Cramer W. Brown

Cramer W. Brown, born in Hampshire county, Va., July 31, 1831, is the eldest son of John Bentley Brown who settled in Peoria county in '37, and came to Stark county in 1853. He shared all his father's travels and pioneer labors in Peoria county and Wyoming, and in the latter place was connected with his father's business for some years — thus obtaining a very practical education in the school, on the farm, and in the store. In November, '50 he married Miss Elizabeth C, daughter of James F. and Elizabeth Henderson, natives of Pennsylvania, but pioneers of Tazewell county, Ill., where Mrs. Brown was born March 5, '30. In '61 he engaged in agricultural work, south of Wyoming, and in August, '02, enlisted in Company E, One-hundred-and-twelfth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was chosen first lieutenant and made the record credited to him in the military chapter of this work. On the close of the War, he purchased a farm on section 14, Penn township, and has since been prominent in adding to the live-stock and agricultural wealth of the county. In politics he is Republican, and in religion a supporter of the Methodist Church of which Mrs. Brown is a member. In public affairs he has always manifested and felt a deep interest in advancing whatever appeared to be for the best interests of the people, has repeatedly been called upon to fill offices of public trust and responsibility, and has always performed the duties of such offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Of his three children, William is married and a resident of Nebraska; James, unmarried, and George, married, are farmers of this township.