Hugh Brown was born in the Empire state but when a young man emigrated to Ohio and there followed the occupation of farming. In 1854 he came to Decatur county, Iowa, and purchased five hundred acres of land, to the cultivation of which he gave much of his time. He was also a miller, however, and bought one of the first flour mills built in Decatur county, and he likewise engaged in merchandising to some extent. At the time of his arrival in Iowa there were no railroads in the state and it required twenty-two days to make the round trip with oxen to Burlington, the nearest market. He was a prominent and influential man and served in a number of offices, including that of county supervisor. To him and his wife were born the following children: James E.; Susan, who married K. J. Bartlett; Frances, the wife of Robert Farquhar; Thomas H., who served in the Union army for four years during the Civil war and was a staff officer in the commissary department; John D., of this review, whose twin died in infancy; Melissa, who gave her hand in marriage to A. C. Northrup; William A. and George W., both deceased; and Walter P.
-Source: excerpt from History of Decatur County from Captain John D Brown write up
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"WILLIAM A. BROWN, proprietor of the Brown House, Leon, Iowa, has been a resident of Decatur County since ten years of age. He was born in Huron County, Ohio, April 9, 1844, the seventh of eleven children of Hugh and Harriet (Burns) Brown. In 1854 Hugh Brown moved with his family to Decatur County, and settled in Garden Grove Township, and during many years of his prime was one of the wealthiest men of the county. He owned a fine farm of 500 acres, a large flouring mill and was quite extensively engaged in the mercantile trade at Garden Grove. Many a man has reason to remember him with gratitude for the assistance he has given, and many he has reason to remember for their ingratitude. His obliging disposition caused him to give his name as security for the fulfillment of obligations by others, and in the end he was obliged to meet the whole amount, and thus he became heavily involved and lost the greater part of his property, and now at the advanced age of seventy-six years, instead of living in affluence, owns only the small farm where he lives in High Point Township.
-Source: excerpt from Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa,
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 581-82: from William Brown write up
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Uncle Hugh Brown, an old and respected citizen of Garden Grove, died October 24th, after an illness of about a month.
-Source: The New Era, Humeston, Wayne Co., Iowa Nov 3, 1887
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Decatur County Journal
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa

Death of Hugh Brown
DIED - At his residence in High Point township, Monday night, October 24, Hugh Brown, aged 76 years.

The deceased was born in Phelps Township, Ontario county, New York, March 20, 1811, and at the age of twelve years removed with his parents to near Jeromesville, Ashland county Ohio, and settled on one of the branches of Mohican creek. Here he remained with his parents until a young man and then removed to Huron county, where, on the 7th of March, 1833, he was married to Miss Harriet Burns, at New Haven that county. The couple remained here for more than twenty years and eight children were born to them.

In 1854, Mr. Brown, with a desire to find a home for himself and family in Iowa, started toward the star of the empire, and in September crossed the Mississippi and first halted in Wapello county, Iowa. Here he remained about two months when he sent out to the vast territory of cheap lands in this section of the state and landed in Garden Grove on the 26th of December, 1854.

From the date of his arrival until that of his death he has been closely allied with every interest in Garden Grove and has the honor of building the first Presbyterian church in the city. The "home farm" or where the family grew from childhood to age is the large farm just south of town. Later he moved to town and engaged in the grocery business. Retiring from there he occupied a forty-acre tract of land near his son-in-law, K. J. Bartlett. He resided here during the waning years of his life, enjoying good health until a month before his death when a disease of the liver attacked him and he gradually grew worse, and at midnight, Oct. 24 in the presence of his faithful wife and all the children except George, who arrived shortly after death had taken place.

The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church of the city. The church was full to overflowing of the many friends who came to pay this last respect the "Uncle Hugh" as one who has seen the many bitter trials of a pioneer's life.

The children who crossed the Mississippi with their parents in 1854, and who are yet living are as follows: Susan, wife of K. J. Bartlett, a resident of High Point township; Fanny wife of Robert Farquhar, a resident of Madison county; Thomas H., a resident of Chicago, and a salesman in the Union Stock Yards; John D., a resident of Center township, in this county; Mellissa, wife of A. J. Northrup, a resident of Garden Grove; William A., ex-sheriff and a resident of the town; George, a resident of Chicago and a salesman in the Union Stock Yards; Walter P., who resided with his parents.

The three sons, Thomas, John, and William, answered the call "to arms" and served the country during the rebellion as members of the gallant 3rd Iowa cavalry.

Thus has passed away another of the pioneers of Decatur county, a man true to his family, faithful to his state and loyal to his country. A man who had won the highest respect and admiration of entire community. All of his children are highly respected by everyone in the several communities in which they live.