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Rock County, Wisconsin

Biographies

"Harry Brown"

HARRY BROWN, farmer, Sec. 9; P.O. Oregon; born in Strafford, Orange Co., Vt., June 28,
1819; was a farmer in Vermont; resolved to come West; he came up the lakes to Milwaukee, and with a teamster rode across the wilds of Wisconsin, reaching Madison, June 2, 1846; his route led past Watertown, across sloughs and marshes full of water, and over the swollen, unbridged streams; near Watertown they drove through a small lake about two and a half feet in depth; after looking over Dane and Rock Counties, Mr. B. bought his present 160 acre farm in July, of the Government, later adding 40 acres, on which was a log house; sowed wheat that fall, and during the winter got out fencing for 50 acres; Sept. 2, 1848, he married, in his and her native town, Miss Harriet CHANDLER; returning, they spent the first ten years in the log house; he then erected the large and pleasantly located farmhouse, which burned, with all its contents, Sunday, Oct. 15, 1876; on this site he again built an equally fine home, which though unfinished, was occupied four weeks after the fire. Mrs. B. died Aug. 9, 1871, leaving two children - Adeline and Frank E.; George E., the oldest son, died in March, 1867, aged 19; Adeline, Mrs. L. W. CHAPIN, lives in town of Rutland; Frank E., grew to a sturdy young manhood, and while visiting friends in Iowa Co., Wis., joined them in a hunting frolic, accidentally discharged his gun, by which his forearm was shattered, and, in spite of the care of the best physicians and the tender nursing of heart-broken parents, died Jan. 18, 1879; he was born Oct. 6, 1858. The present Mrs. BROWN was Miss Amelia, daughter of Reuben and Rachel SLAUSON; her father was born in Connecticut, and her mother in Orange Co., N.Y.; they settled in June, 1846, on the farm where they still reside, in Union, Rock Co., Wis.; she was born there and married Mr. B. June 22, 1873. Harry BROWN is one of the early settlers of Dane Co., who has made a record of progress, his 160 acre farm being almost a model, and he still is as active in its management as when he was clearing and breaking it thirty-four years ago.
 
Taken from "The History of Dane County, Wisconsin" (c)1880 Western Historical Company, Chicago, pp. 1334-1335.
 
Courtesy of Carol

This page last updated March 27, 2006
 
©2006 WIBiographies-Rock County
 
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