William W. Brown, 1898 bio

BROWN, MICHELS, SMITH, HAND

Posted By: Stephen D. Williams (email)
Date: 7/8/2005 at 12:38:39

Portrait and Biographical Record of Denver and Vicinity, Colorado - 1898.
Page 816

WILLIAM W. BROWN. Adjoining the village of Eaton on the north may be seen one of the most desirable farms of Weld County. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres, on which have been made valuable improvements, including a substantial two story brick residence, a good barn, fruit and shade trees and shrubbery. This property is owned and occupied by Mr. Brown, to whose efforts its improvements are due. Besides engaging in general farm pursuits, he has been interested in sheep-feeding for some years, and during the winter months usually feeds twelve hundred head of sheep. He has two wells on the farm, one used for watering the stock, and the other, which is one thousand feet in depth, used for the house.

Born in Iowa County, Iowa, December 14, 1861, our subject is a son of W. C. and Eliza (Michels) Brown. His father, who was a native of Ohio and a carpenter by trade, served in the Mexican war and at the opening of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, serving until the close of the conflict. Among the most important engagements in which he participated were those of Shiloh and Vicksburg. When the war closed he returned to Iowa, where he had settled about 1852. There he improved a tract of raw prairie land, and, in connection with farming, engaged in carpentering. In 1896 he came to Eaton, where he now makes his home. Politically a Republican, during his younger years he was active in the party. In his family there are six sons and two daughters, namely: John who is a farmer and stock-raiser in Kansas; George S., now treasurer of Graham County, Kan., where he is a well-known agriculturist; Marion L. who is engaged in farming in Weld County; Sarah, who married Francis Smith and lives in Missouri; William W.; Sherman, who is foreman on the Wyatt ranch near Eaton; Clinton D., who is employed as foreman for Asa Sterling, on a Platte River farm; and Jennie, who is the wife of Alonzo Hand, of Moscow, Idaho.

In his boyhood our subject became familiar with farm work, through assisting in the cultivation of the homestead. going to Kansas in 1878, the next year he secured employment in Kansas City, but after two years there he settled in Colorado. The village of Eaton was in its infancy when, in 1882, he established his home here, securing work with Governor Eaton as the driver of a six mule team that broke prairie land for cultivation. After the first year he was made foreman and remained in the same position for four years, when he engaged with Brown & Reeman, with whom he worked for two years. Afterward he resumed work as foreman with Governor Eaton. When four years had passed, he invested his savings in the purchase of his present property, on township 7, range 65, where he has since resided. He has been quite successful, though suffering his share of reverses, notably in 1898, when the severe hail storm ruined his crops. He is interested in the Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company and the Windsor Storage Company.

Interested in public affairs, Mr. Brown is a supporter of the silver wing of the Republican party. He is identified with the Congregational Church of Eaton and aided materially in the building of the house of worship. January 2 1888, he was united in marriage with Charlotte, daughter of Jacob Byerly, of Iowa. Three children bless their union, namely: Nellie, Nina and Geneva.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Denver and Vicinity, Colorado:
containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present: together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States.
Chicago, Chapman Pub. Co., 1898, 1317 pages.

[transcribed by Stephen D. Williams. not related to subject]