Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
BROWN, William L - Plainfield
In 1795, Eleazer BROWN, the grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, emigrated from Connecticut and settled in the town of
Brookfield,
Madison county. He settled upon 80 acres of land, which had been
previously purchased by a colony of which he was a member. His family
consisted of his wife and seven children.
Prentis Brown, the father of our subject, was born in Stonington,
Conn., in the year 1793, and was two years of age when the family
removed to the wilds of Madison county, where his youth was passed.
He learned the trade of a blacksmith, and established himself in
business in the town of Bridgewater, where he made the acquaintance
of Miss Lucinda OLIVER, whom he married in 1811. It was in this
town that our subject was born, March 14, 1817. The elder Brown
was a man of great energy, and by his industry and thrift accumulated
a sum sufficient to purchase a home and a farm in the town of
Plainfield,
now owned by our subject. The farm originally consisted of one hundred
and twenty acres, to which three hundred and ten acres have been added,
and which is considered to be the premium farm of the town.
Mr. Brown has been prominently identified with Plainfield as a
farmer dairyman, and politician. He established the first
cheese-factory
in the county, introduced and used the first reaper and mower, and in
all matters affecting the interests of the town he has taken a very
prominent part. He has also filled many positions of trust with credit
to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In 1875
he received the nomination for member of assembly, in opposition to
the Hon. J. S. Davenport; but the district being largely Democratic he
was defeated.
In 1840, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Angeline WOOD,
daughter of David and Mary Wood, of New Hartford, Oneida county.
Mrs. Brown was born in the town of Winfield, Herkimer county, Nov. 15,
1820. The result of this union has been three children, Wm. Henry,
born Dec. 10, 1842; Alonzo W., born Aug. 20, 1844; Mary A., born
May 3, 1851.
Mr. Brown has been successful in all his operations, and has
secured a competency, the inevitable result of a life of industry and
integrity. He occupies an enviable position among his fellow-townsmen.--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, between page 297