Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 393-394] JAMES A. BROWN is one of the early and well-known pioneers, a member of the Milford Colony who settled in the county of Cherokee in 1856. This section of country was wild and uninhabited, and offered few inducements to any but the hardy and courageous. JAMES A. was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, January 17, 1820, and is a son of HENRY and SARAH (VOSE) BROWN, natives of Rhode Island and Maine respect- ively. The father was a mechanic, a wheel-wright by trade, but our subject was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty-five he was married to Miss LOUISA S. SHOLES, a native of Rhode Island, born Dec- ember, 25, 1820. Five years after his marriage he removed to Milford, Massachusetts, and there he was employed i a boot and shoe factory. It was there he made the acquaintance of Messrs. PHIPPS, CORBETT, LEBOURVEAU and others, who were also pioneers of Cherokee County. Mr. BROWN has been engaged in farming since coming to the county, and has been successful in the pursuit of this industry. Politi- cally he affiliates with the Republican party. He has represented his county as supervisor, clerk and as justice of the peace, serving with credit to himself, and to the best interests of the public. He has experienced all the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life, well remembering the time when meal was ground in the coffee- mill for the family use. Mr. BROWN'S thrilling experience with the Indians is related in the chapter on Indian Troubles. He and his wife reared five children: GEORGE, CLARA (widow of GEORGE E. FISHER), THOMAS, IDA (wife of HENRY HUBBARD), and ELLA. The great loss of Mr. BROWN'S life was the death of his wife, which occurred July 30, 1888. She had been a member of the Baptist Church since 1841, and her death was deeply regretted by all who knew her. Mr. BROWN has been a member of the Baptist Church for forty-eight years, and has held the office of deacon of the same. He has always taken an active interest in edu- cation and religion, and is numbered among the leading farmers of the county. IDA (BROWN) HUBBARD was the first white child born in Cherokee County. ===========================================================================