John Brown was born to Andrew Brown and (Unknown), in WA County, VA. The Andrew Brown family moved to Tyler Co. WV and the 1820 US census showed John and Andrew Jr. were farming with their father. Andrew Sr was friends with Obediah Peden and witnessed his will in 1822, so John met Obediah's niece Rachel Peden and married her on July 9th, 1827 at Sistersville, WV. Rachel was a devout Quaker as were her parents, Alexander Peden 1762-1825 and her mother Abigail Walton 1771-1825 who's last residence was at Pikes Run, WA County, PA.

Their first child, Alexander P Brown was born at Sistersville, WV on Nov. 25th, 1828. They then moved to Hamilton, OH where Israel was born in 1831. John constructed a flat boat and the family went part way on the Ohio River to the rapids, then on to Eugene, Vermilion Co. IN.

The family located at Eugene, Vermillion Co., IN. and lived there about 33 years. John devoted himself to his trade of a millwright and carpenter which though it yielded no riches always furnished adequate support for his family. He was also a mechanic and worked on the stone burrs for the mill that was operated by water, in Eugene, IN. John and Rachel were blessed with 11 children, Alexander P., Israel, Benjamine F., William O., Susan E., Jane, Eliza E., Andrew, Esther, Ann and Margaret, all but Esther living to adulthood.

His wife died in 1867 at Eugene, IN, after which John moved to Osage Twp.,Fontana, Miami Co. KS and made his home with his oldest son Alexander and family. They lived on a farm and later in town. His daughter Susan may have come with him as she is shown married to Michael Skaggs in abt. 1871 and living in Douglas Co., Kansas.

On the Sabbath John could be seen with staff in hand, wending his way to the Methodist Church. John died and his funeral was held at this church with beautiful stained glass windows.

To locate the burial site, it is 8 rows East of the cemetery storage building and going South it is the last row, beside a fence and a big evergreen type tree.