C. A. BROWN

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          C. A. Brown, who has been engaged in the real-estate business at Wapello for two years past and on account of his large experience and correct judgment of values has met with a goodly measure of success, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, May 16, 1858, a son of Abraham and Susan W. (Storks) Brown, the former of whom was born in Harrison county, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Dover, Delaware. The father came west with his family in the fall of 1861 and stopped in Louisa county, Iowa, locating in the spring of 1862 on land which became the family homestead. He acquired a comfortable competency and retired at the age of fifty-five years. He is still living on the old homestead but the mother died January 3, 1910, at the age of seventy-nine years. There . . .

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. . . were six children in their family; Olivia, who is the wife of William Robertson of this county; C. A., of this review; David N., of Martinsburg, Audrain county, Missouri; John, deceased; Mary E., who married J. R. Watson, of Pacific, Missouri; and Carrie, also deceased.

          C. A. Brown was educated in the common schools and as a boy became familiar with all classes of farm work. After attaining his majority he continued working for his father for a year and then began farming on his own account. In 1882 he bought forty-three acres adjoining the old home place and applied himself so industriously that he became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres. At the age of twenty-six he embarked in the grain business at Oakville, Iowa, with which he was identified for about five years. On December 10, 1885, he was appointed first agent of the Iowa Central Railway at Oakville and continued in railway service for five years, during which time he learned telegraphy and had full charge of the railway station. A large grain business was built up and as he did not care to continue at the salary he was receiving he resigned, turning over the station to T. M. Storks, whom he had properly instructed for the position. Mr. Brown then continued in the grain business on his own account, also engaging in the shipping of live stock. In a short time, however, he perceived a larger opening at Mediapolis and moved to that point and engaged in shipping grain on a large scale. He leased a plant for one year, which was offered for sale under a receivership, but he did not then care to purchase the property. For two years he engaged in farming and then returned to Mediapolis and bought the plant, which he conducted successfully for two years. He also assisted in organizing the Oakville Savings Bank and served as president of that institution. In 1900 he came to Wapello and engaged in the grain business with G. W. Hayden, the partnership continuing in existence for four years. He then purchased his partner’s interest and conducted the business on his own account for two years. In July, 1907, he sold out to E. B. Cook and went to the Pan-Handle of Texas, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he sold the following December. Returning to Oakville, Iowa, he purchased the elevator at that point, the business having grown until it amounted to three hundred cars per annum. After twenty months he disposed of his business and settled at Wapello. On the 1st of January, 1909, he embarked in the real-estate business and a month later admitted to partnership Robert E. Eland. They have secured a large patronage and are now conducting one of the most prosperous real-estate agencies in this part of Iowa. Mr. Brown owns two hundred acres of land in Louisa county, three hundred and twenty acres in Alberta, Canada, and stock in both banks at Oakville and Mediapolis. He has purchased seven acres of land in the city of Wapello and it is his intention to soon erect thereon a fine modern residence.

          On the 20th of March, 1884, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Emma Ernsting. Her parents, Louis and Dorothy (Reuter) Ernsting, were both born near Hamburg, Germany, and were sweethearts in their native land. They came to America on the same vessel in 1861 and were married soon after- . . .

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. . . ward in Burlington, Iowa. The father died December 3, 1905, but the mother is still living and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Brown. Mr. Ernsting was a farmer by occupation and a republican in politics. In the family were four children, of whom Mrs. Brown is the oldest. Henry is deceased. Lena is the wife of Thomas Myers, residing near Hurdland, Missouri. Minnie is the wife of H. B. Carter, of Oakville. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, namely, Ora C., Pearl E. and Bessie Leona, all of whom are at home.

          Mr. Brown has been identified with many enterprises in the course of his career and has always shown keen interest in his business and a clear recognition of opportunities. He has been honorable and upright in his dealings and as an active and useful citizen receives the merited respect of his neighbors and friends. Politically he is an adherent of the republican party and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of benevolent and humane disposition and is a strong believer in the Bible, being also a sincere member of the Methodist church.