Mr. Brown was born on a farm near Des Moines, Iowa, on August 25, 1837. In 1852, his father, Bozier Brown, began the long trek across the country to the Oregon territory with his wife and family. Later that year, they arrived at what is now Roseburg, Ore., and took up a homestead on the Umpqush River. He was one of a family of 16 children of Sally Hanks, sister of Nancy Hanks, mother of the martyred president. See obituary dated September 26, 1926 of John D. Brown below.

1850 U.S. Federal Census - Shoal Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, USA
Household:
Jonathan B Brown (41) - Farmer
Sarah Brown (42)
Emily Brown (16)
John Brown (13) - Attended School: Yes
Louetta Brown (10)
Joshua B Brown (9)
Polly Brown (7)
Sarah Brown (2)

1860 U.S. Federal Census - Roseburg Precinct, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
Household:
Bashier Brown (50) - Farmer
Sarah Brown (52)
John Brown (22) - Attended School: Yes
Joshway Brown (18)
Abagail Brown (9)
Nancy Brown (6)

Oregon, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1851-1975
Name: John Brown - Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 21 Apr 1870 - Marriage Place: Douglas, Oregon, USA
Spouse: Harriett Walker
MARRIAGE RECORD - State of Oregon, County of Douglas - "This is to certify that the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said county by authority of a license bearing date April 21st 1870 and issued by the county clerk of Douglas County, Oregon, did on the 21st day of April A.D. 1870 at the Metropolitan Hotel in the town of Roseburg .... join in Lawful wedlock John Brown and Harriett Walker both of the county and state aforesaid with their mutual assent in the presence of ....." Signed: A... Rose, Justice of the Peace.

1870 U.S. Federal Census - Deer Creek Precinct, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
Household:
John Brown (33) - Farmer - Personal Estate Value: 175
Harriet Brown (25)
Harriet Brown (6) - Relationship Unknown

1900 U.S. Federal Census - North Elgin Precinct, Union County, Oregon, USA - House Owned or Rented: Own - Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Household:
John Brown (62) - Occupation: Day Laborer
Harriet E Brown (53) - Mother of 8 children; 4 living
Joshua B Brown (26)

1910 U.S. Federal Census - Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington - Residence: Chestnut Avenue
Household:
John D Brown (72) - Able to Read and Write: Yes - Occupation: Own Income
Harriett E Brown (62)
William A Graham (49) - Head of House
Chene Graham (29) - daughter of John D and Harriett Brown
Kenneth Shockey (12) - son of Chene Graham from previous marriage
Fred Shockey (9) - son of Chene Graham from previous marriage

U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: John D Brown - Gender: Male - Residence Year: 1911
Address: 516 W Willow - Residence Place: Walla Walla, Washington, USA
Occupation: Laborer
Spouse: Harriett Brown
Publication Title: Walla Walla, Washington, City Directory, 1911

U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: John D Brown - Gender: Male - Residence Year: 1917
Address: 316 East 29th - Residence Place: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Occupation: Laborer
Spouse: Harriet Brown
Publication Title: Tacoma, Washington, City Directory, 1917

1920 U.S. Federal Census - Enumclaw, King, Washington - Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Household:
John Brown (82) - Occupation: Laborer - Able to Read: Yes - Able to Write: Yes
Harriet Brown (72)
Joshua B Brown (46)

U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: John D Brown - Gender: Male - Residence Year: 1926
Address: 2712 Pac Avenue - Residence Place: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Occupation: Laborer
Spouse: Harriet Brown
Publication Title: Tacoma, Washington, City Directory, 1926

Washington, U.S., Death Records, 1883-1960
Name: John D Brown - Gender: Male - Birth Date: abt 1837
Death Date: 24 Sep 1926 - Age at Death: 89 - Death Location: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington
Father: Boiser Brown - Mother: Sally Hanks
Record Source: Washington State Death Records

Washington, U.S., Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960
Name: John D. Brown - Gender: Male - Marital Status: Married - Age: 89
Estimated Birth Year: abt: 1837
Death Date: 24 Sep 1926 - Death Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington
Father: Boiser Brown - Mother: Sally Hanks - Spouse: Harriett Brown

Washington, U.S., Death Index, 1940-2017
Name: John D. Brown - Gender: Male - Age: 89
Death Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, USA - Certificate Number: 929
Mother: Sally Hanks

OBITUARY OF MR. JOHN D. BROWN

The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington) Sun., Sep 26, 1926, Page 3

"STATE PIONEER DIES IN TACOMA

JOHN D. BROWN, 89, WAS COUSIN OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- CAME WEST IN 1852

TACOMA. Sept. 25 (AP) -- John D. Brown, 89, a cousin of Abraham Lincoln, and a pioneer of Washington and Oregon since they were a part of the old Oregon territory, is dead here.

Mr. Brown was one of a family of 16 children of Sally Hanks, sister of Nancy Hanks, mother of the martyred president. Two of his sisters, Mrs. Abbie Carr of Portland, Ore., and Mrs. W.P. Herman of Myrtle Point, Ore., are the sole surviving members of the family.

Mr. Brown was born on a farm near Des Moines, Iowa, on August 25, 1837. In 1852, his father, Bozier Brown, began the long trek across the country to the Oregon territory with his wife and family. Later that year, they arrived at what is now Roseburg, Ore., and took up a homestead on the Umpqush River."