Brownfieldj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN C. BROWNFIELD, who resides
four miles south from Farmer postoffice, is one of the best known men in
Douglas county. He has lived here since the early days of settlement
and has ever taken a leading part in all enterprises of a pubic nature,
which are for the benefit of all. Mr. Brownfield has been exceptionally
successful in handling stock, especially the Clyde horses, specimens of
which can now be seen on almost every farm in Douglas county.
John C. Brownfield was born in Cooper county,
Missouri, on September 12, 1841, the son of John and Mary (Potter) Brownfield.
The father was born in Virginia, becoming a pioneer settler of Illinois
and in 1832 moved to Missouri. The mother was a native of Kentucky.
Our subject was trained in the early schools of Cooper county, Missouri,
and there remained until he grew to manhood. On April 15, 1861, he
enlisted in Company K, Twenty-seventh Missouri Volunteers under Captain
Parker, the same being for ninety days, but he served nine months before
he was discharged. On the same day that he was mustered out, he re-enlisted
in Company D, Seventh Missouri Cavalry, of the State Militia, under Captain
Tarley and served for three years and two months or until the close of
the war. Mr. Brownfield never participated in any heavy battles but
was in that most annoying of all warfare, constant skirmishing with the
bushwhackers. His general was E. B. Brown, a brother-in-law of General
Price, the enemy. In April, 1865, Mr. Brownfield received his honorable
discharge and returned to the duties of the civilian. He settled
in Bates county, Missouri, and there farmed for seventeen years.
In 1884, he came west to Spokane, locating on Five Mile prairie, just out
from that city, whence two years later, he came to Douglas county, locating
near Waterville. He took a farm about a mile northeast from the town,
which was sold later. Afterwards, he took a homestead where he now
lives and to which he has added until he now has four hundred and twenty
acres of fertile land. This esatte is nearly all under cultivation
and is improved in first class shape, with good wells of water, fences
outbuildings, barns, residences and so forth. Mr. Brownfield has
some very excellent Clyde horses and is giving his entire attention to
general farming and raising stock. He has the following brothers
and sisters, Jasper, Daniel, Mrs. Elizabeth Weedin, Mrs. Susan Weedin,
Mrs. Ann Stanley, and Mrs. Minerva Turner.
The marriage of Mr. Brownfield and Miss Emily
Thomas occurred in Pettis county, Missouri, on April 17, 1864. The
wife's parents are Joel and Christiana (Comer) Thomas, natives of North
Carolina. They came to Missouri in 1832 and are still residing there.
Mrs. Brownfield was born in Pettis county, on February 29, 1840, and has
three brothers and two sisters, Henry, Joel, U. S. Grant, Mrs. Syntha Carver,
and Mrs. Eliza Greer. The names of children of Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield,
together with the dates and places of their births are given herewith;
John T., Pettis county, Missouri, June 24, 1865; George W., Pettis county,
Missouri, November 5, 1866, now living at Waterville; Mary C., Bates county,
Missouri, August 22, 1868, now living in Lincoln county; Joel J., Bates
county, Missouri, May 15, 1870; Robert H., Bates county, December 5, 1872;
Daniel L., Bates county, February 6, 1876; and Rose M., Spokane county,
Washington, May 3, 1884.
Mr. Brownfield is a member of the G. A. R.,
and quite active in this realm. He and his wife are members of the
Christian church and have always exerted a good moral influence where they
have dwelt, being people of integrity and good principles.
BACK