John R. C. Brown
Few of the public officials of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio have had a longer or more honorable service than the city engineer of Ironton, John R. C. Brown. A resident of this place since 1870, he has held his present office since that year, with the exception of three years, and his conscientious devotion to duty, his ability in his chosen calling and his commendable achievements have given him the right to be numbered among the men who have contributed to the upbuilding and development of this prosperous section of the Buckeye state.
John R. C. Brown was born in Clermont County, Ohio, August 14, 1835, and is a son of Isaac H. and Katherine (Rogers) Brown. His father, born in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1809, was in early life a carpenter, but later became a farmer and so continued to be engaged until his death, in 1887. A stanch supporter of the Union, he early became an abolitionist, and was outspoken in his views upon the question of slavery. Mrs. Brown was born in Kentucky, in 1806. and died in 1889, having been the mother of eight children, namely: Elizabeth C, John R. C, Sue B., Dr. Isaac N.. William T., Dr. Quincy A., Permelia and Fannie, of whom John R. C., Permelia and Fannie survive.
The country schools of Clermont County and a local institution of Brown County, Ohio, furnished John R. C. Brown with his educational training, although since leaving school, in his eighteenth year, he has been a student upon various subjects and has gained a wide range of knowledge. He first adopted teaching as a profession, but in 1863 was elected county surveyor of Brown County, a position which he held for three years, during which time he had charge of the building and upkeep of fifty miles of highway out of Georgetown. Mr. Brown came to Ironton in 1870, and here his abilities so impressed the people that he was made assistant city engineer under Thomas Gore. One year later he succeeded Mr. Gore as city engineer. From 1874 until 1887 he was both county surveyor and city engineer, and in 1899 Mr. Fred G. Leete was elected to that office and held it three years. In 1902 Mr. Brown was again sent to the office, and has continued to act therein to the present time. His accomplishments have included the building of all the streets and sewers in Ironton, and the manner in which he has conducted the affairs of his office has met with the entire approval of the people, who have expressed their appreciation of his services on numerous occasions.
Mr. Brown was married September 20. 1856, at the home of the bride in Brown County, to Miss Elizabeth A. Carpenter, who was born January 16, 1836, a daughter of Simon and Mary Carpenter, farming people of Brown County. Mrs. Brown died May 26 1911, having been the mother of four children: Christopher N., who died in 1902, as dean of the Ohio State University and professor of civil engineering: Mary C, who died in infancy; Sarah; C, who died in the 16th year of her age: and John Q., mechanical engineer and electrician and superintendent of the Consolidated Street Railway Company, at Oakland, California, married Helen Gager. and has two children. Ann and John Q., Jr. Mr. Brown is a consistent member of the First Congregational church. A republican in political matters, his present office has been his only public position. He has interested himself in various business ventures at different times, and is now a stockholder in the Home Building & Loan Association and the Crescent Building & Loan Association. His home on Fourth Street is a modern one, and there he also owns five acres of land. A steady, dependable official and public-spirited citizen, he continues to be, as in the past, one of Ironton's most helpful men.
From "A Standing History of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio" by Eugene B. Willard, Daniel W. Williams, George O. Newman and Charles B. Taylor. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, 1916