Freestone County, Texas
Biographies 



Source: A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell 
  Counties, Texas. Page: 357

                               J. D. BROWN
  J. D. BROWN, a retired merchant of Gatesville, was born in Anderson county, 
Texas, in 1857, son of William Brown. 
  William Brown came from one of the Carolinas to Texas in 1856, and located in 
Anderson county, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 
1860. His wife's maiden name was Mary Bryant. Her father emigrated to Texas in 
1856, and located in Freestone county, where nine years later he died. He had a 
fine plantation, owned many slaves, and was eminently successful. Of his nine 
children only two are now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born seven children, 
the subject of our sketch being the fifth and the only one now living. The names 
of the others are as follows: William, who died at the age of thirty-five years; 
Emma, wife of Tom Haskins, died, leaving five children; Sophia and Lillie died 
at the ages of eighteen and fourteen years respectively; James E. died at sixteen; 
and Benjamin at fourteen.
  In his boyhood days Mr. Brown was obliged to remain out of school in order to 
work and help support the family, which at the death of the father was left in 
somewhat straitened circumstances.  In 1876 he cane to Coryell county. and located 
near Gatesville, where he was engaged in farming one year....