Bio: Brown, John I (History 1846)

Contact: Janet Schwarze

Surnames: BROWN

----Source: 1891 History of Clark Jackson Co., WI, pg. 353

JOHN I. BROWN, a well-known citizen and one of the oldest settlers of Clark County, Wisconsin, was born in Germany, March 1, 1802. He landed in America on May 12, 1846, and took up his abode near Milwaukee. There he found employment, at which he made three shillings per day. For seven years he worked near Milwaukee and during that time cleared a large amount of land, his only capital being an ax and grubbing hoe combined with his strong and willing muscle. His first investment here was in a pair of steers, which he purchased from one of his countrymen. The sum to be paid for them was $16.50, but as he did not have the money his German friend gave him time and did not even take a note. When the time agreed upon for payment arrived Mr. Brown met the man in Milwaukee and told him he was ready to pay of the $16.50, to which his friend replied that he must buy a quart of beer first. This of course, he readily did. Thus confidence was established in him by his neighbors in the community where he lived, and it was never lost.

Mr. Brown came to Clark County in 1850 and bought eighty acres of land, which by hard work he cleared up. His wife has shared with him the many hardships incident to pioneer life. Like many other faithful German wives, she helped him in out-door work and she also spun and wove all the clothes that her family wore. When Mr. Brown arrived in this country he was accompanied by his wife and one child. Other children have been born to them, and their family now consists of five sons and one daughter, namely: Jacob, Jr., Henry, Flemming, Joseph, Peter and Kate. Mr. Brown added to his first purchase until he now has enough land to give each of his children forty acres. His property is located in Grant Township, sections 16 and 17.