My Genealogy Hound

J. R. Brown is the oldest merchant of Coal Hill, and throughout this region has won an excellent reputation as a man of business. He was born in Tennessee in 1850, being the third of fourteen children born to Benjamin A. and Elizabeth (Real) Brown, who were born in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, the former, a farmer, who came to Arkansas in the fall of 1866, and is still residing in Logan County of this State. His son, J. R. Brown, like so many of the substantial citizens of this country at the present time, was initiated into the mysteries of farming from the very first, and after his removal to Arkansas, in 1866, was favored with good opportunities for obtaining an education, and was an attendant of Pleasant Grove School at Cabin Creek. In 1878 he began business at Coal Hill, after having been a clerk in the establishment of J. W. May, of Clarksville, for some years, and he now has the facilities for doing a large trade, his stock of goods being worth $10,000, and his annual sales amounting to $45,000. He handles wagons, farming implements, and buys all kinds of farm produce. He owns two farms, comprising 214 acres, and has 120 acres under cultivation, the fine steam cotton-gin which is erected thereon being the best in the county, its capacity being twenty bales per day. He also has a good corn-mill, and is the owner of four residence buildings and the post-office building. He has been one of the active citizens of Coal Hill, and has identified himself with every worthy enterprise of the place. His marriage, which occurred in December, 1878, was to Miss Lucy, daughter of Col. John S. Houston, of Clarksville, by whom he has two children, Howell Houston and Lucile. Vivian died at the age of one year, and another child died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. An annual statement taken in February, 1890, gives a showing of $30,000, all of which is the result of his own labor. He was in debt when he began clerking for Capt. May, but is now a wealthy man. He owns three lots in Van Buren, on one of which he is erecting a handsome residence.