James P. Brown, mention of whose death on Novmber 4 appeared in this paper, was DeKalb county's oldest inhabitant, and his life in this locality spanned all of the years since the first settlers struggled westward with their covered wagons into the then almost untried wilderness of Northern Illinois, to hew for themselves a home in the timber that then bordered all of the streams that threaded the virgin prairies.
In 1736 his father visited Illinois, and charmed with the country, returned to the state with his family the next year, making the toilsome journey from New York by team.
At St. Charles, Ill., they traded their team, harness and wagon for a land claim just south of Genoa now known as the S. M. Henderson farm. Such were the roads in those early days that the pioneers when a half mile from their destination bogged down and had to finish their journey on foot. Mr. Brown lived continuously within the township from 1837 to the time of his death. Many succumbed to the old winters and the rigors of frontier life of those days, but Mr. Brown survived the hardships and reached nearly a full century of life.
The funeral servces of Mr. Brown were held at the home on the following Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Robeson officiated. Interment was in Genoa cemetery. The Masons had charge of the services at the grave.
Mr. Brown was born at Johnstown, N. Y., January 31, 1833, and came with his parents to Genoa in 1837. He was married March 8, 1854, to Susan M. Pratt, who passed away Aug. 30, 1908. To then twelve children were born. Of these Mr. Myron Dean died in Belvidere fifteen years ago, and Mrs. George Banks recently in Irene.
Surviving are: F. B. Brown, Mrs. Bert Fenton, Mrs. Wm. C. Miller and Mrs. Lon Adams of Belvidere; J. L. and A. B. Brown, Mrs. Etta Anderson and Mrs. Carrie Reed of Genoa; W. J. Brown, of Marengo and Mrs. J. W. Morris of Freeport. He was of a family of seven children, one brother, Jeremiah W. Brown, of Genoa, surviving. There also remain two half brothers, D. S. Brown and C. A. Brown and one half-sister, Mrs. Lizzie Holroyd, also of Genoa.
James P. Brown, mention of whose death on Novmber 4 appeared in this paper, was DeKalb county's oldest inhabitant, and his life in this locality spanned all of the years since the first settlers struggled westward with their covered wagons into the then almost untried wilderness of Northern Illinois, to hew for themselves a home in the timber that then bordered all of the streams that threaded the virgin prairies.
In 1736 his father visited Illinois, and charmed with the country, returned to the state with his family the next year, making the toilsome journey from New York by team.
At St. Charles, Ill., they traded their team, harness and wagon for a land claim just south of Genoa now known as the S. M. Henderson farm. Such were the roads in those early days that the pioneers when a half mile from their destination bogged down and had to finish their journey on foot. Mr. Brown lived continuously within the township from 1837 to the time of his death. Many succumbed to the old winters and the rigors of frontier life of those days, but Mr. Brown survived the hardships and reached nearly a full century of life.
The funeral servces of Mr. Brown were held at the home on the following Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Robeson officiated. Interment was in Genoa cemetery. The Masons had charge of the services at the grave.
Mr. Brown was born at Johnstown, N. Y., January 31, 1833, and came with his parents to Genoa in 1837. He was married March 8, 1854, to Susan M. Pratt, who passed away Aug. 30, 1908. To then twelve children were born. Of these Mr. Myron Dean died in Belvidere fifteen years ago, and Mrs. George Banks recently in Irene.
Surviving are: F. B. Brown, Mrs. Bert Fenton, Mrs. Wm. C. Miller and Mrs. Lon Adams of Belvidere; J. L. and A. B. Brown, Mrs. Etta Anderson and Mrs. Carrie Reed of Genoa; W. J. Brown, of Marengo and Mrs. J. W. Morris of Freeport. He was of a family of seven children, one brother, Jeremiah W. Brown, of Genoa, surviving. There also remain two half brothers, D. S. Brown and C. A. Brown and one half-sister, Mrs. Lizzie Holroyd, also of Genoa.
Family Members
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James Libby Brown
1855–1935
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Etta Esther Brown Anderson
1856–1929
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Caroline R. Brown Reed
1858–1947
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Elva L. Brown Banks
1861–1923
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Ida I. Brown
1864–1865
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Arthur Burnside Brown
1865–1929
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William J. Brown
1867–1953
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Lenna Z. Brown Dean
1868–1908
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Lora Z. Brown Adams
1868–1949
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Franklin B. Brown
1869–1945
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Susan A. Brown Miller
1871–1949
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Alta Barbara Brown Fenton
1875–1942
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Ethel M. Brown Moritz
1880–1932
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Annie R. Brown
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Son Brown
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