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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Isaac Brown.

Indefatigable energy and wise management have been the secret of the success which has  come to Isaac Brown in the conduct of his farming interests.  He makes his home on section 18, Eureka township, and has been a resident of Adair county for eight years.  He was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, October 31, 1850, a son of John and Sarah (Andrews) Brown, both of whom were natives of England, whence they came to America following their marriage.  The father was a hatter by trade and after taking up his abode in Newark, New Jersey, in 1848, he there continued to work at his trade until 1855, when he removed to Grundy county, Illinois, where he purchased land and engaged in farming until his death in 1866.  Mrs. Brown continued her residence in Grundy county until she too was called to her final rest in 1908.

Isaac Brown went with his parents to Illinois and there attended school and worked upon the home farm, giving his mother the benefit of his services until he reached his majority.  He then rented a farm in Kendall county, Illinois, operating it on shares for one year.  At the end of that time he returned home, remaining with his mother and farming land for neighbors for five years.  During the succeeding twenty years he was in the employ of Cryder Collins, a very prominent farmer of Saratoga township, Grundy county, Illinois, who owned extensive tracts of land.  Mr. Brown then leased for ten years one of the Collins tracts, broke the raw prairie, tiled the land, developed and cultivated the fields but lived thereon for fifteen years.  His entire life has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and there is no phase of farm work which is not familiar to him.

On the 1st of March, 1907, Mr. Brown came to Adair county and purchased two hundred acres of land where he now lives on section 18, Eureka township.  Eight years prior to this time he had purchased two hundred and forty acres not far distant.  He now rents the latter tract but personally cultivates his home place, on which he has made extensive improvements until today he is the owner of one of the best farms of the township.  It constitutes an attractive feature of the landscape with its commodious and substantial buildings, its carefully cultivated fields, its well kept fences and its modern farm machinery.  In addition to raising grain he feeds cattle and hogs and has a fine herd of Angus cattle, all full blooded and eligible to registration.  He is likewise a stockholder in the Berea Horse Company, which owns stables in the village of Berea, where they keep a fine Percheron stallion and two Mammoth jacks.

On the 18th of April, 1890, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brown and Miss Anna Nelson, a daughter of Hogen and Bertha (Johnson) Nelson, both of whom were natives of Norway.  The father was a farmer by occupation and after living for some time in Illinois they removed to Wright county, Iowa, where the death of Mrs. Nelson occurred.  To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born three children.  Ermine Mabel, who was born March 8, 1892, was graduated from the Anita high school with the class of 1911 and from Drake University in 1915, and is now principal of the high-school at Neola.  Ethel M., born June 17, 1897, completed the high-school course at Anita in 1915.  Isaac Eugene, born June 22, 1902, is attending school in the home district.

Mr. Brown votes with the republican party.  He supports the Methodist Episcopal church and his influence is on the side of reform, progress and improvement.  His business interests have been wisely conducted and have become extensive.  He is now at the head of farming and stock-raising interests of extensive proportions and is one of the leading representatives of his line of activity in Adair county.  He studies modern conditions, is acquainted with the results of scientific investigation of all farm work and directs his efforts in a most sagacious manner, with the result that an excellent financial return is secured.

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