My Genealogy Hound

John B. Brown. In the early settlement of the State of Pennsylvania, among the families who were closely identified with its material affairs, and associated with its progress and development, were the Browns, who were of German origin. A respected representative of this family, to be found in Desha County, Ark., is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Franklin County, Penn., November 30, 1846, being a son of Jacob S. and Jane (Brotherton) Brown, also natives of that county and State, the former born in 1816. They died in their native State, the father passing from life in 1872, and the mother in 1850. To them a family of two sons and two daughters was born, only one son and one daughter now living, of whom John B. is the eldest. Emma J. resides at Chambersburg, Penn. Those deceased are: J. Porter (who was killed by the Indians, on the plains, in 1866), Florence (who was the wife of George J. Balsley, of Franklin County, Penn.). John B. Brown remained in Franklin County, Penn., until nineteen years of age, receiving a common-school education, and at the age of twenty years began life for himself at saw milling, and was afterward in the transfer business between St. Louis and East St. Louis, and afterward followed merchandising in the former city. In 1869 he came South, and settled in Desha County, Ark., at the mouth of the Arkansas River, and here was married on January 2, 1878, to Mrs. Lucretia Edgington, widow of Alfred A. Edgington, who died in Desha County, on January 10, 1873. Mrs. Brown is a native of Todd County, Ky., and is a daughter of George W. and Susan (Stark) Boyd, who settled in Jefferson County, Ark., in 1850, the father dying at Pine Bluff six years later, and the mother at the same place in 1859. They left a family of six sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Brown is the ninth child and youngest daughter. She was the mother of three sons and three daughters by her first husband, the names of those living being as follows: Jibon P., Hunter S., Desha F. and Alfred Lucretia (a daughter). Those deceased are Maud S. and Newton. Mr. Brown’s success in his farming operations is well merited, and having given this occupation his attention the greater portion of his life, he is now the owner of a fine farm of about 400 acres, partly cultivated, it being well adapted to the raising of cotton and corn, and he also gives much attention to the stock business. He is a Democrat in politics, has been sheriff of Desha County, and has had charge of the sheriff’s business in the Watson District of the county. Socially, he is a member of the K. of H. Mrs. Brown is of Irish descent, and traces her ancestry back to the early colonists of Virginia.