GIDEON BROWN

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES.

PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 1073

GIDEON BROWN was born Jan. 8, 1844, in West Greenwich, R.I., and is a son of George Washington Brown, who was born in the same place, Dec. 28, 1822.

The elder Brown was a most industrious and hard-working man. Farming was his main business, but he was a lumberman, and did teaming on an extensive scale. For some years he dealt largely in cattle. In 1865 he came to Tolland and made a home near the Tolland and Coventry line, on the old Lathrop and Josyln place, which he acquired by purchase. Here he lived until 1883, when he removed to Tolland street, where he died June 6, 1889. In politics he was a Democrat, and was a prominent man in the community, being assessor and holding various local offices in West Greenwich.

George W. Brown was married April 20, 1843, to Ursula Harington, born April 13, 1827, in West Greenwich, a daughter of Whitman Harington. She died Sept. 17, 1898. Mr. And Mrs. Brown were parents of this family of children: (1) Gideon; (2) John, born Nov. 13, 1846, married Hannah F. Madison, of Greenwich, in 1868, and is now a blacksmith in Coventry; (3) Phebe, born March 16, 1848, married Calvin G. Wilcox in 1865, and is now living in Mansfield; (4) Anna, born May 4, 1850, married Stephen T. Tyler in 1868, and died Feb. 4, 1898; (5) Sarah A., born Oct. 9, 1853, is a school teacher, and lives in Tolland; (6) Ruth C., born May 17, 1856, is a school teacher in Tolland; (7) Adelaide, born Dec. 29, 1858, died in 1882; (8) George W., born April 13, 1861, died Feb. 24, 1881; (9) Holden A., born Aug. 8, 1863, married Rosa Walker and is now living in Coventry. He is a farmer and is also engaged in the meat business; (10) Charles H., born Jan.
25, 1866, died Sept. 9, 1882; (11) Mary U., born Aug. 12, 1869, married James Williams, of Coventry, R.I., Sept. 1, 1896, and is now living in
Summit, Rhode Island.

Solomon Brown, the grandfather of Gideon Brown, was born in West Greenwich, R.I., and died in his native community. He was a farmer and an active and industrious man.

Gideon Brown was educated in the home schools, and at the age of seventeen began working for the neighboring farmers on monthly wages, continuing this occupation for four years, when he came home to assist in the cultivation of the paternal acres. For some four years he helped his father, and then came to Tolland, Conn., where he purchased in November, 1869, the Warren Fitch farm, which became his residence for years. He added greatly to the original estate of 160 acres, and owned a splendid place of 275 acres, where he devoted himself to general farming, making something of a specialty of hay and feed for his cattle. He kept many cows, and sold milk and butter to many patrons in Tolland. And elsewhere.

Mr. Brown is a Democrat and represented the town in the General Assembly in the sessions of 1901 and 1902, serving on the committee on Legislative Expenses. For five years he was selectman, and served as assessor about three years. He was also a member of the board of relief, and has served as justice of the peace and in several minor offices. In all positions which he accepted he gave uniform satisfaction to the public and achieved distinction for himself.

Mr. Brown was married Nov. 26, 1866, to Amy E. Andrews, of Coventry, R.I., who was born Aug. 6, 1846, and was a daughter of Charles Andrews. She died April 29, 1900. They were parents of the following family: Minnie married Judson Williams, of Tolland, and is the mother of six children; Alice E., a school teacher in Vernon, is at home; Walter G. married Amy Walker, of Coventry, and is now engaged in the teaming business in South Manchester, where he lives; Arthur E. is employed by Cheney Brothers, of South Manchester; Lewis A. married Jennie Palmer, of Coventry, Conn., and is also employed by Cheney Brothers; Maud L., who is at home, attends the Rockville
High School.

Mr. Brown sold his Tolland farm and in the spring of 1901 was married to Marietta Lamb, of Stamford, Delaware Co., N.Y. He purchased a farm and milk route in South Manchester, of which he took possession Jan. 16, 1902. Here he is a popular man, as in his former neighborhoods, where his good spirits, honorable character and unswerving integrity are well known. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman and a very successful farmer.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel – great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.