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         JOHN A. BROWN, a furniture dealer of Morning Sun, Iowa, was born in Preble County, Ohio, July 1, 1828, and is a son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Brown, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, James Brown, was born in South Carolina but at an early day left the South on account of slavery, not wishing to rear his children under its influence. In 1808 he emigrated to Preble County, Ohio, where he was one of the first settlers, and at the breaking out of the War of 1812 enlisted and served with honor until its close.

The parents of our subject reared a family of eight children: Elizabeth, the wife of Hon. James Thompson, who died in Monmouth, Ill.; Rev. Mitchell M., a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, of New Wilmington, Pa.; Mary J., wife of Dr. Graham, a resident of Morning Sun; Rev. James R., a minister of the Presbyterian Church, now located at Emerson, Neb.; John A., of this sketch; Julia A., wife of Rev. Nelson Norton, a minister of the Presbyterian Church; Rev. Nathan H., a minister of the Untied Presbyterian Church, of Coin, Page Co., Iowa; William C., who is engaged in the intelligence office of Burlington. In early life the father of these children was a Whig. He was among the first of Preble County, Ohio, to espouse the cause of the slave, and many he assisted on their way to freedom, his house being a station of what was known as the “underground railroad.” In 1854 he emigrated to Warren County, Ill., where his wife died in 1859, and after her death he came to Louisa County, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1882, at the advanced age of ninety-three. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown were lifelong members of the United Presbyterian Church, and were highly respected people wherever they resided.

Our subject grew to manhood upon a farm, receiving his education in the common schools, and in 1854 was married, becoming the husband of Margaret L. Stewart, a daughter of Joseph Stewart, of Preble County, Ohio. Soon after their marriage the young couple came to Iowa, locating in the northern part of Des Moines County, and in 1856 came to Morning Sun, where Mr. Brown embarked in the mercantile business, which he continued for about seven years. In 1863 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Mr. McClurken, serving two years, and after the expiration of the Sheriff’s term of service he received an appointment as deputy under B. F. Coe, who was County Treasurer. In 1867 he was elected County Recorder, re-elected in 1869, and served four years, performing his duties with promptness and fidelity. He was next appointed Deputy Treasurer under John L. Merrill, and in 1877 removed to Morning Sun, where he has since been engaged in the furniture business. By fair dealing and his efforts to please his customers he has built up a fine trade, which he well deserves. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and they have one child living, Frank M., a grocer, of Morning Sun, Iowa.