THE BROWNS
ADAM BROWN, SR., a native of Germany, was a son of Adam BROWN, who immigrated to America prior to the Revolution, and served as a packhorse driver in the Continental army. His father located at Big Spring, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, after the war, where he resided until his death. Adam, came to Butler county in the last decade of the Eighteen century, and located in what is now Middlesex township. He subsequently settled upon a 400-acre tract of land near the site of Brownsdale, which he cleared and improved. the first BROWN's Mill originated in the horse mill started by Adam BROWN on his farm early in the century. Later he became the owner of the mill on Glade Run erected by Maj. Reese EVANS, which has since been known as BROWN's Mill.
He married
Agnes HOLMES, a native of Ireland, and resident of Cumberland county.
Both died early in the present century. Their children were as follows:
John, who died upon a portion of the original farm; Adam; Joseph, who also
died upon a part of the old homestead; Thomas R., who died in Pittsburg;
Elizabeth, who married James MCCANDLASS, and died in Butler county; Martha,
who became the wife of Johnson WHITE, and also died in this county, and
Margaret, who married William WHITE, and died in Ohio. Adam BROWN Sr., was
one of the early constables of the county, and in politics, he was an
adherent of the Whig party. He was a Presbyterian, in religion, a man of
fair education, in both English and German, and wielded considerable
influence among the pioneers. He was interred in the old Presbyterian
cemetery in Middlesex township.
ADAM BROWN, JR., was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and grew to manhood upon the "homestead farm" in Butler county. He was the second son of Adam BROWN, Sr., and at the death of his father he was appointed executor of the latter's estate. He received the homestead as his share of the estate, and lived upon it until 1833, when he purchased the mill and farm where his son Robert H. now resides. The mill was an old frame structure, but he tore it down, and rebuilt a new frame grist mill, and added a saw mill. Sometime in the fifties this gave place to a better one, which was destroyed by fire in November,1859. It was rebuilt and conducted by Mr. BROWN Jr. until 1861. In that year he retired from active business and settled upon a farm he then owned, but now the property of Walter C. Boggs, in Forward township.
He married
Sarah Brown, daughter of
"Squire" Robert BROWN, to whom were born thirteen children, those that grew
to maturity are as follows: Nancy, who married James HAMMEL; Robert H.;
Adam; Ruth, who married C. E. [p. 1129] ANDERSON; Sarah, deceased wife of
Asa LEASON; Margaret, deceased wife of Wesley HENDERSON; John, and William
C., both deceased; Joseph, who married a daughter of Thomas GRAY, and is now
residing in Penn township, and Nathan, who married a daughter of Mr. EMERY,
and who now resides in Harrisville, Butler county. Thomas R., Betsey and
Nelson, died in infancy. His second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth JOHNSON, who
survives him. Politically, he was first a Whig and afterwards a Republican.
ROBERT H. BROWN, eldest son of Adam and Sarah BROWN, was born September 12, 1824, in Middlesex township, Butler county. He was reared on the "homestead farm", and received his education in the district schools. He learned the milling business with his father, and purchased the mill and farm from the latter, which he conducted until 1880 when Philip GELBACH became owner. In that year Robert H. bought a farm in Cranberry township, resided upon it until 1891, and then returned to his original homestead, where he engaged in farming and resumed ownership of his flour and saw mill. His farm contains some five producing oil wells, and is thus quite profitable.
In 1850 he married Margaret E., daughter of
George WILSON.
His second wife was
Cynthia F. Miller, daughter of
Jesse E. MILLER, of Forward
township, to which union have been born six children, four of whom are
living, as follows: Sarah E.; Mary L.; Robert L.,
and Nora B. Politically, Mr. BROWN is a Republican, and in religious faith,
he is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church.
