George Clinton Brown. When the early settlers came to Champaign County perhaps few of them realized that they were seeking homes in a very desirable part of the state in relation to profitable farming. Those who were industrious and frugal had the satisfaction of finding this out and no family has been more deserving of its good fortune than that founded by the late David Brown and now worthily represented here by George Clinton Brown, one of the substantial farmers of Homer Township, who is also widely known as a breeder of race horses.
George Clinton Brown was born in Homer Township, Champaign County, Illinois, April 5, 1865, and is a son of David and Eva (Clester) Brown. The father was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Illinois. In childhood David Brown accompanied his father to Ohio and later they came to Paris, Illinois, having to walk through Champaign County because there were no railroads or other public means of transportation at that time. The lay of the land and other features in the county made a pleasant impression upon David Brown and one year later he returned to Champaign, which was then a little settlement of three houses. He went on to Sidney, where his uncle was living at that time, and worked for him for a time and then returned to Pennsylvania to be married. When he returned with his wife they settled in Homer Township, Champaign County, and that farm remained their home as long as they lived, David Brown dying in January, 1910, his wife having died in 1892. To the first marriage of David Brown there were three children born, all of whom survive: Basil, who is a resident of Champaign; Ellwood, who lives in Michigan; and Mrs. Thomas Orr, who resides at Homer. The second marriage of David Brown was to Eva Clester, who was born in Illinois, and eight children were born to this union, as follows: George Clinton; Jeremiah, who died in 1904; Emma, who is deceased; Sadie, who is the wife of Simon Stuckey, of Washington Court House, Ohio; Belle, who is the wife of Frank Garrison, of Jerome, Idaho; Clara, who is deceased; Mary, who is the wife of Archie Cox, of Carmel, Illinois; and Oliver, who lives at Jerome, Idaho. These children were all reared on the farm of 120 acres situated in section 21, Homer Township.
George Clinton Brown attended the township schools during boyhood and youth and assisted his father until he was twenty-one years old. He then began farming for himself, on a rented farm of eighty acres and remained there for three years and then bought his present farm of 160 acres, situated on section 17, Homer Township. Mr. Brown has shown good judgment and good taste in the fine improvements he has placed on his property. He has made a specialty of breeding race horses for some years, and owns the thoroughbred seven-year old mare Redetta, which has a record of 2.10.
Mr. Brown was married September 4, 1889, to Miss Agnes Stewart, who was born at Philo, Illinois, and they have had three children: Glenn, who is deceased; and Eva and ‘Edna, who reside with their parents.
Mr. Brown has served for many years in public office, having been a member of the school board for twenty years and is now in his second term as road commissioner, and in many ways is an important and influential man in Homer Township. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally is a Mason.