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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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WLLIAM BROWN. There is something about the life of a prosperous and popular young man very pleasant to contemplate— something that gives encouragement to those seeking to make for themselves desirable positions in life. Such an example is given in the life of William Brown, who is a native born citizen of Randolph County, and who is now numbered among the intelligent farmers of township 7, range 6. By his careful management his farm has been placed under excellent cultivation and is now a neat and well ordered property, comparing favorably with any farm in the neighborhood in point of tillage and improvement.

Our subject is the son of Lemuel M. Brown, and was born in Chester, this county, June 4, 1855. His father was born in Kentucky, and there made his home until reaching his twenty-second year, when, in 1840, he came to Chester. He was a farmer by occupation, and pursued his calling here until 1871, when he went to Springfield, Mo. He was ranked among the well-to-do farmers of Greene County until his decease, which occurred in April, 1892. The lady to whom he was married, and who became the mother of our subject, was known in her maidenhood as Rebecca Ann Rust.

William, of this sketch, was the second child in order of birth of his parents’ family of three children. His mother dying in 1862, when he was a lad of seven years, he remained at home with his father until reaching his fifteenth year, when the father removed to Missouri. Our subject later joined him there remaining only a short time, however, and in 1873 went to Indiana, where he was employed on the public works for two years. At the expiration of that time returning to his old home near Chester, he began farming pursuits on his own account, and has ever since made that his life work.

Miss Mary, daughter of John and Maria Bright, of this county, and our subject were married December 18, 1880. Mrs. Brown has become the mother of six children: Mabel, Anna, Bessie, Willie, Lemuel and Hazel. In his political relations our subject always votes with the Democratic party, and in this community where he has so long made his home he is both widely and favorably known, and in the history of his native county he well deserves representation.

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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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