From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 821-822
 
WILLIAM C. BROWN.  Energy, sound judgment and persistency of effort, properly 
applied, will always win the goal sought in the sphere of human endeavor, no 
matter what the environment may be or what obstacles are met with, for they 
who are endowed with such characteristics make of their adversities stepping 
stones to higher things.  These reflections are suggested by the career of 
William C. BROWN, farmer of Darien township, Walworth county, who has forged 
his way to the front ranks of twentieth-century husbandmen in this action of 
the county under consideration, and is one of the representative men of the 
same.  For in studying the character of this gentleman it will be found that 
he came from a class of people who do not permit obstacles to lie in their way 
and hinder them from the goal sought; they are the kind of people who redeemed 
the wilderness, routed the savage and transformed the hills and valleys into 
fertile farms and good homes.
 
William C. BROWN was born on March 14, 1863, in the state of New Jersey, where 
he spent his early childhood, but most of his life has been spent in Walworth 
county, Wisconsin.  He is the son of James and Margarette (MORAN) BROWN, born 
natives of Ireland, where they grew up and were married and from there they 
emigrated to the United States in 1861, first locating in New Jersey.  James 
BROWN was a stone mason by trade, which he followed about nine years after 
coming to America.  It was in 1870 that he brought his family to Jefferson 
county, Wisconsin, locating on Johnson's creek, where he bought a farm which 
he worked about six years, then moved to Darien township, Walworth county, 
where he now resides, in section 24, with his sons, James and Stephen BROWN.  
He was very successful as a general farmer, but he has lived a retired life 
for the past ten years.  His wife died on December 18, 1909.
 
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James BROWN, named as follows: 
William C., of this review; Mary; Mrs. Maggie O'BRIEN; James; Mrs. Nettie 
FANNING; Stephen; Frank is deceased, as is also Ora.

William C. BROWN received his education in Rock county, Wisconsin, in the 
district schools.  Early in life he turned his attention to farming and this 
has been his life work.  He started humbly, but by hard work and good 
management he has laid up a competency and become the owner of one hundred and 
sixty acres of excellent land in section 26, Darien township, which he has 
under an advanced state of improvement and cultivation, and he has a good home 
and such outbuildings and modern farming machinery as his needs require.  He 
always keeps a good grade of live stock.
 
Politically, Mr. BROWN is a Democrat, but he has never found time to be 
especially active in public affairs.  In religious matter he is a faithful 
supporter and member of the Catholic church.  At present he is clerk of 
district school No. 3, Darien township.  Fraternally, he belongs to the 
Catholic Foresters and the Modern Woodmen.
 
Mr. BROWN was married on July 21, 1898, to Mary FANNING, daughter of Michael 
and Mary (HOLLAND) FANNING, natives of Ireland.  They came to this county 
twenty-five years ago, settling in Lima, Wisconsin.  There were eleven 
children in that family, all of whom are living.  They are members of the 
Roman Catholic church.
 
To Mr. and Mrs. BROWN have been born three children, named as follows: 
William, born February 10, 1900; James, born September 3, 1902, and 
Mary, born November 5, 1904.
 
Submitted by Carol