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JAMES BROWN, Springfield, Illinois, was born in Queen Anne county, Maryland, October 20, 1805; son of James and Mary Ann (Hackett) Brown, natives of Maryland, where they were married and had six children, two of whom died in infancy; the mother died in 1821, and the father in 1822.
The subject of this sketch left Maryland and went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he embarked in merchandising, and became acquainted with Miss Mariol Page, daughter of Jarred Page, of Chenango county, N.Y.; she was born in that county. By this union there was one child, Sherman P. who is employed in the railroad business in Pueblo, Colorado. Parting with his first wife Mr. Brown married Miss Sarah J. Martin, daughter of Thomas Martin, of Maryland. The fruits of this marriage were nine children, four of whom are living, viz: John, of Kansas, Mary Anne, Lida M., now Mrs. George E. Copeland, and Antrim C. In 1834 Mr. B. came to Springfield, it being at the time of the cholera epidemic, he returned to Cincinnati, where he remained until 1837. Soon after coming to this State he was appointed clerk in the mail service, and afterwards was appointed Special Post Office Agent, his district comprising Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and
Missouri. This route was made in a stage coach, being before the use of railroads. After leaving the road he came to this county where he followed farming seven years, since which time he has lived retired, having been an invalid for the last twelve years.