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/672

 COLUMBIA A N I) MONTOUR COUNTIES came die sole propriclor. H e ilcah in books, slationcry, artiais' supplies, clc., and it was he who circulated the first daily newspaper in Danville, this branch o f his business grow ­ ing steadily from the time he started it. He w as a member of the firm o f Brow n & G ear­ hart. general mercliants, formeil in 1837, and sold out in 18 4 1. F o r a time M r. Brown bad a position with the Pcim syivania Railroad Company, as tourist ticket agent. M r. Brown .also took a leading jKirt in the government of the borough, serving as mem­ ber of the council, one term as burgess, and fo r many years a s one of the most iiiflucnti.al members of the school ixu rd, o f which body he was treasurer over iliirty-fi%'e years. I ’olilicaliy he w as a Republican, in religious con­ nection a mcmlKC of the Mcthmlist Episcopal Church, which he served as one of the build­ ing committee. Ilis w ife also belonged to that church. F o r about fifty-one years he was a Mason and a member u f the I. O. C). F ., )>clonging to Danville Lodge, No. 224, 1'. & .. M., and to Odd Fellows l-o<lgc, No. 299. In 1837 .Mr. Brown nurried Sarah .Ann Ciearhart, who was u f (iennan origin, daugh­ ter o f John and Sophia (Bow'm an) (icarhart. and they had a f.'imily o f four children: Ben­ ton B .; Melissa D., liorn .Aug. 23, 1842. Mrs. Ostrander, o f D anville; John G ., born Feb. » ), 1852, of .Meriden, Conn.; and AVillwm G.. o f D.anviIIc. M r. Brown died M ay 27. 181/1. .Airs. Brown in August, igoo. Benton H. Brown grew to manhood in Dan­ ville, receiving his education in the public schools and academy, and his early business experience as clerk in his father’s store. He w as thus engaged until 18 6 1, when he enlisted, A pril 22d. in Company C . 14th Pennsylvania A’oluntccr In fan tiy. for three months. He w as also in the Union scr-ice under a sulise<|uent enlistment, on Jan . 22. 18614. in Com­ pany C . 187th Pennsylvanu Regiment, and received his discharge Aug. 5. 1H65. F o r some years after the war he w as an apprentice in a machine s Ik i |i, continuing in this work until i8 8 i. Then he became associateil with the local Rovemment. with which he has ever since lieen connected in one officbl cajucity or .mother. In Fcbruar)-. 1887. he w as ciccleil assessor fo r the Third ward. ser% ing one year. In 1893 he w as elected constable and high constable, which offices he is still hohling. In 1897 he w as appointed health officer for the liorough ami h e held that office continuously to Feb. 1 . 19 13 . meantime, in 1905. receiving the appointment o f State health officer, in

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which he served until Dec. 3, 19 12. H is work in this caiucity was highly commend­ able and notably efficient and worthy of the appreciation his fellow citizens showed by retaining him in the public service for so long a ]>criod. .Air. Brow n is prominent in lodge circles, being a (ust grand o f IxKlgc No. 109, I. O . O . F ., and a i>asi comni,mder o f G . A . R . I'ost No. 22. H e is a member o f St. I ’aul’s M. E . Church. On Feb. 4. 18(14, Mf- Brown was united in m.-irrbgc with .Alary Elizabeth Bassett, and their home is on Walnut street. T hey have two living children: T arring (Je arlu rt Brown m arried N ora J . Seidel, o f D anville; M ary is the w ife o f Beverly Whiting Mussclrmin, iiunagcr of the Gkilw A ’arehousc, o f Danville, A and has one child, Elizabeth; George, de­ ceased. left one chiUi. K irk Wellwuod Brown, living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. W iu.tAM G . B kown . youngest of the fam ­ ily o f (Jeorge B. and Sarah Ann (G earhart) Brow n, w as born Aug. 14. 1857. in Danville, in the Brown building on M ill street which he still occupies. H e was educated in the common schools. In 1875 .md 1876 he was cmjiloyed in Houston's machine shop at Montgom cty station, and during 1877 became en­ gaged as news agent on the Reading railroad under B. F. Gowan. serving as such for two vears. When he ^avc up this work he went into the cigar business, which he carried on until a short time after his marriage. F.'iiling in business in 18 8 1, he commenced to scr%-c an apprenticeship at the machinist’s trade with the Montour Iron 8: Steel Company, and after completing his four years o f service s|>cnt eight years more in the same employ, as a journeyman machinist. During this time he w as sent out to work fo r C u rry & A’annan, and also fo r the North Branch Steel Com ­ pany. when the services o f an extra mechanic were rcair work. On M.ay 13. 1880. M r. Brown married Kcturah Antrim, who w as liorn Nov. 25. 1858.