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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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DAVID F. BROWN, M. D., of Dresden, is a man of versatile talents, and while engaging in the general practice of his profession, has also other important interests. His home place, which is pleasantly situated on the edge of Dresden, consists of two hundred acres, in addition to which he is the owner of two hundred and sixty acres in Hughesville Township, and three hundred and twenty-five acres northeast of the railroad at Dresden. For some years he has been engaged in raising and shipping cattle, which industry he conducts on a large scale, making a specialty of Galloway cattle and Poland-China hogs. Formerly he held an interest in several stores.

The Doctor was born in North Carolina, near the village of High Point, October 22, 1845. He is one of nine children (seven sons and two daughters) born to the union of Haley and Jane E. (Spurgeon) Brown, also natives of North Carolina. Four of the family are now living: Phoebe J., wife of Dr. J. G. Ector, of Winston, N. C.; Dempsey S., of Pettis County, Mo.; Dr. David F., of this sketch; and Henry Clay, who is living near Houstonia, in Pettis County. The father, who was a railroad contractor and a farmer, died in North Carolina in 1866. His wife, who survives him, is now in her eightieth year (1895). In his community he was a man of prominence and for some time held the office of County Surveyor. The title of Major, by which he was familiarly known, was won by promotion to that rank in the militia.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Brown, was born in North Carolina and was a descendant of English ancestors. His occupation was that of an agriculturist, in which he engaged with success. He and his wife were the parents of three children. Our subject’s maternal grandfather, Joseph Spurgeon, was born in North Carolina, of English parentage, and followed farm pursuits. For a number of years he represented Davidson County in the Legislature.

David F. was reared in Davidson, Guilford and Randolph Counties, N. C., and received a good common-school education. Later he attended Trinity College, in Randolph County, and still later a Quaker college. On the breaking out of the-war, he entered the Confederate service as a private in the First Battalion in the Eighth Georgia Regiment, and later served in North Carolina for twelve months. He participated in all the battles around Petersburg during 1864 and 1865, and was also in those around Hatcher’s Run.

After the war was over, Mr. Brown spent a year and a-half in Saline County, Mo. Later, however, he went back to North Carolina and attended college, at the same time working on a farm. In 1870, in Dresden, Mo., he began to study medicine with his brother J. A. C, and also attended three courses of lectures in St. Louis. It was in March, 1873, that he began practice in Dresden, and that his selection of a location was a wise one is shown by the large practice he has built up.

August 13, 1874; Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Virginia Schultz, daughter of Romulus and Christina (Spurgeon) Schultz. One child was born of this union, but it died in infancy. Dr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the former is serving as Trustee of the congregation. His vote is cast in favor of Democratic candidates.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Pettis County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Pettis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pettis County, Missouri family biographies here: Pettis County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Pettis County, Missouri here: Pettis County, Missouri Map

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