1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin

CHARLES H. BROWN, president of the Citizens State Bank of Loyal, Wis., and also connected in an official capacity with other important enterprises, is widely known as a public spirited citizen, and as one of the leading business men of Clark County. He was born in the village of Fort Ann, on the Hudson River, in Washington County, N. Y., Oct. 30, 1855. His parents Were Charles D. and Lucy (North) Brown, the father, a native of New York, and the mother of Vermont. Charles D. Brown was a driver on the old Erie Canal, following that occupation until about 1858, when he came West to Wisconsin, locating on a tract of land in Hartford Township, Washington County, where the early home of the family was a log house. Their supplies had to be obtained at Milwaukee, thirty-five miles distant, to which they drove with an ox team. There the father spent the rest of his life engaged in clearing and developing his farm. During the latter part of the Civil War he served in the 52d Wisconsin Volunteers.

Charles H. Brown, who was only 3 years old when his parents settled on their farm in Washington County, Wis., was there reared to manhood, attending the district school, and later the high school in town. At the age of 18 he began teaching, and in 1873 came to Clark County and taught school in Unity Township. Subsequently, he went to other parts of the state, and became connected with the sewing machine business, in which he got his first experience as a salesman. From that line of industry he passed to the lumber business, and for some time was engaged in selling lumber on the road. Afterwards he became a real estate dealer, and in that capacity handled some extensive transactions. During all this time he was gaining experience and developing into an able business man. In 1901, foreseeing a good future for Clark County, he located in Loyal, where for about ten years he conducted the Daisy Meat Market. His eyes were open to other opportunities, however, and from time to time he handled considerable land, some of it becoming his own property. Thus, among his present interests are lands in Dakota and Montana, which have proved a profitable investment, and which include a cattle ranch of 1,100 acres at the foot of Snowy Mountains, in Fergus County, Mont., on which he is raising Pole Angus beef cattle. He has also two fine farms in Loyal Township, Clark County, which he is developing with the aid of his sons, Halbert and Harry. On Dec. 20, 1909, Mr. Brown took advantage of another good opportunity when he inaugurated the Citizens State Bank of Loyal, becoming its first vice president. Later, upon the death of Michael Doyle, he succeeded to the presidency. The present vice president is B. W. Colby, and the cashier, Harry Haeslett. The bank is a successful institution, and has a capital stock of $25,000, with a surplus of $6,000, and on Dec. 31, 1917, showed undivided profits of $410.05, and deposits of $297,514.93. The value of its building and fixtures is over $5,000. Mr. Brown is also president of the Clark County Telephone Company and agent for the Northwestern National Insurance Company of Milwaukee. He served as president of the village board for five or six Years, during which time the electric light and water power plant was installed.

Mr. Brown was first married to Jane Ferguson, by whom he had two sons, Halbert and Harry, who are now engaged in breeding Berkshire swine and Percheron horses on their father's farms in Loyal Township. Halbert, who operates a farm of eighty acres, married Elsie Fauss. Harry, who operates a farm of 160 acres, married Lottie Swarthout, and has four children-Edith Jane, Mary Louise, Charles Halbert and Harry Edward, the two last mentioned being twins. Mr. Brown's second marriage was to Mary E. Romaine, daughter of Edward Romaine, a pioneer of Clark County, who settled in Section 35, Beaver Township. Mr. Brown belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge at Greenwood, and to the Chapter at Neillsville. His career has been one of steady progress and achievement, and he is widely recognized throughout this region as a man of sound business judgment, incorruptible integrity, and loyalty as a citizen.