Bio: Brown, Edwin T. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Edwin T. Brown

Edwin T. Brown, a well known and highly respected citizen of Merrill, Lincoln County, is a native of the State of New York, born in Clinton, Oneida County, in November, 1837, and is a son of Jesse Brown, whose birth occurred in the same state. The father was twice married, his first union being with Angeline Phelps, who died in 1837, and they became the parents of six children, three of whom died in infancy and Amelia at the age of sixteen. Our subject is a child of this union. After the death of his first wife, Jesse Brown married her sister, Ruth Cowen, and he was called to his final home about the year 1875. In New York he carried on agricultural pursuits, and in the neighborhood where he resided was held in the highest regard.

Edwin T. Brown spent his boyhood and young on the home farm, and attended the district schools in the winter season until nearing manhood. He remained with his father until he had reached the age of twenty-three, when he began freighting on the Erie Canal, which pursuit he followed some five years. He then worked in a gristmill in his native State, but later went to Ohio, where he spent one season. On his return to New York State he was employed in the Utica Asylum for one year, when, after his marriage in 1866, he removed to Michigan, in which State he spent one year, being employed as a carpenter, in the flouring mill at Kalamazoo. On the expiration of that time he again returned to New York, and for two years worked in a gristmill. In 1871 he started west, locating in Fond du Lac, Wis., where for five years he had charge of a sawmill owned by the Chicago & North Western Railroad Company. Going to Salina, Kans., in 1877, he made that place his home for two years, during which time he engaged in farming. In 1879 we find him in Topeka, Kans., working in the car shops, and he was thus employed until 1883. In April of that year he came to Merrill, Wis., having secured the position of foreman for the Merrill Manufacturing Co., and as that firm failed six months later he then took complete charge, closing out the stock, at which he was engaged until September, 1885. That winter he went into the lumber woods, becoming scaler for the Wright Lumber Co.; and remained with that firm until the fall of 1894, most of the time having charge of their shipping department.

At New York, in October, 1866, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Helen Underwood, and to them have been born two children, Lillian and Mabel, both of whom reside with their parents and are now engaged in school teaching. Mrs. Brown is a daughter of Chester B. and Susan (Stetson) Underwood, and is one of a family of six children – Mary, Chester, Edwin F., Helen M., Florence L., and Charles H. Her father, who was born in 1798, in Herkimer County, N. Y.; was married in that State, in 1816, to Susan Stetson. Her birth occurred in Vermont in 1798, and she was a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Stetson, who by their marriage became the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, as follows: Benjamin, Jr., Jesse, Joel, Ezra, Sally, Clara, Mary, Amy, Hannah, and Susan. Mrs. Underwood in 1879, and her husband passed away about five years alter, his death occurring in the spring of 1884. He was a well informed man, being a great reader, and held an honorable position in literary and social circles. William Underwood, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Brown, was a son of Agilla Underwood, a native of England, his birth occurred in Massachusetts, and for many years he was a minister of the Universalist Church, in Herkimer County, New York.

In politics, Mr. Brown now affiliates with the Republican Party, but formerly was a Democrat. For five years he served as a member of the school board, and is always deeply interested in the cause of education, doing all in his power to advance the grade of schools in the community. He was also elected to the office of alderman of Merrill from the Fourth Ward, and proved an efficient officer. For twenty years he has been connected with the I. O. O. F., in which he now holds the highest position, that of noble grand. He takes a lively interest in everything pertaining to the growth and prosperity of the county, where he is numbered among its best citizens.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 369-370