Page 530

 

B. F. BROWN

 

B. F. Brown, who is familiarly known to many of his friends as Dock, a fact which indicates his personal popularity in the community, is one of the successful and substantial agriculturists of Taylor county, where for thirty years he has been closely identified with business interests as a farmer and carpenter.  A native of Indiana, he was born in Wayne county on the 21st of June, 1847, a son of Jacob and Hannah Brown.  When a little lad of five years he came to Iowa with his parents, the family home being established in Madison county, and within its borders he was reared to manhood.

 

During the period of his youth he assisted his father in the arduous task of clearing land and opening up a new farm, and he continued to give his father the benefit of his aid until the latter's death, at which time he started in business for himself.  Early in life he had learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with his agricultural pursuits, at the same time engaging in the manufacture of lumber as an employee in a sawmill.  He was thus engaged up to the time of his marriage, after which he farmed in Madison county until 1879.

 

In that year Mr. Brown traded his property for one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm, located in Marshall township, Taylor county, only forty-five acres of which had been broken and put under cultivation.  He erected a small frame house and good outbuildings and immediately set about the further development of his farm.  Later he purchased an adjoining tract of eighty acres on section 2, so that his present farm consists of two hundred and forty acres on sections 2 and 3, Marshall township.  As he has prospered he has introduced many improvements upon the place, remodeled the residence and added new barns, cribs and granaries.  When the land came into his possession there was not a tree upon it, but now he has a beautiful grove and orchard of his own planting.  His farm today, in its neat and attractive appearance, stands as a monument to his thrift and energy and is one of the valuable and desirable properties of the township.  Being naturally of a mechanical turn of mind, he and his sons devote considerable time to carpentering and all are also bricklayers and plasterers.  He has carefully and wisely conducted his various business interests and they all combine to make him one of the substantial and prosperous farmers and business men of the township.

 

On the 15th of February, 1866, in Madison county, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Sarah See, a native of Henry county, Iowa, who was reared in Madison county.  They have three sons and two daughters.  The sons all live near the old homestead and the eldest, M. E. Brown, is a carpenter, contractor and builder.  Jacob F., is a bricklayer, carpenter and farmer, and Edson E., is a carpenter, bricklayer and housemover.  Dora C., the eldest child, (page 531) is the wife of W. H. Leno, a farmer of Adams county, while Lizzie L. wedded E. T. Philpott, of Taylor county.  Mrs. Brown and her children are all members of the Seventh Day Advent church, the teachings of which form the guiding influence in their lives.

 

Mr. Brown's political allegiance has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.  He cast his first presidential ballot for U. S. Grant in 1868 and since that time has supported every candidate on that ticket with one exception.  He was elected and served for eight consecutive years as township trustee and acted as a member of the school board for some time, the case of education finding in him a warm champion.  Having resided in Taylor county for thirty years, he has been a witness of its growth and development in many lines and has ever been ready to assume his full share in the work of improvement.  Genial in disposition, he is familiarly called by his friends -- and they are legion -- by the name of Dock, which was given to him when a child by a doctor during an epidemic of cholera.  His strong and salient characteristics are such as endear him to all who come within the close circle of his friendship, while wherever he is known he is respected and honored.