Jobe W. Brown, retired, Ashmore; this gentleman was born in Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., July 15, 1809; his father was Jonathan W. Brown, and his mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Aiken, the former being a native of Connecticut, and the latter of the island of Nantucket; when he was but a child, his parents removed to Oneida Co., N. Y., thence to Milton, Ky., and in 1822 to Lawrence Co., Ill.; in January, 1825, they removed to Walnut Grove in Edgar Co., then on the very outskirts of civilization; at that time there was not a single white inhabitant in the present limits of Coles Co.; his father resided there until his death June 17, 1867, at the age of 79 years. In 1840, Mr. Brown removed to Ashmore Tp., where he had entered eighty acres of land, borrowing for that purpose $100; to illustrate the struggles of those early days, we may mention that Mr. Brown was thirteen years in taking up this first note; he has hauled wheat to Chicago, taking his provisions and horse feed along with him, and sleeping in his wagon at night; the journey occupied sixteen days, and on arriving there, has sold his wheat at 50 cents a bushel. In 1838, he, with his father and brother, took a contract to build two sections of the old Terre Haute & Alton R. R., which they completed in 1840. Mr. Brown added to his farm until he owned at one time 400 acres, a part of which he still retains; in January, 1877, he removed to the village of Ashmore, where he now lives in the quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his years of toil. He was married Jan. 1, 1833; to Miss Martha R. Archer, who was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., March 4, 1808, and was raised in Bloomington, Ind; of twelve children, eleven grew to adult age, viz.- Warren E., Mary E. wife of Nelson Green; Eliza J., now Mrs. E., P. Green; George A., Jerome A., Lucy A. now deceased; Sarah R., wife of James Wiley; Caroline A., wife of A. J. Waters; Melissa E., wife of Robert Mayfield; Henrietta M., wife of Richard Waters; Susan M., now Mrs. Thomas Sublet; of the ten now living, all are residents of Coles Co., except Warren E., who is a physician in Andrew Co., Mo. Mr. Brown has served seven years as Justice of the Peace, and one year as Supervisor; he was an officer of the Coles County Agricultural Society for several years.
