Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 881
ALVA W. BROWN

Alva W. BROWN, of Modale, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1866, when he settled on section 29, of Taylor Township, where he purchased a quarter section of wild land. His first residence was built of cottonwood lumber, 12x16 feet, on the ground, and twelve feet high. He erected his house himself, and not making any pretensions toward being a first-class mechanic, he says this structure was "more useful than ornamental". The first year he broke fourteen acres of his land and commenced to farm. The first house referred to served as aresidence for ten years. In 1876 he built a fine two-story house, 16x 26 feet, with an ell 14x16 feet, having a veranda extending around the upright and ell. He has since built a kitchen twelve feet square, under which is a cemented cellar. He has added to his land until he has two hundred and forty acres on his home farm and forty acres on section 31. The home farm has ninety acres under the plwo and the balance in pasture and meadow, and upon this place he has erected a good barn 26x30 feet. His land con section 31 is all under cultivation, and in addition he also has a long house 18x24 feet, and a frame barn 24x30 feet. Both of his farms are provided with good orchards. In 1886 our subjectmoved to town and took charge of the hotel, which he operated until the fall of 1891.

He was born in Stark County, IL, October 29, 1839, and when five years of age, his parents moved to DuPage County, IL, where he remained until he was fourteen, and then went to Leeds County, Canada, and worked ona farm two years and one-half. The next three years he spent on a farm in Kent County, Michigan, after which he returned to Stark County, IL, where he remained until August, 1861, and then enlisted as a member of Company B, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry and went to Missouri. He participated in the following engagements: Pea Ridge, Arkansas Post, Duvalls's Bluff, went through the siege of Vicksburng, and was at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi. After the siege of Vicksburg, he went to New Orleans, remained until August , 1864, and was discharged at Chicago, September 25, 1864. He then returned to Stark County, IL, and remained until February, 1865, when he re-enlisted in the First United States Veteran Corps, known as Hancock's Corp. He went to Washington, D.C., and from there to Winchester, VA, and was on the march to Lynchburg, when they received the intelligence of Lee's surrender, upon which they returned to Washington, and he was one of the guards at the prison when the Lincoln conspirators were hung. From Washington they went to Elmira, NY and were there until November of the same year and then went to New Haven, CN, and were discharged at Hartford, February 25, 1866. He at once returned to Stark County, IL, coming to Harrison County, Iowa, however, in a few weeks.

Our subject was married in Stark County, May 14, 1866, to Miss Frances HODGSON, by which marriage union two children have been born; Cora E., born November 27, 1868, died april 22, 1869; Olive P., born July 15, 1878, died October 21, 1891, with the much dreaded disease, diphtheria.

Frances (HODGSON) BROWN was born in Stark County, IL, April 7, 1841. She remained there until the date of her marriage, and died in Harrison County, Iowa, June 23, 1888. She was buried at the Calhoun Cemetery. Mr. BROWN was married March 4, 1890, to Mrs. Lucy HASKIN, whose maiden name was BARNES. She was married to Joseph HASKIN, by whom she had four children�Charles M., Eva (now deceased), Joseph F., and Harry B.

Lucy (BARNES) BROWN was born in Leeds County, Canada, October 6, 1837, and came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1865.

The father of our subject, David W. BROWN, was born in Leeds County, Canada, July 12, 1801, and came to Illinois in 1837, and moved to DuPage County, of that State, remained nine years, and moved to Kent County, Michigan, spent four years, and then moved to Lasing, Michigan from there to Lake St.Clair, where he died in 1862.

Olive (PARISH) BROWN, the mother of our subject, was also a native of Leeds County, Canada, born January 14, 1803, and remained there until she was married. She laid down the burdens of life in DuPage County, IL, in September, 1847. They were the parents of four children�Lucy, born Marach 30, 1830; Benjamin R., July 13, 1834; Sarah S., January 14, 1837; Alva W., October 29, 1839.

Lucy married Robert Nicholson, and lives in Platte County, NE; Benjamin R. is married and lives in Stark County, IL; Sarah S. married Joseph H. WATTS, and lives in Platte County, NE. All of these children were born I Leeds County, Canada, except our subject.

Politically, Mr. BROWN is identified with the Republican party "first, last, and all the time," or as long as the party maintains the principles it now advocates.

Mr. BROWN was one of the three (E. BRANDRIFF, Mathias RAGER and Mr. BROWN), when the Grange was in its palmiest days, appointed as a committee to solicit L. BRUNETT, who was then Superintendent of the Sioux City & Pacific Railway, to put in a side track and plat the town of Martinsville (now Modale), which was granted them, by securing a right-of-way.

Mr. BROWN assessed his township three times and the town of Modale five times. He has held the office of Township Trustee three terms; was road commissioner one term; Justice of the Peace two years, and has been School Treasurer five years for the Independent District of Modale.

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