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Note: Portrait and biographical album of Rock Island County, Illinois -1885, pages 663, 664: Gregory Brown, a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 27, Zuma Township, was born in Rome, Oneida Co., N. Y., Aug.15, 1824, his parents being Chauncey and Electra (Talcott) Brown, natives of Connecticut. Gregory Brown was reared on a farm, performing such labor as is common to farmers' sons, and receiving a good English education at the common schools of his native county. He remained under the paternal roof-tree until he attained the age of 23 years, and July 1, 1847, came to this county and located in Zuma Township, where he purchased 190 acres of land. He afterwards purchased 160 acres on section 21, then 426 acres on section 22, and subsequently 90 acres on section 27, and 50 acres on section 28, then 88 acres in Henry County. He has made farming the business of his life, and has actively been engaged in that vocation all his years, except two that he taught school in York State. Politically, he is identified with the principles advocated by the Republican party. He has lately turned his attention to stock, and at the present time has a fine herd of Durham cattle, and keeps a large flock of sheep. He is a man who never seeks office, but has been elected by the citizens to the office of Township Treasurer, and Justice of the Peace in 1877. His accumulation of this world's goods is attributable to his own good judgment, indomitable energy and perseverance, the latter of which has enabled him to overcome all obstacles in the way of accumulating a competency and leaves him to-day unembarrassed by the constant application of creditors. He erected his handsome dwelling in 1870. Mr. Brown formed a matrimonial alliance in 1849, with Miss Antonett M. Brewster, a native of Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y, where she was born Aug. 19, 1830. They have ten children... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Educated to be a minister, but, in 1847, chose to be a farmer in Rock Island Co, IL. He owned nearly 800 acres at his death. Starting in a 2 room log cabin, when his family grew to 9 children, in 1869, he built a 21 room house in Osborn IL. "In its early days the Gregory Brown residence had the reputation of being the finest farm home between Chicago and Denver" - Moline Daily Dispatch, 1952. It included a wood-burning furnace- only 1 other home in the county at the time had this luxury. Gregory is in 1850 Rock Island Co, IL census, page 231. 1870 Zuma Twp, Rock Island county, IL Census: Household Gender Age Birthplace Gregory Brown M 46y New York Antonette Brown F 40y New York Chancey Brown M 19y Illinois Scott Brown M 18y Illinois Clara Brown F 16y Illinois Sarah Brown F 14y Illinois Antoniette Brown F 10y Illinois Albert Brown M 7y Illinois Lucinda Brown F 5y Illinois Julia Brown F 3y Illinois Luther Brown M 1y Illinois Transcribed from The Rock Island Union, Sunday, July 23, 1899 GREGORY BROWN ANOTHER COUNTY PIONEER DEPARTS THIS LIFE Mr. and Mrs. George Osborn received the sad announcement of the death of latter's father, Mr. Gregory Brown, at his home in Zuma township, at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday. Mr. Brown was one of the pioneers of Rock Island county. He was born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, on Aug. 15, 1824. He worked on his father's farm until 23 years of age when he came west and directly to this county locating on a farm of 190 acres which he purchased in Zuma township July 1, 1847. He afterward purchased 160 acres on section 21, then 426 acres on section 22, and subsequently 90 acres on section 27, and 50 acres on section 28, then 88 acres in Henry county, so that he was one of the largest land owners in this county. Mr. Brown never sought political preference but the people of his township honored him at various times with positions in their gift among them the office of Township Treasurer and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Brown by hard work accumulated a considerable competence and was accounted one of the most prosperous farmers of the county. Burial with Antionette: Homeland Cemetery, Rock Island County, IL: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17259095
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