Elmer Brown
From his boyhood the subject of this sketch has been a resident of Wayne county, and he is an honored representative of one of its pioneer families. His life has been one of usefulness and honor, and his memory links the later pioneer epoch, with its comparatively primitive surroundings and equipment, with this later era of prosperity and opulent achievement and condition which have marked the advent of the glorious twentieth century. As a representative farmer of the county and a public-spirited citizen, it is entirely consonant that there be here entered a review of the life history of Mr. Brown.
Elmer Brown, whose fine farm is located in section 10, Clinton township, Wayne county, was born August 8, 1857, a son of Thomas Ashford and Mary (Bird) Brown. Thomas Ashford Brown was a son of John Buckner Brown, who was the second child and the oldest son of Thomas and Ann (Ash) Brown. John Buckner Brown was born January 28, 1788, in Prince William county, Virginia. In the spring of 1805 he accompanied his father and family west of the mountains to what is now known as Preston county, West Virginia, locating on what was called the "Stone House" property, consisting of five hundred and seventy-eight acres. About five years later, at which time he was twenty-two years of age, he married Mary Morgan, who lived on the east side of the Cheat river, near Kingwood, West Virginia. She was a daughter of Hugh Morgan, one of the pioneers of Preston county, West Virginia. She was born May 12, 1790, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children, nine of whom were girls. She was a quiet, Christian woman, of many excellent personal qualities, an excellent housekeeper and a faithful and loving mother. In the summer of 1811 John Buckner Brown came to Wayne county, Ohio, and entered land in section 20, Clinton township,on which he made some improvements. He then returned to his family in West Virginia, and in the fall of 1813 he brought the family to their new western home, arriving here on the 17th of September. The tedious journey required several weeks' time, during which time the members of the party were in constant danger from various sources. The trip incurred many hardships, the trail leading through unbroken forests and over bridgeless streams, while on every hand roamed bear, wolves, panthers, catamounts, wild red deer and wilder red men. The party arrived safely at their destination and at once the task was begun of getting the land in shape for cultivation. One who has not passed through this experience can have no definite idea as to the extent of the task. The timber had to be felled, chopped and burned, the ground broken, crops planted, fences built and other labor performed which was not incumbent on those who later took up the operation of the farms. These sturdy old pioneers did their work well and today they deserve the everlasting gratitude of those who are now enjoying the conditions made possible by their sacrifices and strenuous labors. John B. Brown continued to reside on this farm until their deaths. His death occurred September 15, 1855, and hers on July12, 1850, their remains being interred in the old Baptist cemetery in Holmes county, near their home. Mr. Brown was a member of the Disciples church and the first meeting ever held by that denomination in Wayne county was held in his home. Mr. Buckner was said to have been a man of fine personal appearance. He was five feet eight inches in height, weighed one hundred and sixty pounds, and had bright blue eyes and dark brown hair. He bore a splendid reputation in the community, his word being considered literally as good as his bond. At the time of the death of his father he received as his portion the estate three or four slaves. Being bitterly opposed to the practice of slavery, he returned to Virginia, and hired out one of them, Rafe Harris, to Gen. Buccaneer Fairfax, for a term of six years, at the end of which time he and the other slaves were to be given their freedom, which was done. Politically, Mr. Brown was a Democrat until the campaign of 1840, from which time he gave his support to the Whig party. To him and his wife were born the following children: Ann, born November 28, 1811, died August 12, 1812; George Harrison, born April 4, 1813, died 1844, married Rebecca Hull; William Wesley, born March 23, 1815, died in June 1893, married Phoebe Lee, who was born April 6, 1837, the daughter of James Lee, of Virginia, and died July 17, 1886; Hugh M., born October 14, 1816, married, on February 21, 1838, Margaret Neely, who was born June 25, 1819, and both are now deceased: Rebecca Ann, born February 25, 1820, died in infancy: Thomas Ashford, born June 22, 1818, married Mary Bird March 5, 1845, and both are dead; John, born October 25, 1822, died April 19, 1889, married, in 1848, Rhoda Newkirk, who also is dead; Mercy, born December 19, 1823, died in infancy, Stephen, born August 8, 1826, now deceased, married, on January 31, 1850, Martha M. Riffle, also deceased, and had three Children, Herbert, G. E and Alice ( Mrs. Kick); Mary Ann, born August 25, 1828, became the wife of James K. Campbell on February 13, 185l, and both are deceased; Isaac, born April 3, 1831, married Elizabeth McConkey on February 13, 1851, and is now living in Holmes county, this state; Samuel Elery, born August 12, 1833, married Almira Caldwell on November 4, 1854. He is now dead and his widow lives in Nebraska.
Of these children, Thomas Ashford Brown, father of the subject of this sketch, became a well-known and highly respected farmer of Clinton township. On March 5, 1845, he married Mary Bird, who was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and to them were born the following children: Ralson Buckner, born January 28, 1846, died 1902, married Sarah J. Gill, February 25, 1869, she being now a resident of Wooster, this county; Bird Ashford, born February 25, 1848, died April 29, 1877; Salina J., born September 12, 1849, became the wife of J. J. Sullivan on September 27, 1887, and they now reside in Cleveland, Ohio; Luderna died young; Mina J, born July 29, 1853, was married on November 27, 1873, to W. C. Craig, of Wooster; Aurelia M., born August 29, 1855, married, on October 6, 1876, Lucustus Sidle, and they live in Wooster; Elmer, the subject of this sketch was the next in order of birth. He was reared on the paternal homestead in Clinton township and received his education in the common schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has spent his entire life as a tiller of the soil in this township. He has been energetic and progressive and has so operated his farm as to realize a gratifying return for the labor bestowed. The place is well improved in every respect and is numbered among the best homesteads of the township. In addition to the tilling of the soil, Mr. Brown also devotes some attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which also he is successful.
Mr. Brown married Ida Dike, who was born June 18, 1871, in Plain township, this county, a daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Kugler) Dike. Her parents were both natives of Germany, having emigrated to the United States in 1851. The father was a blacksmith by trade, but here followed farming as an occupation. He died September 2, 1901, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his widow now makes her home with the subject and his wife, being now eighty-four years old. To the subject and his wife have been born the following children; Helen, born July 17, 1899; Mary, born October 6, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Christian church, both giving their earnest and liberal support to this society. In politics Mr. Brown has given his support to the Republican party, though he is not in any sense a aspirant for public office. Standing "four square to every wind that blows," he has so ordered his life as to win the unbounded confidence of all with whom he has had dealings and his friends are in number as his acquaintances.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910