Hon.Robert Brown
HON.ROBERT BROWN was born at Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois, October19, 1835, a son of John and Jane (Beckett) Brown; the father was a nativeof Fayette county, Kentucky, and emigrated to this State about 1831, settlingat Rushville; he was a carpenter by occupation, and followed this callinguntil his death at the age of fifty-eight years; the mother was born inBourbon county, Kentucky, and died in this county at the age of sixty-sixyears; they had born to them a family of ten children, five of whom areliving. Robert Brown remained at home until he was thirty-one years ofage, when he was married. At the age of twenty-four he was practicallyat the head of a large family, but he early developed remarkable businessability, and was quite equal to the cares that devolved upon him.Hewas united to Miss Mary M. S. Hoffman, October 31, 1866. She was born inWoodstock township, Schuyler county, Illinois, September 7, 1845, a daughterof Samuel and Margaret C. (Narding) Hoffman: Samuel Hoffman was a nativeof Berks county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Illinois in 1838, and herespent the remainder of his life; he was a soldier in the Mexican war, anddied of a fever contracted in the service, at the age of twenty- eightyears; he was a son of Joseph and Mary (Meyers) Hoffman, natives of Pennsylvania;Margaret C. Narding was born in France, October 26, 1822, and emigratedwith her parents to America in 1823; they first settled at Cincinnati,Ohio, and in 1839 came to Illinois and located in Woodstock township, Schuylercounty. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had born to them five children, four ofwhom are living: Robert W., born October 26, 1868; Lilly J., born April28, 1870; Herman H., born June 14, 1875; Edward C., born August 24, 1880.
Afterhis marriage Mr. Brown bought eighty acres of land, a portion of the farmhe now owns; as his means increased he invested in land, and now has 400acres in a body in Woodstock township. In 1881 he replaced the old loghouse which had been a home for so many years with a modern structure,and he has made many valuable improvements upon the place; he does a generalfarming business, but makes a specialty of high grades of blooded stock.
Politically,Mr. Brown was identified with the Democratic party, but was elected tothe State Senate by Democrats and Grangers by a majority of 1,476; he servedfour years, giving entire satisfaction tohis constituency; he was a memberof several important committees, and always showed a wise considerationof the subject in question. He was a member of the School Board for fifteenyears, and has favored elevating the educational standards, and has filledthe office of Supervisor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, andbelongs to the State Grange. In addition to the business interests mentioned,Mr. Brown is a stockholder in the Bank of Rushville. He is a man of excellentbusiness ability, his judgment carrying great weight. He has accumulatedhis property through his own unaided efforts, and he is in every way worthyof the esteem in which he is held.
Biographical Review ofCass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, pages 280-281.
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