John B Brown (abt. 1860 - 1923)

Born about 26 Nov 1860 in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Nancy (McQuiston) Brown — married 17 Oct 1887 in Nevada, Story Co, IA

Descendants

Died 28 Sep 1923 at about age 62 in Lutheran Hostpital, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Abby Glann [send private message]

Biography

John B Brown was born Mar 1855 in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada.^[1][2] His death certificate lists his birth date as the 26 Nov 1860, but this in no way lines up with finding him as a child in Canada.^[2] He was the child of Benjamin "George" Brown and Ann Maria Stewart/Stevens.^[3][2][4]

George is listed as head of household in the 1861 Nova Scotia Census, Sydney Mines, Cape Breton. The household totals are 5 males and 2 females (George, John, Daniel, Benjamin, and George Jr; Anna and Sara).^[5]

John was working as a miner in Lake County, Colorado in 1880.^[6]

John married Anna Nancy McQuiston at Nevada, Story, Iowa 17 October 1887.^[3]

The John Brown family was living at Washington Township, Jasper County, Iowa in 1900.^[1] The home included John and Nan, as well as their children, Bert, Ralph, Nellie, Susie, Earl, and George. John was working as a coal miner and the older two children were in school.

By 1910, John was farming.^[7] The Brown farm was in Malaka Township, Jasper County, Iowa in 1910.^[7] The household included John and Nann, as well as their children Ralph, Nellie, Susie, John Jr, George, Gwendolyn, and Clinton.^[7]

In 1915, John is found in Cambridge, Story County, Iowa.^[8] He lists his religion as Lutheran and is farming.

In 1920, the Browns were living in Union Township, Story, Iowa. Next door were sons, Bert and Earl, and son-in-law, Wade Durst. The Brown household included John and Nann, and their children still at home, George, Gwendolyn, and Clinton, and their granddaughters, Eva Mae, Mildred, and Helen Lucille, whom they raised following the death of their daughter, Susan, from the flu epidemic of 1918. John owned the home. John, Clinton, and George were farming the homestead.^[9][10]

John died of heart failure and complications of pneumonia at Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa 28 September 1923.^[2] He had been living with his family near Ankeny on a farm. He is buried in Collins Cemetery, Collins, Story, Iowa.^[11]

DNA

• Paternal relationship to sons Ralph Ben Brown and George Wayne Brown is confirmed with an FTDNA test match between Abby Glann and Anonymous Johnson, second cousins. Predicted relationship by FTDNA: 2nd-3rd cousins, based on 233 shared centimorgans, the longest being 79 in length. MCRA: John B Brown
• Paternal relationship to sons Ralph Ben Brown and George Wayne Brown is confirmed with an FTDNA test match between Abby Glann and Anonymous Walker, second cousins, once removed. Predicted relationship by FTDNA: 2nd-3rd cousins, based on 168 shared centimorgans, the longest being 50 in length. MCRA: John B Brown

Research Notes

• Birth date listed on headstone is November 26, 1860, different than what he said on census records.
• Uncle Bus (Duane Brown) mentioned John may have been named after the slaves' rights activist, John Brown, who burned Harper's Ferry and was later hung.
• The 1930 US Census for John's son, Ralph, states that John was born in Massachusetts. John is the eldest; this may have been where his parents landed after emigrating from England. John may have been here, but for now, he is found in census records in Nova Scotia being listed as having been born there.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M929-779 : accessed 26 April 2017), Ralph Brown in household of John Brown, Washington Township (excl. Colfax town), Jasper, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 37, sheet 5A, family 79, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,439.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} "Iowa, Death Records, 1921-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q248-C5X5 : accessed 27 April 2017), Anna Brown in entry for John Brown, 28 Sep 1923; citing Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FHL microfilm .
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJ1M-KCJ : 3 December 2014), John Brown and Nan Mcquiston, 17 Oct 1887; citing Nevada, Story County, Ia, reference 2:3XDJF9K; FHL microfilm 1,403,711.
4. ↑ A newspaper article in a Canadian newspaper that had interviewed Ann Maria when she was rather old. She talked about George a bit. I can't find it now!!!
5. ↑ Census of 1861 (Canada East, Canada West, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) for Image No.: 4108869_00190 on Library and Archives Canada. Line 8, Polling district 4
6. ↑ Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1880; Census Place: Lake, Colorado; Roll: 91; Page: 483A; Enumeration District: 086
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGMH-WFM : accessed 26 April 2017), Ralph Brown in household of John Brown, Malaka, Jasper, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 28, sheet 4A, family 71, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 407; FHL microfilm 1,374,420.
8. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK4Y-CB45 : 5 October 2016), John B Brown, 1915; citing Cambridge, Story, Iowa, United States, card no. , Iowa State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,462,865.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDM2-JQJ : Thu Dec 21 14:27:11 UTC 2023), Entry for John Brown and Nann Brown, 1920. Year: 1920; Census Place: Union, Story, Iowa; Roll: T625_515; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 203; Image: 396.
10. ↑ correspondence with CD Berns on Ancestry.com
11. ↑ FindAGrave Memorial for John Brown
12. ↑ 1930 US Census on ancestry. Year: 1930; Census Place: Des Moines, Polk, Iowa; Roll: 676; Page: 34B; Enumeration District: 0055; Image: 70.0; FHL microfilm: 2340411.