Brown, T. E.

BROWN, MARKLEY, MOFFETT, POWELL

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 8/7/2020 at 14:42:04

T. E. Brown is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 31, Clay Township. He was born May 7, 1833, in Knox County, Ohio, and is the son of Thomas and Nancy (Markley) Brown, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom five are now living: James, a farmer; Sarah; Joseph, also a farmer; Nancy, who married Mr. Whitson, a farmer, and the subject of this sketch. All, with the exception of our subject, are living in Keokuk County, Iowa. The family moved from Ohio in the fall of 1848, and settled on a farm in Keokuk County, Iowa, where the father entered 340 acres and then purchased 100 more. To each of his three sons he deeded 160 acres of land, and also 100 acres to his son-in-law, John Roberts, and at the time of his death had one of the finest farms in Keokuk County. He died in 1855, and the mother in 1859. She was a member of the Baptist Church. They were kind and indulgent parents, and did all they could for their children. Thomas Brown was a man of great energy, a lover of home, and a friend of education. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and received his education in the common schools. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred March 8, 1855, to Miss Susannah Moffett, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Robert and Asenath (Powell) Moffett. She was born Dec. 1, 1834. Her father and mother were members of the Christian Church. Immediately after their marriage Mr. Brown commenced farming for himself, and continued in that occupation until his enlistment in 1862, in the 40th Iowa Infantry. He was with the regiment during its entire service and was always ready for duty, participating in every engagement. He was mustered out at Ft. Gibson and discharged at Davenport, Iowa. On receiving his discharge, he returned to his home in Keokuk County and resumed the occupation of a farmer. He there remained until the spring of 1880, when sold 105 acres in that county, and purchased 174 acres in Clay Township, Washington County. He now owns 180 acres In in Washington and Keokuk Counties.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had nine children: The first-born died in infancy; E. A. born Aug. 25, 1857, married Josephine Nelson, a native of Tennessee, and now resides in Jefferson County, Iowa; Mary E., born Sept. 26, 1859, is the wife of F. S. Mc Pherson, a farmer in Loup County, Neb.; Elzora, born April 12, 1863, is the wife of Albert Woodford, a farmer in Clay Township; Cora, born Aug. 28. 1866; Robert E., Feb. 17, 1869; William D., Aug. 18, 1871; Sylvia J., Feb. 17, 1874; Emily M., Nov. 23, 1876. All the children have had good school advantages, the three eldest being well settled in life, the others yet remaining at home. While Mr. Brown is not numbered among the early pioneers of Washington County, he yet was a pioneer of the adjoining county of Keokuk, and is well and favorably known to many of the citizens of this county, especially to those residing in the southwestern part. He is a man of great energy and force of character, one on whom you can rely, and in his chosen occupation of a farmer has been quite successful. With the exception of what was first given him by his father, that which he has is the result of his own industry, assisted by her who has been truly to him a helpmeet.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of T. E. Brown, pages 256-257.