USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 74
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On December 17, 1868, Dennis P. Brophy was married to Susan Battles, who was born April 15, 1846, within six miles of Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas S. and Ann (Ebright) Battles, and died March 8, 1903. They had two children, namely: Nat B .; and Anna J., who was born January 22, 1872, and died April 14, 1873. Thomas S. Battles was born at Philadelphia, Pa., January 19, 1801, and lived there until 1833, when he was married first to Susan Snowden, a Quaker lady of an aristocratic family of Pennsylvania, who died after the birth of three sons: William S., Johnston G. and Thomas. Thomas Battles later migrated to Wayne County, Ohio, and in that county, on March 10, 1842, he was married second to Ann Ebright, who was born in Perry County, Pa., May 20, 1815, and was taken by her parents to Wayne County, the trip being made with ox-carts, They had eleven children, of whom Susan Battles was the eldest, she being a twin of Philip M., who died in Montgomery County, Ill., May 25, 1873. In August, 1860, Thomas Battles and his wife and five children came to Nokomis Township, Montgomery County, Ill., and two sons followed later on. Thomas Battles resided there until his death, October 28, 1900. His wife died August 2S, 189S. In 1852 Thomas Battles cast the only Free Soil vote in Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1854 he had succeeded in making three converts to his polit- ical views. In 1856 he helped William Mc- Kinley, father of the late President William Mckinley, to organize the Republican party in
Wayne County and at Akron, Ohio, and the Re- publicans carried Wayne County in the en- suing fall election. He also helped to organize the Wayne County Agricultural Society in 1858. The first trace of the Battles family in this country is found in the settlement of Thomas Battles, in 1634, at Deadham, Mass., where on July 5, 1648, he was married to Mary Fisher of that place. The Deadham record shows that on November 4, 1868, the purchase of four acres of land adjoining the house lot of Rev. John Allen, and this tract of land is still in the family. For a number of years the family remained in Massachusetts, but about 1800 a migration took place to Pennsylvania.
Nat B. Brophy was educated at Nokomis, and in addition to attending the public schools, was instructed by his father. From August 31, 1883, to November 1, 1886, he was assistant postmaster under his father, and then entered a drug store owned by George S. Upstone, as a clerk, there remaining until January 1, 1896, when he began reading law with the Hon. David H. Zepp, of Nokomis, remaining with the latter for fonr years. On June 12, 1900, he engaged with C. H. Kempton as a druggist, remaining with him until December, 1910, when he retired from the drug business in order to devote all of his time to the duties of the secretaryship of the Nokomis Building Association with which he had been connected since 1896.
Mr. Brophy became interested in St. Peters- burg, Fla., some years ago and has spent the winters there since 1908. He was elected presi- dent of the Florida Bank & Trust Co., in Novem- ber, 1917, and reorganized that institution into the Florida Bank of St. Petersburg, and in as- sociating himself with that enterprise, removed to that city, resigning his office as secretary of the Nokomis Building Association after twenty- three years of active service in that capacity, and now devotes his entire time to the manage- ment of the above named bank at St. Petersburg.
On November 20, 1901, Nat B. Brophy was mar- ried to Viola M. McCann, a daughter of Wil- liam W. and Mary Frances (George) McCann, the latter having been born at Columbus, Kas., August 20, 1877. They were married in Fay- ette County, Ind., after which they moved to Joliet, Ill., where Mr. McCann bought land. which is now a part of the city cemetery of Joliet. Mr. Brophy is a member of the English Lutheran Church, and is a deacon of that body. In politics he is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to Nokomis Lodge No. 456, A. F. & A. M., and Nokomis Camp, M. W. A.
BROWN, Charles H., a prosperous farmer resid- ing in Section 36, Hillsboro Township, is one of the native sons of Montgomery County, and very proud of that fact. He was born in Hills- boro Township, November 6, 1853, a son of Simeon and Sarah (De Viney) Brown, natives of North Carolina. They had nine children, namely : Louisa, who is deceased, married Da- vid Wallace; William, who is deceased ; James who lives at Schram City, Ill .; Charles H .;
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John F., who is deceased; Thomas, who lives at San Francisco. Cal .; Margaret, who is the wife of George Hope, of East Fork Township; Laura, who is the wife of Jacob Neece of No- komis, Ill .; and Ulysses Grant, who is de- ceased. The father was reared and married in North Carolina, coming to this county with his wife and three children in 1851, locating in Hillsboro Township, where he followed farm- ing, owning in time about sixty acres of land. This property he improved and on it he reared his large family. Ilis deatlı occurred at Ram- sey, Ill., when he was over eighty years old. The mother died in Hillsboro township prior to his death, when she was about sixty years old. He was a school director, but aside from that did not care to hold office. The paternal grand- father was Adam Brown, and the grandmother died in North Carolina, and he in Montgomery County. They had a small family. Tlie maternal grandfather and mother died in North Carolina and their history is lost.
Charles II. Brown has lived all of his life ill Hillsboro Township, with the exception of three years spent in East Fork Township. He attended the district schools and lived at home until he attained his majority, when he began working by the month for farmers and so con- tinued for two years. Renting land for three years more, he then bought the 150 aeres of land on which he still lives.
On January 2, 1879 Mr. Brown was married to Miss Mary MeLean, a daughter of Robinson and Emily (Barry) McLean. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had one child, who died in infancy. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of · Hillsboro, in which he has been a deacon for a number of years. Politically a Republican, he was a school director for several years. Mrs. Brown was born and reared in Hillsboro Township. Her father was born in Guilford, County, N. C. and her mother in Bar- ren County, Ky .. they becoming early settlers of Montgomery County. Both are now deceased. They had children, five of whom survive, name- ly : Nancy, Mary, Melissa, Ida and Joseph.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are progressive farming people. industrious and thrifty. They own a beautiful farm, well improved and highly cul- tivated. They believe in enjoying life as they go along, and have made two trips to the Paci- fic coast and they have made one trip to Wash- ington, D. C. and North Carolina. Mrs. Brown is prominent and active in social circles, and both are highly respected by all who know them.
BROWN, James, who was one of the solid and reliable men of Montgomery County, was a native of Ireland. He and his wife, Elizabetli (McAnarney) Brown, came to the United States at separate times and located in Pitman Town- ship where they met and were married, moving thereafter on a farm in Pitman Township. This continued their home until the death of James Brown when his widow moved to Farmersville, Ill. He was a man who worked hard, and made all he possessed through his own efforts. In
politics he was a Democrat. From childhood he was a consistent member of the Catholic Church. le and his wife had nine children, of whom eight survive, namely : Dan who lives at Litch- field. Ill. ; Arthur who is a farmer of Bois D'Arc Township ; Ed who is a merchant of Springfield, Ill. : Charles who is engaged in an auto business at Detroit, Mich .; John W .; Agnes who is at home; Florence who is the wife of William Leonard who is a farmer of this county ; Frank who is a farmer of Pitman Township.
BROWN, John W., who belongs to one of the pioneer families of Montgomery County, is en- gaged in farming upon his own farm in Harvel Township. His boyhood was spent in Harvel Township, where he assisted his father in operating the homestead, and during the win- ter months lie attended the schools of the dis- triet in which he resided. Until he was twen- ty-five years old he remained at home, and then rented the homestead from his father.
On April 9, 1902, Mr. Brown was married to Hannah Coen, who was born in Bois D'Are Township, and was educated in its schools. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have the following children : Hazel, Lauretta, Lelah. John, Raymond and Bernice. After his marriage Mr. Brown moved on his present farm and has developed it into a valuable property. In polities he is a Dem- ocrat. He has served as tax collector of Har- vel Township, and in 1910 he was census enum- erator. The Catholic Church has in him a faithful member. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. An upright, honorable and industrious man, he is recognized as a good citizen and excellent representative of the leading and best type of agriculturists of Montgomery County.
BROWN, Louis S., M. D., physician and surgeon, of Hillsboro, and one of the leading members of his profession in Montgomery County, was born at Butler, Ill., April 17, 1875. He is a son of George W. Brown, Jr .. and Henrietta M. (Judson) Brown, natives of Illinois and New Jersey, respectively. They had six children, namely : James P .; Winnie, who is the wife of W. A. White; Charles J., (Don), Frank H., and Louis S., all of whom live at Hillsboro; and Roland O., who lives at Butler, Ill.
George W. Brown, Jr. was born and reared at Hillsboro, and was a merchant at Butler, where he established himself in 1865. Later he bought grain and hay at Hillsboro, and car- ried on the same line at Butler. His death occurred at Butler, in 1905, when he was sixty- two years of age. His widow survives. He was a Mason and one of the charter members of Butler lodge, of which he was master. He afterwards was affiliated with Mount Moriah Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M., at Hillsboro, and belonged to Chapter No. 197, R. A. M. In his younger days he was very enthusiastic about that order. The paternal grandfather was George W. Brown, Sr. He came here from Ohio and was reared at Hillsboro. His wife,
David Jaylen
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
who bore the maiden name of Sarah A. Jen- kins, was born in South Carolina. In the early days he had some contracts for the construc- tion of the old Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, but later became a farmer of No- komis Township, where he died in 1903. Their children were as follows: George W., J., Charles O., James A .. Camilla, wife of H. H. Keithley of Springfield, Ill .; A. Yates, and Albert H. The maternal grandfather was James P. Jud- son, of New Jersey, who was married to Eliza- betli Gale of the same state, and they came to Illinois in 1851. Their parents came from Eng- land to the United States. James P. Judson was a farmer at Woodsboro, Hillsboro Town- ship, where the grandmother died in 1861. The grandfather died of yellow fever in Houston, Tex., during the Civil War, in 1863. Their children were as follows: Thomas P., Hen- rietta MI .. and Olivia M.
Dr. Louis S. Brown was reared at Butler and was graduated from the Butler High school. He attended the University of Illinois for one year, then engaged in school teaching for an- other year, and at the expiration of that period, he became associated with his father in a mer- cantile business. In the meanwhile he pursued medical study and was graduated in 1902 from the Washington University at St. Louis, Mo. For the year following he was interne at the St. Louis City Hospital, and was on the sur- gical staff at St. John's Hospital for two years. Dr. Brown then located at Hillsboro, in Sep- tember, 1905, and has continued in practice here ever since.
On November 15. 1904 he was married to Miss Mabel Martin, a daughter of Dr. Leonidas Bruce and Mary (Hughes) Martin, of Peoria, Ill. Mrs .. Brown was born at Peoria, Ill., Sep- tember 1, 1875. She was educated there, and is a graduate of the high school of Peoria. Her mother was also born, and reared at Peoria, but was educated at Miami University, at Ox- ford, Ohio. Her father was born in Ohio, but lived for many years at Peoria, where he is still engaged in practice as a physician. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Brown was also a physician, Dr. James W. Martin, and he was married to Mary Gardner, they both being na- tives of Ohio, but pioneers of Iowa, and later early settlers of Peoria. Ill., where they lived for many years, and there they died, well along in years. They had six sons, namely : Dr. Leonidas Bruce; Eugene, Wallace, Frank, Wil- liam and John. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Brown was William Hughes who was born in Wales. He left his native land when a boy and came to America. His wife bore the maiden name of Maria Bown. They lived at Peoria nearly all of their married life. Dur- ing his young manhood, the grandfather was a cooper, but later became a real estate dealer. They died at an old age, having had six chil- dren, namely : John, Mary, Lovina, Lizzie, and two who died young.
Dr. Brown is a Mason. a member of the Hills- boro Blue Lodge and Chapter, and of St. Omar Commandery, and Ansar Shrine. He belongs
to the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society, the St. Louis Medical Society, and the American Medical As- sociation. For some time he has been a mem- ber of the Auxiliary Board of the State Char- ities Commission.
Mrs. Brown is a member of the Woman's Club of Hillsboro, and of the Self Culture Club. She is eligible to the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution.
BROWN, McLin J., junior member of the well known law firm of Lane, Dyer & Brown, of Hillsboro, has been associated with some very important jurisprudence of Montgomery Coun- ty, and stands very well in his profession. He was, born south of Coffeen, Ill., in Bond County, Ill .. April 13, 1885, a son of John W. and Mary M. (Grigg) Brown, natives of Bond County, Ill. They had seven children as follows: McLin J .; Jesse R., who is a lawyer of Edwardsville, Ill. ; William E., who is a shoe merchant of Hills- boro; Lucy, who is the wife of Harry Vancil, in the vicinity of Morrisonville. Ill .; and Frank, Clarence and Walter, who all live at Hillsboro.
John W. Brown was reared in Bond County, and has always been a farmer. He and his wife own a farm of 170 acres fairly well im- proved, located nine miles southeast of Coffeen, on which they reared their family. For the past four years they have lived at Hillsboro where they are active members of the Baptist Church.
The paternal great-grandfather of McLin J. Brown was William P. Brown, who entered land two miles north of the present site of Hillsboro. A few years later he moved into Hillsboro, and operated the first mill here for several years. He then moved into Bond County and ran a mill there and was very widely and favorably knowil. The paternal grandfather was J. Mack- lin Brown and his wife bore the maiden name of Thompson, they both being natives of Illi- nois, but the parents of both came from Vir- ginia and located in Montgomery County at an early day. J. Macklin Brown was a farmer and he owned a large tract of land which was situated in both Montgomery and Bond coun- ties, near Mount Moriah Church. He was mar- ried three times, his first wife being the grand- mother of M. J. Bown. They had two chil- dren, namely : William E, and John W. His second wife was a Miss Prater, and they had one child. Clara Kimbrough. To the third wife, whose maiden name was Jane White, were born three children, namely : Clarence M., Tom and James M. The maternal grandfather of McLin J. Brown, was Jesse Richard Grigg, and he was married to Sadie Rhea. He came from North Carolina, but his wife was born in Bond Coun- ty, Ill., where he located. He was a farmer and is still living, and now is eighty-six years old. The grandmother died in the summer of 1910. aged seventy years. They had eleven chil- dren. as follows: Susan Kimbrough, who is de- ceased : George W .; David G .: Ellen Ross; John H. : Mary M. Brown ; Olive Killin; Lucy Cissna. and three who died in infancy.
McLin J. Brown was reared on his father's
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farm in Bond County, and attended the district schools, and the Woburn village sehool. Still later he entered Greenville College, and sub- sequenty took a course of several terms of nor- mal sehool work. Entering the law depart- ment of Valparaiso University, he was graduated therefrom in 1910, and was admitted to the bar in November of that year. Locating at Hills- boro, he has been in practice here ever since. Entering the office of Judge Lane, in 1914, he became a member of the firm of Lane & Dryer, the caption becoming Lane, Dryer & Brown. The firm of Lane, Dryer & Brown is a strong eom- bination of legal talent, and enjoys a large and valuable practice. Before taking up the study of law, he taught school for one year in Bond County, for another year in Fayette County, and for two years was located south of No- komis, in Montgomery County. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to Mount Moriah Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M., Hillsboro Chapter, R. A. M., and the Eastern Star. In politics he is a Democrat, but is not an office seeker, and has never consented to hold office.
BROWNING, Edward M., now residing at Wag- goner, owns a fine farm of 160 acres on See- tions 27 and 34 Pitman Township, and is re- cognized as one of the eapable and enterprising farmers of Montgomery County. He was born in Greene County, Ill., February 14, 1863, a son of George H. and Louisa (Adcock) Browning. Both parents were born in Greene County, Ill., their own parents having come to that section at a day that made them pioneers, from Ken- tueky near Lexington.
In 1867 George H. Browning and his wife, who had been reared and married in Greene County, moved to Bois D'Arc Township, Mont- gomery County, bringing with them their ehil- dren, Edward M. Browning, being then a ehild. They located four miles east of Girard, and there the father bought a farm on which he lived un- til the children were grown and married. Then he and the mother moved to Farmersville and there he died in June, 1913. The mother sur- vives and makes her home at Farmersville. They were the parents of ten children, namely : Maxie J., who was married to George Simon, is deceased ; Edward M .; William A., who lives at Springfield; Lena, who married Levi Bru- baker of Pitman Township; G. C., who lives at Farmersville; J. W., who lives in Pitman Township; J. O., who lives at Farmersville; A. E., who is a well educated man, is a minister of the Baptist Church and stationed at Shelby- ville, Ill .; Elma, who was married to J. W. Stewart lives at Jacksonville, Ill .; and Lester who lives in North Dakota. The father was a Democrat. He was a member of the Baptist Church of Farmersville, and took a deep in- terest in ehureh affairs but was a quiet, unas- suming man who had an influenee upon his community because of his sineerity.
Edward M. Browning attended the sehools of Bois D'Arc Township, and remained at home
until his marriage which occurred February 27, 1884 when he was united with Julia Simon, born in Indiana, a daughter of John and Kathe- rine (Peck), Simon he born in Germany and she in Indiana. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Browning located on a farm adjoining his fa- ther's property, renting the land until they went to another farm four miles northeast of Farm- ersville, and they remained there as renters for fifteen years. At the expiration of that time Mr. Browning bought, in 1899, the 160 acres of land he has since owned, and lived on it until 1916, when he moved to Waggoner. Mr. and Mrs. Browning have three children, namely : Jennie J. born August 28, 1886, who was mar- ried to Ernest Lohman of Pitman Township; and they have one son, Edward, born Mareh 28, 18SS; William Ray, who is operating the homestead married Esther Gerloch, and they have one son, Raymond, and Lola N. who was born February S, 1893, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Browning are members of the Baptist Chureh at Farmersville. In politics he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. An intelligent and effective worker he has made a success of his operations, and stands very high in publie favor.
BROWNING, George C., present supervisor of Bois D'Arc Township resides at Farmersville, and is one of the important men of Mont- gomery County. He was born two miles west of Farmersville, December 1, 1867, a son oť George II. and Louisa (Adeock) Browning. George H. Browning and his wife were born in Greene County, Ill., and they were married in that county, but later located on a farm in Montgomery County, where they lived until 1911. In that year they moved to Farmers- ville, and there Mr. Browning died, but Mrs. Browning yet survives. He was a member of the Baptist Church, in which he was a deaeon . at the time of his death. They had twelve children, nine of whom survive, namely: Ed- ward, who lives at Waggoner, Ill .; William A., who lives at Springfield, Ill .; George C .; He- lena, who is the wife of Levi Brubaker of Pit- man Township, Montgomery County ; John W., who also lives in Pitman Township; J. O., who lives at Farmersville ; Elma and Elmer, twins, . the former of whom is the wife of J. M. Stew- art. The latter is also married and lives at Springfield, where he has charge of the Baptist Church as its pastor, having been graduated from Shurtleff College at Alton, Ill., and schools at Rochester, N. Y .; and Lester, who is a farmer near Leeds, N. D.
George C. Browning spent his boyhood on the home farm, and attended the neighborhood schools and the Girard High school, remaining with his parents until he attained his majority. He then went into a mereantile business and eondueted it until January, 1907, when he sold it and since then has been in the undertaking business and is a licensed embalmer
On January 1, 1892, Mr. Browning was mar-
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ried to Clara E. Cauby who was born in Mont- gomery County, and she and Mr. Browning grew up in the same neighborhood. They have no children. The Baptist Church holds their membership, and he is church clerk. A mem- , ber of the Woodmen, he has served his camp as clerk for the past twenty-four years. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and in 1915 was elected supervisor, which office he has efficiently filled ever since. A man of trustworthy character, he has served faithfully in the several capa- cities mentioned, and is very highly respected by all who know him.
BRUBAKER, Glenn E., owner of one of the finest garages in Central Illinois, is one of the substantial and representative business men of Litchfield. He was born in Pitman Township, Montgomery County, Ill., December 12, 1890, a son of Levi and Lena (Browning) Brubaker, natives of Virginia and Illinois, respectively. The father came to Illinois during the Civil War. In 1SSS he was married and moved to the vicinity of Waggoner. He and his wife had the following children born to them: Glenn ; Clyde, who is in business with his brother Glenn ; and Vesta Lulu, Wynter, Dale and Nera, all of whom are at home.
Glenn E. Brubaker attended the schools of Pitman Township, and remained at home until his marriage, on January 12, 1911. to Elizabeth Martha McCormick. Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker have three children, namely : Virginia Ann, Mc- Lee and Allen Edsel. In 1918 Mr. Brubaker came to Litchfield and bought the garage owned by the Waggoner Brothers, and has since then conducted it as a thoroughly up-to-date estab- lishment. It is a two-story, fire proof brick building, well supplied with all modern con- veniences, and he has branches at Staunton and Farmersville. Ill. . For some time he has been agent for the Ford car and his brother has the agency for the Cadillac and Buick cars. Mr. Brubaker is a young man of energy and takes pride in giving the people of his neighborhood a fine service in every particular.
BRUBAKER, Lawrence P., cashier and one of the stockholders of the Bank of Waggoner, is one of the leading financiers of Montgomery County, and a man of unquestioned ability and probity. He was born on a farm in Pitman Township, Montgomery County, Ill., December 21. 1887, a son of Martin and Clara (William- son) Brubaker. Martin Brubaker was born in Virginia. and his wife was born in Pitman Township, and both still survive and still make their home in Pitman Township. He came to Illinois in 1862 being at that time about five years old and was reared and educated in Pit- man Township. He married in this township, and moved then on rented land, but later he bought a farm of eighty acres one and one-half miles west and one-fourth miles north of Wag- goner, which continues the family home. There were six children born to Martin and Clara Brubaker. of whom five are still living, namely : Lawrence P .; Dorothy G., who was graduated
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