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Note: Biographical Memoirs of Sait Clair County, Michiagn," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen - Publishers in Indiana. Thusly:
ORLANDO BROWN - Another of the brave defenders of the flag of this Union during the late Civil war, and who came from Canada, as did many more mentioned in this volume, is Orlando Brown, who was born near St. Thomas, in the New Dominion, in 1844, a son of George and Catherine (Meadow) Brown. George Brown was born in New York, near Naigara Falls, and was always a farmer. He reared a family of eleven children and left his native state and crossed the line into the New Dominion, where he was drafted inito the British army, but at the first opportunity took a "French leave," and returned to his native state. A few years later he went back to Canada and bought a farm, but made most of the improvements himself, then sold it and bought another, which he also improved, and then came to St. Clair county, and purchased eighty acres in Kenockee township. He later made a purchase of one hundred and sixty acres in Greenwood township, and in 1856 made another purchase of one hundred and sixty acres in Brockaway township. He as a Republican in politics, and died in 1872, a member of the Baptist church.
In 1866 Orlando Brown was married to Miss Persis Allen, a daughter of Houghton and Mary (Otis) Allen. Houghton Allen was born in Vermont in 1807, where he was reared to farming and whence he removed to the state of New York and thence to Canada, and later came to St. Clair county, and settled in Kenockee township. Mr. Allen was twice married, and became the father of sixteen children, who, in order of birth, were named as follows: Seth, Elijah, Dennis, Adaline, Calvin, Merritt, Luther, Ann, Persis, Lucy, Amanda, Thomas, Alvina, James, Hannah and Harriet. Mr. Allen was a Republican and was always a farmer, owning two good farms. He died September 7, 1893, in the faith of the Methodist church.
Orlando Brown's farm comprises forty acres, on which he grows cattle, hogs, and other stock, and on which he carries on the usual miscellaneous farming practiced in the neighborhood. In politics he is a Republican and is popular with his party, having served it several years as school treasurer and one year as constable. In religion he and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which they are liberal contributors financially, and to the teachings of which theyimplicitly adhere.
The military career of Mr. Brown is well worth recording: August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Kenochee township, in Comapny C (Captain John Atkinson), Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and took an effectual part in the following named engagements: Danville, Hickman's Bridge, and Chicamaugua, where his lieutenant-colonel was wounded. Mr. Brown made a desperate effort to remove his wounded superior from the field and eventually succeeded, but in his attempt to return to the regiment found it had surrendered, the entire force being taken prisoners. Mr. Brown there upon fell in with another regiment. After the battle he discovered that ine bullets and fragments of shell had pierced his clothing, one bullet having gone through the rim of his hat, but fortunately not one penetrated his person. Mr. Brown served until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged, and then returned to St. Clair county, and resumed his vocation of arming. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of eleven children, Ann, George, Nelson, Lottie, Willie, who died in infancy, Mary, Elvira, Sarah, Christopher, who died aged eighteen years, Alice, and persis, the two latter still being school girls. Nelson is in the Boice Blanc Island United States Life Saving Station.
Mr. Brown was a charter member of Archie Madison Post, G. A. R., at Avoca, and receives a suitable pension for his services. Few families in Greenwood township receive or deserve so large a part of the public esteem as does that of Orlando Brown.
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