JAMES M. BROWN
James M. Brown, an early settler of this county, was born in New Hampshire, in 1820. He removed with his parents, to Erie county, New York, when quite young. His father, James Brown, died when he (James M.) was twelve years old. His mother married again and removed to Cattaraugus county, New York, where she died. James M., left home at the age of sixteen and went to Calhoun county, Michigan, where he worked by the month, for a time, thence to Rock Island county, Illinois. In 1853, he crossed the plains to California with ox teams, being on the road six months. He remained there two years then returned to Rock Island county and lived there until 1858, when he came to Cass county, Iowa. He purchased there of Samuel M. Ballard, a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, unimproved, and comprising the south half of section 10, of Benton township, where he settled and still resides. Mr. Brown was married in Rock Island county, to Sarah Martin, a native of Kentucky. They have five children -- Mrs. Elma Millhollen, Mrs. Ellen Howlett, Mrs. Lydia Hall, (widow), Mrs. Alta Pratt, and Grant. They have lost one child, Franklin. Mr. Brown came to Cass county in limited circumstances, but is now prosperous and has succeded well financially. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 639-640.
