James C. Brown 1825-1915

BROWN, MCCLURE

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 3/2/2025 at 07:18:44

The Wapello Republican, Columbus Junction, IA
Thursday, July 15, 1915
Page 1

James C. Brown, one of the earliest pioneers of Louisa county, died at Morning Sun Tuesday, July 13th. Mr. Brown was born in Madison, Indiana, on April 14, 1825, being a few months over ninety years of age at the time of his death. He was educated in his native county in Indiana, came with his parents to Louisa county in 1840, settling on land now a part of the present site of Morning Sun. He passed through the severe trials incident to the lives of the early settlers in those pioneer days. His father, Wm. P. Brown, was the first postmaster in the community east of Virginia Grove and had it named Morning Sun. The town bearing the same name was afterwards laid out and given the same name as the post office.

Mr. Brown established a country general store in the old log house located in the rear of the present residence of Martha Brown on August 10, 1850, continuing in the mercantile business for over thirty years and with the exception of a few years spent with his children in Kansas and Nebraska has been a continuous resident of the Morning Sun community and died on the same farm on which he settled with his parents in 1840.

He was married to Mary J. McClure in 1859, who died eight years ago. He is survived by one sister, Martha Brown, living near Morning Sun; two sons and six daughters. He was Morning Sun's first mayor in 1858, rendered active and financial assistance in promoting the first railroad through Louisa county, was a member of the First Presbyterian church for sixty-five years. He was strictly temperate in all his habits and owed his long life to these virtues. His mental faculties were clear until after he had passed his ninetieth anniversary. Funeral services will be held from the home Friday, July 16th, at 10 a. m. conducted by his pastor, Rev. A. E. Cameron of the First Presbyterian church. Interment in Elmwood cemetery.