My Genealogy Hound

MARSHALL BROWN, a well-known man, who for many years of his active life was a farmer and lumberman, is a son of Marshall and Lucy (Tower) Brown, and was born in the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county, New York, January 5, 1827. Both grandfathers were natives of New England, the Browns coming from Vermont. Marshall Brown (father) was born in the Green Mountain State, where he married, and started with his family for Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1812. They came by wagons to Buffalo, and were witnesses of the burning of that city by the British, the head of the family being impressed into the army as a guard. As soon as he was discharged the family continued their journey to this county, bought a tract of fifty acres from the Holland Land company, the site of Silver Creek being then a forest with only a blind trail through it. He was a carpenter by trade, which he followed in conjunction with his farming. Politically he was a democrat, but refrained from office seeking. Mr. Brown was twice married; first to a lady who bore him two sons that never left Vermont, and after her decease he united with Lucy Tower, who became the mother of two sons and four daughters. Marshall Brown, Sr., died upon his farm which he first made his home in this county.

Marshall Brown (subject) was educated at the common schools, and has followed lumbering and farming throughout his life. He is a pronounced democrat and a hard party worker.

He married Susan Van Vlack, a daughter of John and Maria (Teneyck) Van Vlack. Her father was a native of Dutchess county, and came to Chautauqua county in 1855. He took an enthusiastic interest in the politics of his locality, and served a term as sheriff of Dutchess county, He reared a family of four daughters, and his wife was of Dutch extraction.

Marshall Brown is a man of strong characteristics, honorable and upright, and he is recognized as a responsible man in his community.