Joel BROWN, farmer, section 25, Middle Fork Township, was born in Warren County, Indiana, December 8, 1830. His parents were William and Susannah (WAGGONER) BROWN, natives of Kentucky. They were married in Washington County, Indiana, and reared a family of nine children, of whom Joel was the second. He was reared to manhood in his native county, passing his time in assisting on the farm and attending the common schools.

He was married August 21, 1851, [Washington County, Indiana] to Miss Avaline COX, daughter of David and Mary COX.

In September, 1854, he started for Iowa with horse team and was on the road twenty days. The first winter was spent in Mahaska County and the following spring he came to Ringgold County and settled in Middle Fork Township, entering the land where he now resides, from the Government. His first house was built of logs, 16 x 18 feet, with puncheon floor and clapboard roof. He has made improvements from time to time until his farm is in its present conditon. He has a comfortable house, an orchard of three acres, a variety of small fruits, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. and Mrs. BROWN have six children - William David, Isaac R., Clarissa Jane, Louisa Lucretia, Phillip Jasper and Charles Nathan.

Mr. BROWN has served creditably as justice of the peace, sonstable and member of the School Board. He belongs to the Masonic order, Lodge No. 169, Mount Ayr, and is a member of the Advent Christian church, of which he is deacon. Politically he is a Republican. Postoffice, Thomas.

NOTE: William BROWN was born January 10, 1794, Orange County, North Carolina, and died October 6, 1852, Attica, Warren County, Indiana. Susannah (WAGGONER) BROWN was born May 31, 1807, Kentucky. After William's death and the death of her father-in-law Joel BROWN in 1853, Susannah and most of the BROWN family moved to Ringgold County, Iowa. Here Susannah started the Hickory Grove Church named after the first meeting of the congregation in a grove of hickory trees. Susannah was known as the "mother of the church" which was located eight miles south of Mount Ayr. Susannah died November 1874, Ringgold County, Iowa and was interred at Middle Fork Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Avaline (COX) BROWN was born November 14, 1833, and died in August of 1874, Ringgold County, Iowa. Joel married second in 1876 to Mrs. Edith A. CARROTHERS. Joel BROWN died April 14, 1913, Nooksack, Whatcom County, Washington.

Elwood and Olive BROWN were twins who died in infancy. Phillip Jasper BROWN was born in 1867, and died in 1910 with interment at Nooksack Cemetery, Whatcom County, Washington.

Charles Nathan BROWN was born January 25, 1870 in Ringgold County, Iowa, and died October 25, 1947 with interment at Nooksack Cemetery, Whatcom County, Washington. Charles married in 1897 to Marietta Beatrice TRULLINGER, born June 27, 1876, Delphos, Ringgold County, Iowa, and died January 28, 1952, Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, with interment at Nooksack Cemetery. They were the parents of Paroda, born in 1898; Howard, born in 1899; and Albert, born in 1902.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 293-94, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z