John Delos Brown

© Kathy Duncan, 2016

John Delos Brown, son of Isaac S. and Catherine E. (Hay) Brown, was born 24 June 1835 in Greene County Illinois. He was raised in Pike County, Illinois. He married Nancy Johnson, daughter of Samuel and Esther (Bryant) Johnson on 11 March 1857 in Pike County, Illinois. She was born on 13 Oct 1838. Eventually, they settled in DeWitt County, Illinois, where Nancy died on 11 March 1911 and was buried in Nixon Township Cemetery.

After Nancy's death, John Delos Brown lived in DeKalb County, Missouri, where he died on 27 July 1914. He was also buried in Nixon Township Cemetery, but does not seem to have a tombstone.

Children of John Delos and Nancy (Johnson) Brown:

1. Emma C. Brown

2. Eva C. Brown

3. J. Herbert Brown

4. Mary Ellen Brown

5. Minnie A. Brown

6. Isaac Sherman Brown

7. Florence Mae Brown

8. Catherine E. Brown

9. Carrie Viola Brown

10. Charles Albert Brown

The published biography of John D. Brown’s son-in-law A. F. Miller revealed the following information about John D. Brown’s family:

Having attained to man's estate, on the 15th of June, 1882, in Weldon, DeWitt County, Ill., he [Alfred F. Miller] led to the marriage altar Miss Mary E. Brown, daughter of John D. and Nancy (Johnson) Brown. Her grandfather, Isaac Brown, a native of New York, came to Illinois in a very early day and settled near Milton, Pike County, where he farmed until the war when he volunteered and entered the service. He had his thumb shot off and gangrene setting in, death ensued. John D. Brown, father of Mrs. Miller, was reared in Pike County, where he married Miss Nancy Johnson, a native of that county, and a daughter of Samuel Johnson, who was born in Kentucky, but is numbered among the early settlers of Pike County. After his marriage Mr. Miller [sic - Mr. Brown?] removed with his young wife to Champaign County, where he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits until 1861, when he enlisted in the Twenty-first Illinois Cavalry. He served four years, during which time he was thrice wounded in the wrist, and received two rebel balls in his side. Returning home he continued farming in Champaign County for two years and then removed to DeWitt County, where he and his wife still make their home upon a farm. They are respected citizens of the community, and in politics he is a Republican. their family numbers ten children: Eva C., who died at the age of twenty-one in DeWitt County; Emma C., twin sister of Eva, who married and resides in Missouri; Hebert, who is living in Colorado; Mary E., wife of our subject; Mrs. Minnie A. Norfleet, of Montgomery County, Ill.; Isaac S., of Colorado; Florence M., Catharine E., Carrie V., and Charles A., at home.
[Source:  PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.  Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1891]

John D. Brown enlisted into Co I, 2 IL US Cav in Champaign, Champaign Co., IL on 6 Aug 1861 as a CPL. He was 27 years old with blue eyes and light hair and stood at 5’ 6 ½”. He stated that he was born in Carrollton, IL. He mustered in on 12 Aug 1861 at Camp Butler, IL and mustered out as a private on 11 Aug 1864.

The death certificate for John Delos Brown states that he was born 24 June 1835 in Greene Co., IL to Isaac Brown, birth place unknown, and Nancy Johnson, born Pike Co., IL. He died on 27 July 1914 in Stewartsville, DeKalb Co., MO of acute Brights disease. The informant on his death certificate was Emma C. Egel. She was likely his daughter, but she confused her mother with her grandmother. John's body was removed to Weldon, IL for burial on 29 July 1914. He is likely buried next to his wife Nancy (Johnson) Brown--either his tombstone was never erected or has since been damaged.
[Source: DeKalb Co., MO death certificate #22258]

Four death notices for John Delos Brown appeared in the Springfield, Illinois newspapers over a period of three days. 

FUNERALS

BROWN - Word has been received in this city of the death in Stordsville, Mo., of John D. Brown, who is well known in this city. Death occurred Monday, July 27, at 1:30 a.m.

            The body will be brought to Springfield this morning and will be viewed by the many friends and relatives of the dead man in this city and later taken to Weldon, Ill., where the funeral will be held and burial made.

[Source: Daily Illinois State Register; Springfield, IL; Tues., 28 July 1814]

BROWN - The remains of John D. Brown, who died Monday in Stordsville, Mo., arrived in the city yesterday and were taken to the undertaking establishment of Kirlin Egan. From there they will be taken over the Illinois Central at 5:40 o'clock this morning to Weldon where the funeral will be held at 10 o'clock this morning.

[Source: Daily Illinois State Journal; Springfield, IL; Wed., 29 July 1914]

BROWN - The remains of John D. Brown, who died Monday in Stordsville, Mo., were sent from the undertaking establishment of Kirlin & Egan over the Illinois Central railroad to Weldon yesterday, where the funeral was held at 10 o'clock in the morning.

[Source: Daily Illinois State Journal; Springfield, IL; Thurs., 30 July 1914]

BROWN - The body of John D. Brown who died Monday at Stordsville, was forwarded via this city at 5:50 o'clock yesterday morning over the Illinois Central railroad to Weldon, where funeral services were held at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. Burial was in hat [sic] city.

[Source: Daily Illinois State Journal; Springfield, IL; Thurs., 30 July 1914]

Census Records for John Delos and Nancy (Johnson) Brown:

25 Aug 1870, Nixon Twp., Dewitt Co., IL, P.O.: Nixon p. 93:

21-21  

Brown, John 33 M W  Farmer  - $600 b. IL

---Nancy  32 F  W b.  IL

---Emma 12 F  W  b. IL

---Eva 12 F  W b. IL

---Herbert 11 M W b. IL

---Mary 9 F  W b.  IL

---Minnie 6 F  W b. IL

---Sherman  4 M W b. IL

---Florence  1 F  W b.  IL

9^th & 10^th June 1880, Nixon Township, DeWitt Co., IL, p. 397:

117-117

Brown, John D. W M 45 Farmer b. IL fb. KY mb. KY

-----Nancy W F 42 wife keeps house b. IL fb. KY mb. KY

-----J. Herbert W M 20 son at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

-----Mary E W F 18 dau at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

-----Minnie W F 16 dau at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

-----Sherman W M 14 son at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

-----Florence W F 11 dau at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

-----Katie E W F 8 dau at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

-----Viola W F 6 at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

-----Charles W M 3 son at home b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

5 June 1900, Nixon Twp., Dewitt Co., IL, P.O.: Weldon Village, p. 104

91-91  

Brown, John D. Head  WM  Jun 1835 64 M-43 b. IL fb. KY  mb. N?

--- Nancy Wife W F Feb 1838  61 M-43 10-7 b. IL fb. KY mb. ?

19 Apr 1910, Nixon Twp., Dewitt Co., IL, P.O. Weldon Village, p. 201

122-126         

Brown, John D. Head  M W  74 M 1-53 b. IL  fb. NC  mb. NY

---Nancy Wife  F W  71 M 1-53 10-6 b. IL fb.  KY  mb. KY

Greenwood, Viola E. Dau  F W  29 Wd  6-6 b. IL  fb. IL mb. IL

 ---Lorena  Gr-dau FW  11 S b. IL fb. IL  mb. IL

J.D. Brown of Weldon was among the business visitors in Clinton yesterday.

[Source: Daily Illinois State Journal; Springfield, IL; Wed., 8 Mar 1911]

Cemetery Records:

Weldon Cemetery, Weldon, DeWitt Co., IL:

Brown, Nancy wife of John 13 Oct 1838 - 11 Mar 1911

Brown, Catherine E. 28 Jan 1872 - 18 Apr 1894

Brown, John M. 1889 - 1967

Brown, Henrietta  1890 -

[Source:  DeWitt Co., IL Cemetery Inscriptions  vol. 5  by Dorcas Patterson, Jean Hauffe, and Florence Parks]