Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/552

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Jerem iah John Brow er w as a resident of Bloomsburg for over fifty years. H e was a native o f Berks county, Ba., bom A p ril 10, 18 2 1, in Union township, at Browertown, which village w as named a fte r his father, John Brower. H is grandfather was Abraham Brower. The Brow ers are o f German ex­ traction. John B row er was bom in Berks county and lived in Union township, where he engaged in the manufacture o f grain scoops (which he patented), door locks, and various other specialties. He married Prances (F an n y ) M illard, who w as of Q uaker descent, and they reared two children, Jerem iah J. and Matilda, who married Rich­ ard H. Jones, whom she su rvived; she lived at Browertown. Jerem iah john Brow er received a good eduration in the public schools and before he w as seventeen years old w as teaching in Catawi.ssa, which profession he followed for eight years. He w as known as an excellent teacher m jienmansliip. He first came to Columbia county in 1839. where he resided until 1843, and then for two years kept a boarding school at Browertown. In 1846 he returned lo C a ta ­ wissa. and in 1848 embarked in the m ercan­ tile business at .Mifflinville. Columbia county. In 1850 he sold his store there and moved to Bloomsburg, where he opened a targe general store on the corner o f .Main and Iron streets, conducting s.mie for a period o f nineteen years. .Meantime in 1868 he began the erec­ tion of the Paul K. W irt block, which w as completed in 1869. and he carried on his business in tlu t building until 1870. when he was elected justice of the peace, in which ))Osition lie served for a term o f ten yc.-irs. Ill 18S1 he began dealing in carpets .-md oil­ cloths, and continued thus until he retired from active business. H e w as succeeded by liis grandson. William H. Brower, who is now successfully carrying on the business. In 1853-54 M r. Brow er built his Iteautiful home at a o. 2 2 0 Market street, at a cost o f fifteen thousand dolUrs, one of the finest brick residences in the town o f Bloomsburg. He took an active part in the development o f his town and alw ays lent a helping hand to ­ wards any measures that tended to benefit hts fellow citizens. H e assisted in forming fo u r building and loan associations; served as sec­ W IL L IA M H O R A C E B R O W E R, o f retary and treasurer o f Ihc Mutual B u ild­ Bloomsburg, has been engaged m business ing and Savin gs Fund .Association; and w as there as a merchant for the last twenty-five president of the first such association which years, having become associated in 1888 wilh was a success, organized O t. 19, 1867. .mil his grandfather. Jerem iah John Brower, which terminated in June. 1877. H e served whom he shortly afterw ard succeeded. a s school director and w as treasurer of the scn'cd as a member of the State Legislature. M rs. Brown attended public school in the home neighborhood, and later went lo Ihe academy at Catawissa, where she w as under the luitkm o f a M r. Bradley. She died Ju n e I I, 1905. Three children were born to Mr. and M rs. Brown, John Jordan, Dorothy Nice and M artha Bownun. The eldest daughter spent two years as a student at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Ba. She and her sister have not married. John Jordan Brown received his early edu­ cation in the select schools o f his home dis­ trict, and then took a course at Dickinson Sem inary, Williamsport. Ba., graduating from that institution in 1&67. A fte r teaching school for two terms he entered Jefferson Medical College. Bbtladelpliia. from which he was graduated in March, 1870. with the d<^rcc o f M. D. T h e same year he began practice at Miftiinvillc, where he continued for seven­ teen years, since when he has liecn located at liloomsburg. During his regular course at college he took a special course in c u r a tiv e surgery under the personal supervision of B rof. William H. Pancoast. and in l888 he took a special course on the eye at the New S'ork Polyclinic. New Y o rk 'C ity, fitting him­ self for the branch o f practice to which he gives his whole attention. He is ophthalmolo­ gist al the Bloomsburg hospital and of the State Hospital at Danville. Ba. H e is one of the directors of the Bloomsburg W ater Com­ pany, a Trustee of the State Normal Scliool, BluomslHirg, Ba., and 'icc President of the Farm ers' National Bank o f Bloom sburg; he w as one of the lirst stockholders in the latter institution. H e is a member of the Methodist Church, o f which he is a trustee. Socially he is a high Mason, belonging to Washington J.odge, No. 265. F. & A. M .. o f Bloom sburg; Bloomsbutg Chapter. No. 2 18. R. A. M .; Cru­ sade Commandery. No. 12. K. T .; Caldwell Consistory (thirty-second d e g re e ); and Irem Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S ., o f W ilkes-Barre. In 1 8 ^ Dr. Brown married M ary S. Brands, daughter o f David F. Brands, o f Hackcttstown, N. J. M rs. Brown received her educa­ tion at B lair .Academy and Schollcy's Moun­ tain Seminar)-. She died .Aug. 13, igoy, leav­ ing no children.