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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ROBERT BROWN, who was one of the well-to-do agriculturists of Randolph County, was residing on an eighty-acre tract, located on section 8, township 8, range 5, at the time of his death. He was the son of William and Eliza (Carruthers) Brown, and was born in County Down, Ireland, August 22, 1838. He came to America in 1855, and meeting a brother who was living in Pennsylvania, remained there a few weeks, when he came with him to Randolph County, their destination being Rockwood, which at that time was known as Liberty.

On reaching this county, the young Irish lad engaged to work on neighboring farms for several years, and then purchasing a tract of forty acres in township 7, range 5, there made his home for six years. Previous to buying this tract, however, he was married, February 28, 1858, to Miss Margaret L., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Anderson) Kelly, also natives of County Down, Ireland, whence they emigrated to the United States some sixty years ago. They located in Rockland County, N. Y., where Margaret was born March 8, 1841. In the summer of 1842, Thomas Kelly, with his family, came to this county, and made his home near Rockwood until his death May 29, 1891. His good wife died July 5, 1872.

After residing six years on his first purchase, our subject bought a quarter-section elsewhere in this locality, and resided on it for seven years, when he made permanent location on section 8. By this union with Miss Brown there were born ten children, of whom four survive, They are, Eliza Ellen, Maggie, Elijah and Harvey Robert. Those deceased are, William, Henry, Mary Ann, John Walker, John C. and Minnie. Mr. Brown during his lifetime was a member of the Presbyterian Church, with which body his widow and children are connected.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Randolph County, Illinois family biographies here: Randolph County, Illinois Biographies

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