Freeman Brownson, a native of St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., was born July 6, 1845. He emigrated to Iowa with his parents in 1848 and settled in Clayton County. His father purchased 250 acres of land, which they are farming together. Mr. Brownson's primary education was received in a little log house, which his uncle Nathaniel Wood had erected on his land for the benefit of the rising generation of that day. He afterward attended other schools. Mr. Brownson and his father make a specialty of raising blooded horses, of the Norman breed. He went to Europe in February, 1880, for the purpose of purchasing some fine horses. While on the ocean, a terrible storm occurred, the passengers being locked in for thirty-six hours. The captain of the vessel said he had not witnessed such a storm for twenty-eight years. During his stay in Europe, Mr. Brownson visited England, France and many places of interest. He visited an old castle in France that was built during the crusade, and saw a great many ancient instruments of war there. He saw a house in Paris that was over 1,700 years old. He visited the place where the famous French burr millstones are made. While in London he saw the famous Cleopatra's needle of which so much has been written. It was brought from Egypt, and the needle dates back before the Christian era. He purchased eight horses, three mares, and three stallions and returned to America with them in April, 1880. He was married to Louise Flannigan in the fall of 1867. Mrs. Louise Brownson died, having been the mother of three children - one living, Jason B., born in 1868. In 1873 Mr. Brownson again married, Rachael Didismar, a native of Germany. They have three children - Frank, Louise and Lucy. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 772 |