Notes on William Brownell (1813 - 1881)
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Notes on William Brownell
From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Fayette County, Iowa", (Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co., 1891). page 472.
WILLIAM BROWNELL
WILLIAM BROWNELL, deceased, was one of the leading citizens of this county. He was born near Oneida Lake, in Oneida County, N. Y., in November, 1813. His parents, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, accompanied their respective families during childhood to the Empire State where they were married. Later they removed to Western New York where the father died when our subject was a lad of thirteen years, after which the family returned to their old home in Oneida County. William was the eldest of six sons and one daughter but all have now passed away with the exception of the daughter, Mrs. Angelina Chamberlain, who makes her home with relatives in this county.
In his youth, our subject learned the lessons of industry and self-reliance and at the tender age of twelve years began life for himself. His parents were in limited circumstances and it was necessary that he should begin to earn his own living. He was bound out to a farmer and served in the capacity of a farm hand until he had attained his majority. We thus see that his educational privileges must necessarily have been very meagre, but he possessed a studious disposition and determined to educate himself, which he did by reading, observation and study until he became a well-informed man, having a practical business education which was probably of more real benefit to him than that he could have obtained from text books. About 1835 he determined to try his fortune in the West and settled in Summit County, Ohio. Previously he had made a trip to Wisconsin, but returned to the Buckeye State where he married Miss Berthena Clark, whose entire life had been spent in the neighborhood where Mr. Brownell was living. They continued to reside in Summit County, where he became an extensive farmer. In 1875 he removed to Grant County, and one year later came to this county, when he purchased fifteen hundred and twenty acres of land in Scott Township. The greater part of this was unimproved. It lay in adjoining tracts and the best house upon it was worth only $50. In 1878 he brought his family to Iowa and resided upon and managed his extensive farm until his death. In that time he improved many acres and became a wealthy man. He died June 20, 1881, at the age of sixty-seven years, nine months and eight days.
The year following their arrival in Wisconsin the death of his first wife, Mrs. Berthena Brownell, occurred. She left a family of three children--B. S., who resides in Independence, Iowa; Lewis W., a well-known farmer of Scott Township residing upon a part of the estate; and Mrs. Ellen Swiggard who makes her home in Ohio. Mr. Brownell was again married in La Fayette County, Wis., wedding Mrs. Sarah Brownell, nee Tucker, widow of his brother. She is still living on the home farm with her son Grant. By the second marriage were born four children--George, a farmer of Scott Township; Frank and Grant S., both of whom are represented elsewhere in this work and Mrs. Nellie Manning, of Buchanan County. The children were all born in Wisconsin and educated in the public schools.
By nature Mr. Brownell was fitted for pioneer life. He was a man of great physical strength and endurance and bore easily its hardships. He possessed more than average business ability, was shrewd, enterprising, and his good judgement seldom led him into error. In early life he was a Whig and afterwards a stalwart Republican in political sentiment but never sought public preferment. The large estate which he left his family is now managed by his sons who show a business ability equal to their father's.
Grant S. Brownell, with whom the mother resides, is accounted one of the prosperous and enterprising young farmers of Scott Township. He was born in La Fayette County, Wis., in 1865, and in the usual manner of farmer lads was reared to manhood acquiring a good English education in the common schools. With the family he came to this county in 1878 and in the past thirteen years has here made his home. He operates his own and his mother's share of the estate, comprising five hundred and sixty acres of good farming land upon which is a comfortable home and every convenience in the way of buildings and machinery. He raises a good grade of stock and the well tilled fields indicate the care and supervision of the painstaking and careful manager who thoroughly understands his business.
In October, 1889, in Buchanan County, Mr. Brownell led to the marriage altar Miss Ada Manning, who was born in 1868, and is a daughter of Daniel Manning. They hold a high position in the social world and their friends throughout the county are many. He is a stanch Republican in politics and keeps himself well informed on the leading questions of the day, both political and otherwise. With his share of the estate as a foundation, we predict that Mr. Brownell will rapidly build up a fortune for he possesses the requisite business ability and his course thus far justifies us in our prediction.
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