U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Brown, James William (1830-1902) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 773-774, JAMES WILLIAM BROWN. The Browns were early settlers in Preston county. James Brown and his wife, Rachel Brown, grandparents of James William Brown, were of Scotch-Irish descent, and came to this country soon after the close of the Revolutionary War. They were sympathizers with the American cause in the Revolution, and having failed to composs the freedom of their native Ireland, sailed for Philadelphia in 1789, and the next year settled on a tract of land a mile northeast of Kingwood. Their first house was the cabin of the Green family, which had been broken up only two years before by murder and captivity. The five sons of James Brown were men of force and character. Joseph, the third son, born August 8, 1796, was Sheriff of Preston county one term. January 22, 1829, he was married to Miss Mary M. Stone, of Richmond, Virginia, and to this union four children were born, as follows: Mrs. Anna M. Elliott, widow of the late Captain William Elliott, of Terra Alta; Mrs. Juliet R. Smith, widow of James P. Smith, of Johnson City, Tennessee; Elisha M. H. Brown, who died in August, 1889, and James William Brown. March 30, 1854, James William Brown was married to Miss Martha R. Brown, of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was born in Cincinnati, August 24, 1834, but married in Kingwood, to which place her father, John Cannon Brown, formerly a merchant of Cincinnati, had moved about 1850, and where he died in April, 1852. His wife's maiden name was Miss Martha Batchelder, of Cincinnati, where she died in the seventy-fourth year of her age, July 20, 1848. Four children were born to John Cannon and Martha Brown, as follows: Martha R., wife of James William Brown; Lieut. James W., who died in July, 1864, in defense of his country; Juliet A., widow of the late Dr. W. H. Ravenscroft, of Oakland, Maryland, and Sarah A., widow of Benjamin Forman, deceased, formerly of Terra Alta. James William Brown was born in Kingwood, West Virginia, July 24, 1830. During the earlier part of his life he attended the Kingwood public schools, and later Washington College, Pennsylvania. In 1853 he was engaged in the mercantile business at Cranberry Summit, now Terra Alta, and was also agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at that place. In politics Mr. Brown was a Democrat. He was deputy sheriff before and during the first two years of the Rebellion, and Colonel of the State Militia during the same time. In 1863 he moved to DesMoines, Iowa, where he again engaged in the mercantile business under the firm name of LeBosquet, Brown & Rude. In 1868 he returned to the state and county of his birth, and in 1869 purchased the farm on which his aged widow lives and where he lived until his death, May 18, 1902, aged 72 years. Colonel Brown was one of the leading men of Preston county and of the state of West Virginia. He was a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and held many positions of trust. By his wife, Martha R., James William Brown became the father of nine children, five girls and four boys, as follows: Mrs. C. M. Fleek, of Janesville, Wisconsin; Mrs. John W. McDonald, of Tampico, Mexico; Mrs. C. F. Copeman, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Mrs. B. L. Brown and Miss Emma V. Brown, of Kingwood; Albert A. Brown, and the late John C. Brown, of Rowlesburg, and J. G. Brown and E. S. Brown, who reside with their aged mother on the home place. They are successful agriculturists and men of force and character. Joseph G. Brown has been a journalist of large experience and is a brilliant writer, as well as a successful farmer. John Cannon Brown, the third son, born February 6, 1869, was the trusted employee of the Mason Hardware Company, Mannington, West Virginia, for many years. In 1909 he took charge of the Commercial Hotel at Rowlesburg, and by his genial disposition and generous hospitality built up a nice business and made many friends who were deeply grieved to learn of his death, February 18, 1912. April 24, 1900, he was married to Miss May Spahr, of Kingwood, who survives him. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (wife of James W. Brown) From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #1351 FULL-NAME: Martha R. Brown BIRTH-DATE: August 24, 1834 BIRTH-PLACE: Cincinnati, Ohio DEATH-DATE: January 30, 1923 DEATH-PLACE: Kingwood, Kingwood District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widow OCCUPATION: Retired Housekeeper FATHER: John C. Brown (born in Preston Co.) MOTHER: not known CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Valvular heart disease INFORMANT: Joseph G. Brown (of Kingwood, W.Va.) BURIAL: Kingwood Cemetery There's a double tombstone in Maplewood Cemetery, Kingwood, WV James W. Brown born July 24, 1830 died May 13, 1902 - - - Martha R. Brown born Aug. 24, 1834 died Jan. 31, 1923 --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------