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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of William W. BROWN 

Pages 351-352, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: BORDNER, BROWN, HEIKES, WILLS, WOODS] 

    
WILLIAM W. BROWN. On the opposite page is presented a lithographic portrait of this old settler of Fulton County, who has been a farmer of Lewistown Township for forty-two years, in the meantime clearing and developing a fine farm, where he has a comfortable home. His enviable position in life is due to his own unaided efforts, as he was early compelled to commence the battle of life on his own account. Adversity developed the sterling traits of his character, and while acquiring for himself a competency he has at the same time assisted in the development of the resources of his township and county, her present proud position among other States being due in no small measure to his pioneer labors. He is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in Hopewell Township, Licking County, July 9, 1822. 
    
The father of Mr. Brown, who bore the same name as himself, was a native of Washington County, Pa., and a son of James Brown, who was born near Dublin, Ireland. The latter was reared in the land of his nativity, and coming to America when a young man, located in Pennsylvania and there engaged in farming during the remainder of his days. The father of our subject was bred to the life of a farmer and in early manhood became a pioneer of Licking County, Ohio. He bought a tract of Government land and built a log house, in which humble home his son, of whom we write, was born. They lived the primitive life necessitated by their pioneer surroundings, and the mother used to spin and weave, dressed her family in homespun and cooked their food before the rude fireplace. the country was sparsely inhabited, and deer, wolves, panthers and other wild beasts roamed at will through the forests. Mr. Brown cleared a farm, erected a substantial set of hewed-log buildings, and there his life was rounded out when eighty-three years of age. 
    
The mother of our subject, who was Isabella Wills prior to her marriage, was a native of New Jersey. She was a daughter of William Wills, who was of Irish birth. He came to America with two brothers, David and Robert, and first settled in New Jersey. From there he removed to Licking County, Ohio, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Hopewell Township. He cleared a farm and made it his home until death called him hence. His daughter, Mrs. Brown, died on the home farm in Licking County, and now lies buried beside her husband in the Hanover churchyard. Both were devoted members of the Presbyterian Church. They reared a family of nine children, and five of them still live. 
    
William Brown, of this sketch, passed his early life in his native county, and was educated in its pioneer schools, that were taught in a rude log house with home-made furniture, split logs with pins inserted for legs serving for seats, and boards laid on wooden pegs that were inserted in holes in the wall, took the place of desks on which the larger scholars wrote. He lived with his parents until 1848 and then came to Illinois, accompanied by his bride, and after seventeen days' travel by team arrived in Fulton County. His first purchase here was of a tract of forty acres of land in Lewistown Township, of which two acres cleared and a log cabin constituted the only improvements. 
    
After living there two years Mr. Brown bought two hundred and sixteen acres of timber land, including his present farm, located on section 36, of Lewistown Township, and section 31, of Liverpool Township. Having no money, he was obliged to go in debt for it. His first work was to cut away the brush to make room for the log house which he built at once. He has been a resident here ever since, and by steady and downright hard pioneer labor has cleared the greater part of his land and developed it into a very desirable farm with all the necessary improvements. His agricultural ventures have brought him in money, and he has added forty acres to his homestead and now has two hundred and fifty-six acres of well cultivated and pasture land. So many years spent in this locality have given him an extensive acquaintance, and all who know him respect him not only as a worthy pioneer, but in his character as a good citizen and a man of many excellent traits. In his politics he is a sturdy Democrat. 
    
Mr. Brown's marriage with Miss Angeline Bordner was solemnized January 26, 1848. She was born in Dauphin County, and was a daughter of Peter and Christina Bordner. For her parental history see sketch of Moses Bordner, on another page [853] of this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. For more than thirty years the wife of our subject walked by his side, faithfully shared the toils and sacrifices of their pioneer life, and helped him to become prosperous, and her death in 1884 was a sad loss to him. Three of their six children are now living. Sarah M. married William Heikes; Christina Isabelle married Franklin Woods; James H. is the name of the son.