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         JAMES L. BROWN, a farmer residing on section 17, Concord Township, was born in Union County, Ind., April 12, 1829, and is a son of Matthew and Julia (Brumage) Brown, the father a native of Indiana, and the mother of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Brown, was born in South Carolina, and engaged in surveying. Being always opposed to the institution of slavery, he left his native State and became one of the pioneers of Indiana, settling in that State in 1802. He was among the first Abolitionists, and though reared in a slave State was always opposed to the holding of man in bondage. After going to Indiana he entered a claim and improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death in 1839. He was a man of influence and great prominence in Indiana, and for many years served as a member of the State Legislature, being elected to that body by the Whig party.

The father of our subject was born in Union County, Ind., receiving a limited education, such as the schools of that new country afforded. He there grew to manhood, and in 1827 was united in marriage with Julia Brumage. They were the parents of seven children: James, our subject, was the eldest; Emily C. became the wife of William Marshall, of Jackson County, Wis.; Thomas M., who served as First Sergeant of Company F, 35th Iowa Infantry, for three years and three months during the late war, now resides in Muscatine County; Hugh P. is also living in Muscatine County; Newton J. makes his home in Dallas County, Iowa; Elizabeth died in 1851, and Bonfield died at the age of eight. In 1851 the parents of these children came to Iowa, Mr. Brown engaging in surveying in Muscatine and Louisa Counties. He first settled in Cedar Township, of the former county, where he purchased 160 acres of land which had formerly belonged to the noted Indian Chief, Black Hawk. He there resided for five years, when he moved his family to another farm, and there resided until his death, which occurred in 1842. Our subject being the eldest child, resided with his mother and managed the farm until 1855, when she married John Morehead, and still lives in Muscatine County. In that year James went to Bureau County, Ill., where he rented a farm for five years, and then returned to Muscatine County, where he made his home for ten years. At the expiration of that time he came to Louisa County, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 17, Concord Township, to which he has added from time to time until he has a fine farm of 276 acres, well improved.

On the 3d of September, 1855, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Cynthia Coulter, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Joseph Coulter, also a native of the Buckeye State. To them three children have been born: Alice, wife of Henry Bedwell, a resident of Concord Township; Charley Lee, now clerk of a railroad station in Lincoln, Neb., and L. Grant, who is at home. In his political views Mr. Brown is a Greenbacker. He is one of the leading farmers of Concord Township, and one of the best citizens of that community.