Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 469-470; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Curtis D. Brown, Assessor of Farmington Township, is a
gentleman of kindly and courteous manners that have won for him many
warm personal friends both in political and social circles. He was the
first Mayor of Farmington, and has for many years been closely
identified with all the important business affairs of this place.
Though past the meridian of life he is still very strong and active,
and is, in fact, the very picture of health. Since 1856 he has been a
prominent man in Fulton County, and with the exception of eight years
has made his home in Farmington Township. For two years he was on a
farm in Knox County, and was for six years engaged in representing a
marble firm in Canton. His father, Alex Brown, was born in New York
State, and was a prosperous farmer. He died when our subject was only
fourteen years of age, having at the time attained his fifty-fifth
year. His mother previous to her marriage was Miss Sallie McDougall.
Mr. Brown belongs to an old and highly respected Scotch family,
all his ancestors coming originally from the "land of thistles and of
oatmeal." His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his mother
died in 1839. To his parents were born six children, viz: Neal A., Anna
Lorain, Marian, Alexander, Jr., Curtis D. and Charles, all of whom have
prospered and are well fixed in life.
Our subject was born March 3, 1834, and remained at home until
he had reached the age of five, at which time his mother died and he
was adopted by the family of David Lester, and was brought up on a
farm. Being an orphan and living at a time when schools were not so
thorough, he received only a limited education, and since fourteen
years of age has fought the battle of life for himself. He first worked
on a farm, receiving compensation for his services $8 per month. He
continued to labor faithfully until twenty-one years of age, and being
anxious to make some decided headway in business, he determined to
follow Horace Greeley's advice, and came West. He first settled at
Farmington, giving his attention to farming, and had the misfortune to
lose the $500, that he had brought from his native State. He went to
Canton, where he engaged with a marble company as traveling salesman,
and at a later date was appointed general agent for the Woolen Mills in
that city, representing his house through different portions of
Illinois.
Mr. Brown was married in 1871 to Miss Orena Loomis, a native of
Washington County, N. Y., and a daughter of Norton and Joanna (Miller)
Loomis. Her father was a farmer and moved with his family to Illinois
in 1840, settling in Farmington Township, where he died when seventy
years of age. Her mother, though seventy-six years old, still enjoys
comparative good health. The Loomis family is a very prominent one.
Prof. Loomis is a kinsman of hers.
Mrs. Brown was but three years old, when she came with her
parents to Illinois, and was one of the four children born to her
parents, viz: Orena, Mary, Jane, and Dexter who died at the age of five
years. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown has been born one child Charles Marion,
who is eight years of age.
Our subject belongs to Olive Branch Lodge, No. 15, I. O. O. F.,
of Canton. He is a very prominent citizen and has held many public
offices, being held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
