There are few of the prominent residents of Galena more popular in both social and business circles than this gentleman, with whose history is inter-mingled many important and interesting events A native of New Hampshire, he was born in Gilmanton, Belknap County, Sept. 1, 1833, and spent his boyhood and youth among the hills of his native State. Reared on a farm he became stout old muscle, and accustomed to those healthy exercises best calculated to develop the youth mentally and physically. He pursued his first studies under the simple system of the district school, and later entered Gilmanton Academy where he completed his classical education.

At this period in his life, young Brown imagined he would like to become a member of the medical profession, and with this end in view he entered upon a course of study under the instruction of the well-known Nahum Wight, celebrated as an anatomist, and with whom he remained two years. In the meantime he added to the contents of his exchequer by teaching a district school. All this time his mind had been busy cogitating some scheme—the prospect of which in his native State seemed rather dubious. He finally resolved to strike out for the Great West, and in October 1857 we find him west of the Mississippi sojourning" at that time in the unimportant town of Dubuque, Iowa. He occupied himself there in a law office one year. Returning now to his native State Mr. Brown fulfilled the pledge he had made to one of the most estimable young ladies of that region, soon after which he returned with his bride to Dunleith, and they both commenced teaching, occupying themselves in this manner five years, and Mr. Brown in the meantime acting as Principal. He was also during that period elected Superintendent of schools in JoDaviess County, which office beheld three years—the first year by appointment, and the last two years by election in which he was given a majority in twenty-one of the twenty-two townships, which it must be admitted was an exceedingly good showing.

In the fall of 1863 Mr. Brown, turning his attention to journalism, purchased the Galena Gazette of H. H. Houghton, who had been its proprietor with the exception of one year since its establishment in 1834. It is still in existence, and is the oldest surviving paper in the State, a fact indicative of its phenomenal success. It has now a circulation of 7,000, the largest of any newspaper in the State outside of Chicago. Mr. Brown since that time has been sole proprietor, and has marked it with his own characteristics. It is considered a thorough - reliable sheet, which never cringes to party favor compromises itself for the sake of gain. At the death of W. W. Huntington, postmaster of Galena, in December, 1880, Mr. Brown was selected to fill the vacancy, receiving his appointment from President Hayes. We have scarcely space to speak of the various positions of trust which he had held prior to this time, and the duties of which he had discharged with more than ordinary ability. He was a delegate to the National Convention to Chicago from Grant's old town in 1880, and was one of the famous 306, receiving the medal given to those voters for Gen. Grant. He has frequently been a delegate to the State and Congressional Conventions, as a worthy representative of the Republican party of which he has been a stanch supporter from the time of its organization.

To omit the domestic part of the life of Mr. Brown would be to leave out that which has comprised a large portion of his earthly enjoyment.

The 12th of May, 1858, witnessed his union with Miss Elizabeth Shannon, in Gilmanton, N. H. This lady was born in that town in 1835, and was the daughter of Ira and Sally (Ross) Shannon, the latter of whom died in Gilmanton in 1887. She came of a long line of excellent ancestry, the first representatives of which, in this country, settled in New England during the Colonial days. They were Congregationalists in religion, and to the doctrines of the church their posterity have largely adhered. Father Shannon was a prominent merchant of Gilmanton, and a successful business man, having in about 1877 retired from the active cares of life. He traces his ancestry to Ireland, but the family became Americanized several generations ago, having been residents of New England prior to the Revolutionary War.

Mrs. Elizabeth Brown was the eldest of four children born to her parents. Her brother Charles married Miss Laura Lougee, and is a well-to-do produce dealer of Gilmanton, N. H.; Abbie is the wife of Charles A. Dockham. a druggist of that place; George R. took to wife Miss Addie Smith and lives in Gilmanton. They all belong to the Congregational Church. Mrs. Brown is a well educated lady having completed her studies, like her husband, in Gilmanton Academy; from which she was graduated when a maiden of sixteen, and began teaching. She made such good progress as an instructor that five years later she was called to the public schools of Concord with which she remained connected until her marriage. Of this union there has been born one child only, a daughter. Abbie M., March 15, 1864. She has also been given a first-class education, being graduated first in 1880 from the Galena High School, and that same year was sent East by her parents to the Academy in Bradford, Mass., an institution which her paternal grandmother attended during her youth, and where she completed her education. From this also Miss Abbie was graduated with seventeen others in the Class of *83, and was one of the four of whom honorable mention was made on account of the essays they had prepared for this occasion.

Miss Abbie Brown was married the 21st of July, 1885, at the home of her parents in Galena, to Mr. Arthur W. Glessner. This gentleman was born in Elizabeth, this county, April 30, 1861. and is the son of that prominent citizen, Henry Glessner. formerly proprietor of the woolen mills, but who died in August. 1879. Henry Glessner was born in Pennsylvania in 1815, and was the son of Peter Glessner a native of German}*, who emigrated to America and located in the Keystone State at an early date. Henry Glessner came to Illinois about 1845, and established the woolen mills which he operated successfully many years. He was married in this county to a lady of English birth and parentage. Miss Mary Treganonan. who survives him, and is now fifty-three years old. She makes her home in Galena.

Arthur W. Glessner was reared in this county, and received a good education, being graduated from the Galena High .School in the Class of '78. He began his business career in Chicago, III., in 1881 with a partner, they operating under the firm name of Thornburg & Glessner, in the manufacture of mill machinery, elevator supplies and heating furnaces, which business they are still prosecuting with fine success. Mrs. Brown and her daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Glessner occupy a beautiful home of their own at Kenwood, a suburb of the Garden City. Jonathan Brown, the father of our subject, likewise a native of the Old Granite State, was born in Merrimac County. N. H., in 1801, educated in the common schools and reared to farm life. He remained a member of his father's household until twenty-four years of age. Perhaps the first event of importance in his life was his marriage in April, 1825, to Miss Mary Ann Clough. The mother of our subject was born in Canterbury, N. H., in 1804, and was the daughter of Leavitt and Abigail (Morrill) Clough; the former also a native of New Hampshire, and also of New England ancestry who had flourished in that region prior to the Revolutionary War. Leavitt Clough had been carefully reared and well educated, and became a prominent man in his native State, occupying official positions, and representing his county in the New Hampshire Legislature. He was an excellent financier, and accumulated a fine property. He died in the prime of life when about forty-seven years old, after having spent his entire life in his native State. His wife survived him until 1853, dying also in New Hampshire at the age of seventy-five yean. The parents of Mr. Brown were both member; of the Congregational Church in its early- history. There was born to them a large family o: children, of whom Mary Ann was the eldest. Jonathan Brown after his marriage settled on a farm it Gilmanton, N. H., where, with the exception of four years spent in Concord, he sojourned the rest of his days. He departed this life in April, 1888, at the age of eighty-seven years. He was a man of remarkable strength, mentally and physically, and retained these qualities in a marked degree to the last: in fact, performing a part of his usual self-imposed duties the day before his death. The mother is yet living, and has arrived at the advanced age of eighty-five years; she, however, is somewhat infirm. She makes her home with her son, Charles J., near the old farm in Gilmanton, N. H. The parents had spent a peaceful wedded life of sixty-three years together, and for fifty years Jonathan Brown had been a Deacon of the Congregational Church, of which his wife was also an active member. Our subject's father was at one time a member of the New Hampshire Legislature, elected to that body as a Whig.

To the parents of our subject there was born 5 family of ten children, seven of whom are now living: .Sarah E. became the wife of Luther E. Page, a farmer of Gilmanton, and died at the age of thirty-two years; Newell A. during the late Civil War enlisted in a New Hampshire regiment, and after the battle of Bull Run, in which he participated, died from the effects of exposure at the early age of eighteen years; Rhoda E. died of brain fever when two years old; Mary A. is the wife of the Hon. George W. Sanborn of Gilmanton, a prominent and wealthy citizen; his eldest son Jeremiah is President of the State Agricultural College at Columbia, Mo., and Secretary of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture; Almira B. is the wife of Stephen L. Taylor, proprietor of a hotel at the summer resort of Laconia; Henry C. is an extensive farmer and land owner of Butler County, Iowa, and a prominent citizen, having represented his county in the State Legislature: he married Miss Mary Bickford of Barnstead N.H.: Hannah J. is the wife of Samuel Eveleth, a farmer of Gilmanton, N. H.; Charles J. is married and also lives on a farm in that place; William L., a professional musician, is married and a resident of Lowell, Mass. The home of Mr. Brown forms one of the attractions of the city of Galena, and is the resort of its most cultivated people. The proprietor personally would attract attention anywhere, being a man of commanding presence and easy manners.

Transcribed by Christine Walters Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889), p. 696.