Lewis C. Brown

BROWN, CRANDALL, ARY, STAATS, ALLEN, DWYER, FRY

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/20/2010 at 04:21:24

LEWIS C. BROWN

Lewis C. Brown, the well known county superintendent of schools of Winnebago county, is a native of the Empire state, his birth occurring in Madison county New York, on the 22d of February, 1854. His parents, Horace B. and Esther (Crandall) Brown, were also born in the same county, where they continued to make their home until coming to Iowa in 1854, and they spent the remainder of their lives in Prairieburg, Linn county, this state.

It was during his infancy that Professor Brown was brought to this state and amid pioneer scenes he passed the days of his boyhood and youth. His early education was obtained in the rural schools and later he attended Lenox College. Since starting out in life for himself he has engaged in farming and teaching school and has become recognized as one of the leading educators of this section of the state. In the fall of 1903 he was elected county superintendent of Winnebago county and entered upon the duties of that position on the 1st of the following January. So capably did he fill the office that he has been reelected several times and at the end of his present term he will have served in that capacity for seventeen consecutive years with the exception of four years.

At Prairieburg, Iowa, in 1875, Professor Brown was united in marriage to Miss Emily Ary, a daughter of Sinclair and Ruth Ann Ary, in whose family were fourteen children. Four of her brothers were in the Union army during the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born the following children: Aurilla, who married H. D. Staats; C. Edgar, who married Elizabeth Allen; Marion L., who married Villa Dwyer; Dwight A.; M. Edna, now the wife of Earl Fry; Claire; Reginald J.; and James W.

Since attaining his majority Professor Brown has affiliated with the republican party and for forty-three years has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist. He is widely and* favorably known throughout the county and has a host of warm friends in Forest City, where he now resides.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 555-556.