Albert R. Brown, one of the well-to-do and representative farmers of Pike county, owns and operates three hundred and thirty-one acres of valuable land on section 26, Montezuma township, and in the control of the property displays excellent business ability with thorough understanding of the methods that produce the best results in agricultural work. Born in Milton, Pike county, on the 2d of February, 1853, he is a son of Wesley and Harriet (Button) Brown. The ancestoral history of the family can be traced back through several centuries, for he is descended from one who came to America at the time of the discovery of the new world by Columbus. The maternal grandfather, Francis R. Button, was a native of Virginia, and a cooper by trade. He emigrated to Ohio at an early epoch in the development of that state and afterward located in Jerseyville, Jersey county, Illinois, where he conducted a cooper shop and also engaged in gardening up to the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-four years. He was a hale and hearty man up to the time of his demise and was a worthy resident of his adopted city. His wife died within one week of her husband, at the age of seventy-seven years, and was laid by his side in the cemetery at Jerseyville.

Wesley Brown, father of Albert R. Brown, is one of the pioneer settlers of Pike county, having located in Milton at an early day, and engaged in the blacksmith business until 1875, while at the present time he makes his home in Pearl township. His life has been mainly devoted to agricultural pursuits and he is still managing a good farming property. In 1868 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Button and who died on the 23d of July of that year, her remains being interred in Smith cemetery, near Milton.

Albert R. Brown, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, was educated in the schools of Milton until fifteen years of age. He was reared to the occupation of farming and has never desired to enter other fields of business activity, for in this line he has found ample opportunity for the exercise of his industry and talents and by his close application and energy has gained a place among the substantial agriculturists of the community. In addition to tilling the soil he is also raising stock and now has forty-eight head of fine grade mules and twenty head of horses. He also raises a fine grade of Cotswold sheep and generally has. on hand one hundred head, together with from sixty to one hundred head of hogs, mostly of the Poland China breed. He can easily winter one hundred head of horses, mules and cattle. He now has about twenty head of cattle but usually keeps about fifty head. In his stock-raising interests he has been quite successful and he also raises corn and some wheat and blue grass. In all of his farm work he is practical and sagacious and produces results through close application and the careful utilization of his opportunities. For thirty years he has carried on farming and stock-raising on his own account and his prosperity is attributable to his own efforts.

On the 13th of September, 1874, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Annie Sowers, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, December 6, 1853, a daughter of Elisha and Caroline (Scroggins) Sowers. Her parents were natives of Ohio and removed from Hamilton county, that state, in 1854, to Pike county, Illinois, settling in Montezuma township upon the old homestead farm where the Brown family now reside. Mr. Sowers died at the venerable age of eighty-three years, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-seven years, and both were interred in Green Pond cemetery. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been nine children, six sons and three daughters, who in order of birth are as follows : Jess, born July 9, 1875, married Ella Boren and they reside upon the homestead farm. Elza R., died January 21, 1879, and was buried in Green Pond cemetery. Albert R., born July 10, 1882, died November 22, 1883, and was also buried in Green Pond cemetery. Leo Grace, born March 29, 1881, is the wife of Herbert Norton and they reside in Montezuma township, near Milton. Ona M. ( born February 16, 1885, is at home. Ira E., born January 27, 1886, died March 6, 1886, and was buried in Green Pond cemetery. Harry Lee, born in March, 1887, died in infancy and was buried in the Kitchell graveyard, in Stanton county, Kansas. M. Abby, born May 7, 1889, and Andrew B., born May 30, 1891, complete the family. Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their children occupy an enviable position in the social circles in which they move and have a very wide acquaintance in the community where they have so long resided. Mr. Brown is never remiss in citizenship although he has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs, content to devote his attention to business interests which have brought him prosperity.

Source: Past and Present Of Pike County and IL by Capt. Massie 1906