father and mother died, and he then lived with Jacob Barringer for four years, after which he worked for different persons and attended the district schools as the opportunity was afforded him. In 1855 he came to Iowa and entered 120 acres of land in Benton County, which he traded in 1861, for a farm on Davis Creek, in Washington County. On the 1st of January, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret A. Cahill, a native of Iowa, born in Iowa City in 1844, a daughter of Thomas Cahill. Six children were born unto them: James born Dec. 10, 1861, is a traveling salesman and has in the discharge of his duty, traveled in almost every State in the Union, and also in Canada; while in the latter country he lost an arm in a railroad accident. Ada, born July 21, 1866; Frankie, born July 10, 1869, was killed May 15, 1880 by a mule, and is buried in the New Haven church cemetery; Jessie I., born July 1, 1870; William, born July 10, 1875; Thomas Homer, born Sept. 25, 1880.

The war for the Union being in progress Mr. Brown left his young bride, and Aug. 15, 1861, enlisted in the 10th Iowa Infantry, and actively participated in all the engagements and campaigns of the regiment, including the battle of Corinth, Lookout Mountain, and the famous march to the sea. At Lookout Mountain, he received a slight flesh wound. Going into the service with the intention of remaining until the Rebellion was suppressed or until his life should have been offered up, in the fall of 1863 he re-enlisted as a veteran for three years more, and served in all four years and two months. The regiment was in the grand review at Washington City, from which place it was ordered to Little Rock, Ark., was there mustered out, and sent to Davenport, Iowa, where they were discharged. Although in the ranks Mr. Brown performed his duty as a soldier in a faithful manner. On receiving his discharge at Davenport he returned to his home in Iowa Township, Washington County, and resumed the old occupation of farming. In 1876 he traded his farm in Davis Creek, Iowa Township, for eighty acres of fine land under good improvement in Dutch Creek Township. On the 7th of March, 1886, Mr. Brown was bereft of his wife. She was a member of the Baptist Church, a most excellent Christian woman, on who exemplified in her daily life the teachings of the Savior of men. In the education of his children Mr. Brown has taken a special pride.

Although the war has long since been over, Mr. Brown has lost none of the patriotic ardor of his youth; he still believes in the old flag, believes that the North was right, and the South was wrong in that great struggle. As one who served more than four years to preserve the Union from dismemberment, he believes in rigidly maintaining all the rights won by that struggle. His is one of that large number of old soldiers forming the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a member of Washington Post No. 108.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Jesse Brown, pages 544, 547.