Charles Brown has been closely identified with agricultural interests in Cedar county since 1857, or for more than a half century—a period which has been characterized by untiring industry and unfaltering energy. He is one of England’s contributions to the citizenship of Iowa, his birth occurring in Friday-bridge, Elm Parish, Cambridgeshire, on the 7th of July, 1831. He was the youngest in a family of eight children born unto George and Elizabeth (Muffin) Brown, all of whom reached mature years. The parents, also natives of England, spent their entire lives in that country, where the father was identified with agricultural pursuits. He served for eleven years in the English army as a private under Wellington.
At a very early age Charles Brown entered business life, engaging as a farm hand when but seven years old, and for about ten years was employed by various farmers in the neighborhood of his home. Upon attaining his seventeenth year, however, he left the farm and went to the city of Wisbeck, where for seven years he was engaged as footman and coachman. On Sunday, November, 14, 1855, he was united in marriage of Miss Maria Smith, who was born in England, January 23, 1821, and on the Wednesday following started for America, for it was his purpose to seek the business opportunities which rumor declared were to be found in the new world. Embarking at Liverpool, October 21, 1855, on the sailing vessel William Nelson, he arrived in New York on the 22d of December following and made his way to Chicago. About ten weeks were spent in Will county, Illinois.
On the 14th of March, 1856, Mr. Brown settled in Cedar county, Iowa, and here for one year was engaged as a farm hand. In 1857 he purchased a tract of land on the Cedar river, which constitutes the nucleus of his present farm, and there took up farming on his own account. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty-two and a half acres mostly on sections 20 and 21, Cass township, but twenty acres are located in Linn township. On that farm he has continued to reside to the present day and in the meantime has directed his efforts toward its further development and improvement, having brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. Entering the business world when a mere lad, he early learned lessons of industry, perseverance and self-reliance—qualities which have ever been salient elements in his career, and as the years have gone by his record has been one of indefatigable effort, close application and intelligent direction.
In 1895 Mr. Brown was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose death occurred on the 3d of March. Their home was blessed with three children, but the youngest, Emily J., was accidentally shot when but twelve years of age. Two sons still survive. Henry Simon, the eldest, was born March 18, 1857, and his entire life has been spent in the neighborhood of his present home. A farmer by occupation, he is the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, fifty-one acres of which lie in Johnson county. The remainder of the farm is located on section 20, Cass township, Cedar county, and is a well-improved property, known as the Riverside Farm. He was married in 1882 to Miss Lizzie Ehresman, who was born in Cass township on the 21st of April, 1862, and is a daughter of Daniel and Magdalena Ehresman, of that township. Unto this union were born three children, Emily, Nellie and Charles, while Mr. and Mrs. Brown are also rearing two orphan children, William Brown, a nephew and Luther Bloom. William Smith, the second son, resides upon the old homestead, assisting his father in his agricultural interests. He married Sarah Hunter and unto them were born six children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being Frank E., Addie May, George, Raymond and William Henry. After the death of his first wife he was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Nellie Gertrude Bloom. She was in her maidenhood Miss Nellie Wesley, and by her first husband had seven children. By her marriage to Mr. Brown she has become the mother of two children, Cora Fern and Margaret.
Charles Brown and his family are members of the German Reformed church and have ever conformed their lives to the teachings of that organization. They are well known throughout the county, where they have resided for so many years, and are held in the highest regard and esteem. Mr. Brown is numbered among the old settlers, having been an interested witness of the growth and development of the county for the past five decades, and during that time he has borne his full share in the work of improvement and has ever given his influence to those projects which have had for their object the substantial upbuilding and permanent development of the community. Although he has long since passed the Psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten, he is still active in the world’s work and has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek his fortune in this country, for here, where individual effort is unhampered by caste or class, he has found the success which he sought, his years of continuous activity being crowned with a most gratifying success.
