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.
JOSIAH J. BROWN was born in Columbiana
county, Ohio, on October 6, 1846. He is now one of the wealthy and
substantial farmers in Lincoln county and resides about six miles southeast
of Edwall, where he owns a large estate. He came here about 1883,
coming from Iowa to San Francisco, thence to Portland, on to Walla Walla
and from that place by wagon to his present location. He owns seven
hundred and thirty-nine acres of good land, four hundred of which are devoted
to the production of wheat and the balance to pasture. He has a band
of cattle, plenty of horses and equipments for his farm, and other property.
His place is well improved with buildings and other conveniences and during
the winter the family reside in Sprague where he owns a good residence.
Mr. Brown's parents are James and Catherine (Fox) Brown. They were
both born in Pennsylvania, and died in Iowa, the father in 1855 and the
mother in 1881. When six years of age, our subject came to Iowa with
his parents and then six years later he started out for himself.
He went to Illinois and there received his education, working for his board
and clothes during the summer and winter and attending school during the
winter months. At the age of eighteen he enlisted at Monmouth, Illinois,
in the Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry and served one year. He participated
in the battles of the Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely and did efficient services
as a soldier until mustered out at Selma, Alabama, in January, 1866, having
been in the ranks one year. He then devoted himself to farming in
Henderson county, Illinois. In 1874, he came west to Iowa and a second
time purchased a farm near Red Oak, which was his home until 1883, when
he took the journey west above mentioned. Mr. Brown did services
in various public capacities, having been assessor and justice of the peace
in Iowa, and in 1894, was elected treasurer in Lincoln county. He
is a man of good ability and unquestioned integrity and has won the esteem
and respect of all who know him. Mr. Brown has the following brothers
and sisters, Morgan D., Thomas V., Harmon P., Mrs. Mary McMillen,
Mrs. Elizabeth Dobbin, Mrs. Lavina J. Weaver.
On October 28, 1868,
at Olena, Illinois, Mr. Brown married Miss Adaline W. Starling and to them
five children have been born; Mrs. Minnie E. Misner of Sprague; Mrs. Nettie
K. McDonald of Medical Lake; Arthur C. attending college at Pullman; Zaida
A.; and Spencer A. at home. Mrs. Brown was born in Greene county,
Indiana, on August 17, 1850. When small, she went with her parents
to Ohio, remaining about nine years. Then they removed back to Indiana,
where the mother died, when this daughter was fourteen years of age.
Then she went to live with her sister, Mrs. Mary Starling. In September,
1865, she came with her brother to Olena, Illinois, and there she married
Mr. Brown, as stated above. Mrs. Brown's father, Israel Starling,
was of Scotch ancestry and a relative of Lord Sterling, the name being
changed when they came to America. He died at Harrison, Ohio, in
1853. The mother, Cinderella Sultzer, was born in Virginia, on March
6, 1800, and when quite small, came with her father, Dr. Sultzer, to Kentucky,
where he took a homestead, the mouth of the famous Mammoth cave being on
the claim. She removed thence to Ohio, in 1845, and was married three
time during her life. She was a relative of Abraham Lincoln.
In 1865 her death occurred, the day being in February. Mrs. Brown
has one half brother, William Smith, of Red Oak, Iowa, and one sister,
Mrs. Sadie Sharpnack, of Wilbur, this county.
Mr. Brown assisted to
organize the first school district and the first Methodist church on Rock
creek, and has always been enterprising and active in furthering the interest
of the community.