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         JAMES C. BROWN, one of the pioneers of Louisa County, Iowa, was born in Madison, Jefferson Co., Ind., April 14, 1825. His parents were William P. and Alice C. (Crawford) Brown. Our subject received his education in his native county, attending a log cabin school-house, with its puncheon floor, slab seats, greased paper windows and immense fireplace. In 1840 he came with his parents to Louisa county, Iowa, where he assisted his father in breaking prairie and developing a large farm. The country was then new, and at that time there was no mill for grinding wheat, thus necessitating a journey to Farmington, a distance of fifty miles, their team being a yoke of oxen. There were no roads or bridges, the streams had to be forded, and often bands of red men roaming over the prairie were met, and on this journey two nights had to be spent in the wagon. On the 10th of August, 1850, Mr. Brown opened the first store in the township, the location now being within the incorporated limits of Morning Sun. His first goods were hauled in wagons from Burlington, as was his whole stock until the building of the railroad about the year 1870. Mr. Brown was a leading spirit in the upbuilding and development of Morning Sun, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for thirty years, buying also grain, stock and lumber for many years. In 1868 Morning Sun was incorporated, and he was elected the first Mayor, being also the second Postmaster of the village.

In Des Moines County, Iowa, in October, 1850, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane McClure, a daughter of William and Phoebe McClure, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and settled in that county in 1846. Mrs. Brown was born in Pennsylvania in 1832, and by this union nine children have been born: Irene, now the wife of William Cooper, of Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of L. J. Ochiltree, of Morning Sun; Kerenhappuch, who wedded James D. Sweeney, of Burton, Kan.; William P., of North Bend, Neb.; Joseph M., who is living in Atlantic, Iowa; Ermina and James C., who are at home; Jennie, wife of S. B. Wilkins, a commercial traveler, of Atlantic, Iowa; and Cora. Besides their nine children Mr. and Mrs. Brown have thirteen grandchildren to cheer them in their old age. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church, and are earnest, sincere Christians. In early life Mr. Brown was a Democrat, but is now a member of the Republican party, and during his entire life has neither used liquor nor tobacco. He did much toward the building of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, having given $2,000 cash toward that institution, besides assisting in buying the depot grounds. He and his wife are among the most highly respected people of Louisa County.