Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 623 - 625 

ELIJAH H. BROWN, who is such a worthy representative of the pioneers of Sedgwick  County, coming here in 1870, before the county was organized, and becoming an important factor in its development, was one of the founders of Ohio Township, and is now very pleasantly situated on section 27, Ninnescah Township. He is respected for his upright integrity of character. His life has been an honorable one, and is well worthy of record in these pages. He is a native of Mobile, Ala., March 19, 1821, being the date of his birth, and William and Elizabeth (Jeffers) Brown his parents. His mother was a native of the United States, of Welsh descent. His father was born in Ireland, but when he was a small boy he came with his parents to this country, and located in the South. There he grew to maturity, married, and reared a large family of children, of whom our subject is the only known survivor. In 1832 he removed with his family to what is now known as Grundy County, Ill., and settling a short distance from the town of Morris, made his home there during the remaining years of an active and useful life, dying in 1844. His worthy wife survived him many years, dying in 1873, in Warren County, Iowa. 

            Our subject was reared in his native State, remaining there until he was eighteen years old, receiving in the meantime but a limited education, as the youth of that day did not enjoy the school privileges that are the right of every child. Some time after leaving the home of his birth he entered the Veterinary College at Ann Arbor, Mich., and was graduated therefrom in 1848, having received a thorough training in his chosen profession, and for thirty-five years he practiced as a veterinary surgeon in connection with his other business, being in active practice for two years in Wichita. He acquired a wide reputation for his skill in treating his dumb patients, but he has now abandoned his profession. 

            After leaving Ann Arbor Mr. Brown went to Chicago, Ill., and remained there nearly a year in the employ of the Frink & Walker Stage Company, driving over a portion of the route from Chicago to Galena, Ill. When the company removed their stage business further west he remained in its employ some eighteen months, driving on a part of the route between LaSalle and Rock Island. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged as a bus driver for the Cincinnati Bus Company, and worked for that firm and the Ohio Stage Line at alternate periods for four years. From Ohio he went to Iowa, where he engaged as a stage driver for about eight years. Subsequently he spent a short time in Alabama amid the scenes of his boyhood days, and then returned to Iowa and resumed his old employment. 

            Our subject was in his native State when the war broke out, and being given twenty hours to leave the South, went to Iowa, where, July 2, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 4th Iowa Infantry. His regiment was first sent to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, where the men were drilled for a few days preparatory for service. They then operated in Missouri from August, 1861, to February, 1862, principally engaged in scouting, having an occasional skirmish with the enemy. The entire department of the army to which the regiment of our subject was attached was then sent to Arkansas, and there took an important part in the battle of Pea Ridge, March 7, 8 and 9, 1862; his regiment was also among the reserves at the battle of Cotton Plant, that being principally a cavalry fight, the infantry being held in reserve. He was then ordered with the rest of the army to Helena, Ark., remaining there until February, 1863. At that date our subject entered the employ of the Government as a scout, having been previously discharged from the 4th Iowa in November, 1862, at Helena, Ark. At all times he displayed cool courage, steady nerve, and a daring spirit, and rendered good service as a detective, continuing in the secret service until relieved of duty in 1865, as scouts were not regularly discharged or mustered out as a soldier would be. The army was ordered to Mississippi, and Mr. Brown took part in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post and Vicksburg, being present during the entire siege of that city, forming one of the army of investment that surrounded the city prior to its surrender in July, 1863. He was in the army under Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and was subsequently present at the grand review at Washington. After the war he returned to Iowa and resided there for some years. 

            Mr. Brown was married, Jan. 8, 1856, to Elizabeth Nye, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, July 21, 1842. She is a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Nye, natives respectively of New England and Pennsylvania, her mother being of German extraction. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living - Abraham, Jenna, Lucetta, Samuel and Elizabeth M. Abraham lives in Kingman County, Kan.; Jenna is the wife of J. C. Gilson, of Michigan; Lucetta is the wife of Henry Whistler, of LaGrange County, Ind.; Samuel J. lives in Washington Territory. The union of our subject has been blessed by the birth of one child, Jesse J., born Oct. 25, 1876. 

            In 1870 Mr. Brown migrated with his family to Kansas, and pre-empted land in the south quarter of section 31 in what is now known as Ohio Township, being among the first to settle there. He was afterward one of the Commissioners who organized the township, and served as Constable and Deputy United States Marshal for some eight years, during which time he made some important arrests, among them being the would-be murderer of John Stewart, an old settler of Sedgwick County, and he is also said to have arrested the first horse thief in Sedgwick County, who was turned over to the civil authorities and prosecuted by them. He honorably and faithfully discharged the duties of his important office to the general satisfaction of his fellow-citizens. 

            Mr. Brown settled on his present farm in 1884. It is very favorably located, contains 160 acres of good land, and its industrious and enterprising owner reaps fine harvests from its rich, fertile soil. Our subject began life a poor man, but by his indomitable perseverance and the able assistance of his devoted wife he has acquired a comfortable fortune, so that he and his amiable companion can spend their declining years in a cozy home, surrounded by all that makes life pleasant and easy, and in the enjoyment of the respect and confidence which they have won from their neighbors by their beneficent and upright lives. Mr. Brown is an honored member of the G. A. R. Post, at Clearwater, Kan., and in politics is identified with the Republican party.

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