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JOHN F. BROWN, one of the leading farmers of West Franklin township and the historian of West Glade Run Presbyterian
church, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Craig) Brown, and was born in Franklin township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania,
April 10, 1840. John Brown, Sr. (grandfather), was a native of county Down, Ireland, came to Pennsylvania and settled
in Westmoreland county, near New Alexandria. In 1804 he removed to Armstrong county, where he purchased a farm
which he cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1835, when he was in the seventy sixth year of his age.
In 1798 he married Catharine Foster, a native of Ireland, who was brought to the United States by her parents when
a young girl. One of their sons, John Brown (father), was born in 1807, in Sugar Creek township, this county. He
has always followed farming, in which he has been successful, and now resides two miles west of Kittanning, on
the Butler and Kittanning road. He was an old line whig, is now a republican and has served as school director
and overseer of the poor of his township. He is a member of the old school Presbyterian church, and married Elizabeth
Craig, who was born in 1810, at Craigsville, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Brown's grandfather,
Capt. John Craig (maternal greatgrandfather), was a native of New Jersey, and was brought to Westmoreland county
when young. He took an active part in the border wars with the Indians, and was captain for some time at a block
house erected on the present site of Freeport. He afterwards, in 1797, removed to this county and purchased a large
farm, near Freeport. He was a noted man in his, day, and was one of the commissioners who located the county seat.
He died in 1850, when lie was nearly one hundred years of age. His son, Samuel Craig (maternal grandfather), was
a fuller by trade and came to Craigsville, where he started the first fulling mill of Armstrong county. In 1825
he engaged in farming, which he followed until 1865, when he died at eighty five years of age.
John F. Brown was reared on his father's farm and after receiving a common school education, taught two terms of
four months each. He then turned his attention to farming, which he has followed ever since. He now owns a farm
of ninety eight acres of wellcultivated land, on which is planted a large orchard of fine fruit trees. This farm
is situated one and one half miles from Worthington. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army as an "emergency
man" and served out his term of enlistment.
March 20, 1862, he married Elizabeth McClelland, daughter of John McCelland, of Worthington, and to their union
have been born ten children, of whom four sons and three daughters are living: William McCay, a farmer and carpenter
in Wisconsin; James Harvey, John F., Jr., Charles, Sarah F., Esther J., and Nora B.
John F. Brown is one of West Franklin township's best farmers, and is highly esteemed in the West Glade Run Presbyterian
church, of which he has been a ruling elder for twentytwo years. He has also been clerk of the sessions of the
church since July 5, 1879. In 1888 he was elected historian of West Glade Run church, and prepared an excellent
history of his church and congregation. He is a republican, has served as school director for seven years, was
president of the school board for five years, and has acted as overseer of the poor. When West Franklin township
was formed, he was elected as one of the first auditors. Mr. Brown has always been satisfied with the inducements
which his own township offers for farming and has never sought elsewhere to better his fortunes.
From:
Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia
of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania
Samuel T. Wiley, Historian & Editor
John M. Greshan & Co.
Philadelphia, 1891
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