From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 837-839
 
WILLIAM BROWN.  Among the representative business men of Walworth county, the 
name of William BROWN should be mentioned here.  He has devoted himself very 
largely to the implement business, having ever carried on the various 
departments of his enterprise with that discretion, foresight and energy which 
are sure to find their natural sequence in definite success, having always 
been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of conservative habits, and being 
fortunately situated in a thriving new community, it is no wonder that he has 
won the position that he today enjoys in the business world.  He grew up amid 
pioneer conditions here and has lived to see wonderful changes take place in 
this section of the great Badger state, always lending such aid as he could in 
the work of upbuilding this section, whose interests he has at heart.
 
Mr. BROWN was born in Hudson (now Lyons) township, this county, on March 20, 
1843.  He is the son of John and Catherine (REID) BROWN, the father born on 
the isle of Jersey in the English channel, off the coast of France.  He was 
the son of George and Ann BROWN.  George BROWN was a soldier in the British 
army and was stationed in the isle of Jersey for a number of years.  John 
BROWN grew to manhood in Ireland, probably Inneskillen, where it is believe 
that George BROWN and his wife lived before he was sent away as a soldier into 
the isle of Jersey.  John BROWN emigrated to America in 1838 and lived for a 
time in Michigan, spending his young manhood days there, then came to Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, locating in what is now Lyons township, entering a claim of 
government land along the south line of the township, east of Ryan's lake.  
Having entered two hundred acres or more, he there developed a fine farm from 
the wilderness and made his permanent home, becoming one of the influential 
men of his community.  A year of two after he settled here his parents came 
over from the old country, and here entered land from the government.
 
John BROWN was married to Catherine REID, a native of Ireland, from which 
country she came to America when she was a mere child.  This union resulted in 
the birth of seven children, namely: Valentine, George, John, Ann, Eliza, 
Margaret and William.
 
John BROWN devoted his entire life to farming after coming to this county.  He 
took considerable interest in public affairs, holding a number of local 
offices.  He was one of the pioneers who built the first Catholic church at 
Lake Geneva.  His death occurred in 1887.
 
William BROWN, of this review, grew up on his father's farm in Lyons township, 
and there he lived until his marriage, in 1873, to Emma E. LEWIS, daughter of 
William LEWIS and wife, the father a native of the state of New York, probably 
the town of Herkimer, and he came to this county in an early time, about 
1845.  Mrs. BROWN was born and reared in Linn township, this county.
 
After his marriage, Mr. BROWN came to Lake Geneva and entered the agricultural 
implement business, also bought and shipped live stock, wool and other 
products soon building up a lucrative and extensive business.  For the past 
fifteen years he has been a traveling salesman in the flour and feed business, 
and he has been very successful in this line.  He was postmaster at Lake 
Geneva for a term of four years, during which time he discharged the duties of 
the same in a most satisfactory manner, and at the same time carried on his 
live stock and wool business.  He also served a term of two years in the city 
council.  Politically, he is a Democrat.
 
Mr. BROWN and wife are the parents of three children, namely: Lewis, a sketch 
of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Catherine, who is keeping house for 
her father in Lake Geneva; John, who lives in Lake Geneva, is in the employ of 
the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company.  These children have been well 
educated, John being a graduate of the Lake Geneva high school, and Catherine 
was graduated from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1907.  
Previous to attending that institution she had engaged in teaching in the 
public schools, both in the district and Lake Geneva schools.  She attended 
normal school both at Whitewater and Oshkosh, and has also made herself 
proficient in stenography.
 
Submitted by Carol