GEORGE W. BROWN. A prominent and successful agriculturist and stock-raiser of Madison County, George W. Brown is the owner of a well- appointed and well-managed farm in Van Buren Township, his native place, where he holds a position of note among the substantial farmers of his community, his farms being on the G. W. Brown road, about four miles from Summitville.
His father, the late John G. Brown, was born in Rush County, but as a boy came with his parents to Madison County, where he grew to man’s estate, Subsequently purchasing land in Van Buren Township, he carried on farming until his death, in 1871, He married Sarah Allen, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: Catherine J.; Levi P., of whom a brief biographical sketch may be found on another page of this volume; Mary E., deceased; Nancy E.; Samuel B.; George W., the special subject of this sketch; and John H.
Completing his early education in the public schools of his native Township, George W. Brown turned his attention to agriculture, and at the age of twenty years rented his mother’s place, and began farming on his own account, Fortune smiled on his earnest efforts, and as his means increased he bought adjoining land, and is now the owner of a productive farm of one hundred and forty-eight acres, his estate in its appointments and improvements comparing favorably with any in the vicinity, A man of ability and integrity, Mr. Brown takes an intelligent interest in political affairs, and is a trustworthy member of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Brown married, April 13, 1889, Eda J. Painter, daughter of Silas P. Painter, who owns and occupies a fine farm on the S. P. Painter road, about four miles southeast of Summitville.
Mr. Painter was born December 4, 1835, in Henry County, Indiana, of Virginia ancestry. His parents, George W. and Ira (Marsh) Painter, came from Virginia, their native state, to Henry County, Indiana, in pioneer days, and having bought a tract of wild land cleared and improved a homestead, on which they spent their remaining years. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: Samuel D., deceased; Silas P., father of Mrs. Brown; George A.; William B. and James A., deceased; Martin A.; Lewis; Mrs. Rosanna Kelley and Sarah Almarine, deceased; Noah; Peoria; and Mrs. Janie Rumberg.
Silas P. Painter attended first the district schools of Henry County, completing his early studies in Madison County, As a young man he rented the farm where he now lives, and managed it so ably that he was enabled after a few years to buy the entire property, which he has placed under a good state of cultivation, having cleared the greater part of it from its primitive wildness, Energetic and enterprising as at young man, Mr. Painter not only carried on gene al farming with excellent pecuniary results, but for some time operated a saw mill, and for one year owned and operated a threshing machine, Among the valuable improvements he has made on his place is the building of his house, which is situated on the north side of the Silas P. Painter road, which is the main thoroughfare to Gaston, Indiana.
Mr. Painter married, January 19, 1863, Dorcas Heritage, and of their union nine children were born, as follows: Mary, Elizabeth, Lucinda, Eda J., George David Lot Leonidas, Perry, and three children that died in infancy. Mary, wife of Thomas Hunt, has had three children, Frank; a child that died in infancy and Talmage, Elizabeth married first Robert Atkinson, by whom she had three children, Lester; Birdie; and Lottie, deceased, Elizabeth married for her second husband Al Shields, and of that union three children have been born; a child that died in infancy; Ina; and Silas H. Lucinda Frances, who died in Madison County, married C. E. Brandon. Lot L. married Della Wcbster, a daughter of Geo, W. and Olive (Vinson) Webster, and they have one child, Pauline Josephine.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are striving to give their children good educations, fitting them for the higher walks of life, Their eldest child, Cletis R., graduated from the public schools at the age of fourteen and also graduated from the Fairmount High School, He then took the normal course at Marion, Indiana, and afterward successfully taught school one year in Madison County. He is now in his third year in Franklin College and will graduate with the class of 1914, Agnes J. is also a graduate from the public schools and the Fairmount Academy, and is now a student in Franklin College. She has also taken musical instructions, The other two children are Dorcas and George P. Mrs. Brown is a lady of cordiality and gentle manner, and her happy home is her paradise, She received a good common school education and has always been her husband’s counselor at all times, Mr. Brown comes from one of the old families of Madison County as does also his wife, He is a Democrat politically and has always upheld the principles of that party, He makes a specialty of “The Chester White swine and the farm is known as “The Chester White Stock Farm.”