__
_Daniel BROWN __________|
| |__
|
|--Asahel Harrington BROWN
|
| __
|_Temperance HARRINGTON _|
|__
On February 11, 1819 he married Isabella Steele. Her father may have been
named William Steele-- she named a son William Steele Brown. Another
possibility is that her father was Samuel Steele. However, extensive
searching for a man named Samuel Steele who could have been her father
failed to produce any results. A family record found in the library at
Fairview, IA showed she was born in Mifflin County, the County east of
Huntingdon County, PA, and very close to Henderson Township in Huntingdon
county.
In July, 1848, Asahel Brown moved with his children to Fairfield, Jefferson
County, Iowa. Two sisters, Sarah Brown Weaver and Nancy Brown Hanawalt also
probably moved with them. At first Asahel and his son worked as teamsters and
may also have had small farms. They are listed in an 1848 business directory
as being the principal teamsters of the city. In the 1850 census, Asahel is
listed as a farmer, with real estate valued at $500. He lived with four of
his children, Jane, Prudence, Isabel, and Daniel, as well as Jonathan Delander
(from Sweden) who was a cabinet maker. Asahel's main business was as a wagon
and carriage maker, and he probably did this in a partnership with or as an
employer of Jonathan Delander. Later A.H. Brown had a partnership in the same
business with his son Daniel Brown.
An advertisement in The Fairfield Ledger, March 4, 1869, Page 1, col. 1:
"A.H. BROWN & SON"
"Wagon and Carriage Makers, four doors East of the North-East Corner of
the Square. All kinds of repairing done on short notice. Wagons and
Buggies painted to order. New wagons constantly on hand. Satisfaction
guaranteed and work warranted. Call and see."
In 1852, Asahel is listed in the business directory of Fairfield as the mayor.
In the 1850s he also served as postmaster for many years.
In an Iowa Census, 1856, A.H. Brown was 61, from PA, and listed as a wagon
maker, with 5 people in his residence, and shown as living in Iowa 12 years.
In the 1860 Federal Census Asahel was listed as Justice Of the Peace, with
assets of $800. He was living with his daughter Bell, who was a teacher, and
his son Daniel, a wagon maker. There was a young child, Lenetta, also living
with them.
The Fairfield Ledger, Feb. 18, 1869, Page 3, col. 1.
"A GOLDEN WEDDING. The like never before seen in Fairfield, that we are
aware of... Thursday, Feb 11, 1869. Mr. A.H. and Mrs. Isabella Brown..."
In a "Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties,
Iowa:"
"[Asahel] was ever regarded as one of the representative and enterprising
citizens of the community and the part which he bore in public affairs, the
enterprise and industry which was displayed for the advancement of the
county's best interests, is well worthy of mention in this volume. During
the Territorial days of Iowa he held the office of Collector, and for
several years served as Postmaster of Fairfield and was also Justice of
the Peace for some time. He made wagon-making his business and did a
flourishing trade in that line, continuing operations until almost the
close of his life. He was a large man and his death resulted from a severe
fall on an icy sidewalk. The accident occurred on the 5th of February,
1884, and he passed away on the 30th of March following, at the age of
nearly eighty-nine years. His wife, whose death ocurred some years
previous, passed away November 23, 1871, in the seventy fifth year of her
age."
"Mr. Brown was a man of more than average ability in many respects. He
retained both his mental and physical faculties almost unimpaired, and for
seven years prior to his death had not even used glasses, yet would read
for hours at a time. He was remarkably well informed on all topics of
general interest and was also a great Bible student. All church work
found in him a hearty sympathizer and from the time of its organization
until his death he filled the office of Deacon in the Baptist Church, in
which his wife was also an active member. In his earlier years he was a
member of the Sons of Temperance and, throughout his entire life, was an
inflexible opponent of the liquor traffic. The Whig party, and afterwards
the Abolition party, received his support in early days, but on the
organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks. Mr. Brown was
devoted to his family and friends and was ever faithful to any trust
reposed in him. His kindly acts, his generous disposition and his charity
for all, won him hosts of friends and his earnest Christian life might well
be taken as an example by others."
Asahel died in 1884, age 88, the following is his obituary:
Death of an Old Citizen, April 6, 1884
Mr. A.H. Brown, one of Jefferson county's oldest citizens, both in
years and length of residence in the county, died at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. J[ohn] L. Brown, in this city, Monday morning at 12:15. Mr. Brown was
born in Huntingdon County, Pennsyslvania April 21st, 1795 and hence would
have been 89 years old had he lived until the 21st inst. For a man of his
years he was remarkably well preserved and could have been seen on our
streets almost any day until quite recently. Six or eight weeks ago, perhaps,
he fell on an icy sidewalk and dislocated his left hip. The shock conse-
quent upon such an injury was more than one of his years could withstand
and he rallied but little from it. About Thursday of last week he began to
fail rapidly, and for some time before death claimed him its visit was an
almost hourly expectation. Mr. Brown lived in Huntingdon County until he
reached manhood's years, and on February 11th, 1819, was married to Isabel
Steel. Mr. and Mrs. Brown lived happily together for more than half a
century, and celebrated their golden wedding in this city in February, 1869.
Two years later, in November, 1871, Mrs. Brown died. Ten children were born
to them, four of whom are yet living, I.H. Brown of Hooper, Nebraska, Dan
Brown, of Chicago, and Mrs. J.L. Brown and Mrs. Elizabeth Brinkley, of this
city. All the children were present at their father's funeral. The family
came to Fairfield in August, 1844. Mr. Brown was a wagon manufacturer by
trade and pursued this calling until his increasing years incapacitated him
for manual labor. He was postmaster of this city some time in the '50s,
and held the office of justice of the peace for several years about 1860.
In his personal manners he was a quiet, unassuming man, a good citizen and
one who at all times during his long residence here commanded the good will
and personal respect of all with whom he came in contact, either in social
or business life. His funeral ocurred from the home where he had lived
so many years yesterday afternoon, and a large number of our people paid
the last sad rites to one of our best known men. The old settlers attended
the services in a body as a mark of especial respect. Their number is
rapidly growing less.
7
_George HARLAN _
_Samuel HARLAN __|
| |_Margery BAKER _
|
|--Oliver Goldsmith HARLAN
|
| _Aaron NUTT ____
|_Bathsheba NUTT _|
|_Mary ARCHER ___
__
__|
| |__
|
|--Jack KNIGHT
|
| __
|__|
|__
_Charles Albert TAYLOR _
_Tracy Lee TAYLOR _|
| |_Edna Lee REED _________
|
|--Amber Lee TAYLOR
|
| ________________________
|_Nanneth MAHLOCK __|
|________________________
_____________________
_Forrest "Bud" Denton WEAVER _|
| |_____________________
|
|--Jack WEAVER
|
| _John Jackson TULLY _
|_Bernice Irene TULLY _________|
|_Sarah Irena HARLAN _
__
__|
| |__
|
|--Edward WOLF
|
| __
|__|
|__