COLUMBIA A N I) MONTOUR COUNTIES came die sole propriclor. H e ilcah in books, slationcry, artiais' supplies, clc., and it was he who circulated the first daily newspaper in Danville, this branch o f his business grow ing steadily from the time he started it. He w as a member of the firm o f Brow n & G ear hart. general mercliants, formeil in 1837, and sold out in 18 4 1. F o r a time M r. Brown bad a position with the Pcim syivania Railroad Company, as tourist ticket agent. M r. Brown .also took a leading jKirt in the government of the borough, serving as mem ber of the council, one term as burgess, and fo r many years a s one of the most iiiflucnti.al members of the school ixu rd, o f which body he was treasurer over iliirty-fi%'e years. I ’olilicaliy he w as a Republican, in religious con nection a mcmlKC of the Mcthmlist Episcopal Church, which he served as one of the build ing committee. Ilis w ife also belonged to that church. F o r about fifty-one years he was a Mason and a member u f the I. O . C). F ., )>clonging to Danville Lodge, No. 224, 1'. & .. M., and to Odd Fellows l-o<lgc, No. 299. In 1837 .Mr. Brown nurried Sarah .Ann Ciearhart, who was u f (iennan origin, daugh ter o f John and Sophia (Bow'm an) (icarhart. and they had a f.'imily o f four children: Ben ton B .; Melissa D., liorn .Aug. 23, 1842. Mrs. Ostrander, o f D anville; John G ., born Feb. » ), 1852, of .Meriden, Conn.; and AVillwm G.. o f D.anviIIc. M r. Brown died M ay 27. 181/1. .Airs. Brown in August, igoo. Benton H. Brown grew to manhood in Dan ville, receiving his education in the public schools and academy, and his early business experience as clerk in his father’s store. He w as thus engaged until 18 6 1, when he enlisted, A pril 22d. in Company C . 14th Pennsylvania A’oluntccr In fan tiy. for three months. He w as also in the Union scr-ice under a sulise<|uent enlistment, on Jan . 22. 18614. in Com pany C . 187th Pennsylvanu Regiment, and received his discharge Aug. 5. 1H65. F o r some years after the war he w as an apprentice in a machine s Ik i |i, continuing in this work until i8 8 i. Then he became associateil with the local Rovemment. with which he has ever since lieen connected in one officbl cajucity or .mother. In Fcbruar)-. 1887. he w as ciccleil assessor fo r the Third ward. ser% ing one year. In 1893 he w as elected constable and high constable, which offices he is still hohling. In 1897 he w as appointed health officer for the liorough ami h e held that office continuously to Feb. 1 . 19 13 . meantime, in 1905. receiving the appointment o f State health officer, in
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which he served until Dec. 3, 19 12 . H is work in this caiucity was highly commend able and notably efficient and worthy of the appreciation his fellow citizens showed by retaining him in the public service for so long a ]>criod. .Air. Brow n is prominent in lodge circles, being a (ust grand o f IxKlgc No. 109, I. O . O . F ., and a i>asi comni,mder o f G . A . R . I'ost No. 22. H e is a member o f St. I ’aul’s M. E . Church. On Feb. 4. 18(14, Mf- Brown was united in m.-irrbgc with .Alary Elizabeth Bassett, and their home is on Walnut street. T hey have two living children: T arring (Je arlu rt Brown m arried N ora J . Seidel, o f D anville; M ary is the w ife o f Beverly Whiting Mussclrmin, iiunagcr of the Gkilw A ’arehousc, o f Danville, A and has one child, Elizabeth; George, de ceased. left one chiUi. K irk Wellwuod Brown, living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. W iu.tAM G . B kown . youngest of the fam ily o f (Jeorge B . and Sarah Ann (G earhart) Brow n, w as born Aug. 14. 1857. in Danville, in the Brown building on M ill street which he still occupies. H e was educated in the common schools. In 1875 .md 1876 he was cmjiloyed in Houston's machine shop at Montgom cty station, and during 1877 became en gaged as news agent on the Reading railroad under B . F. Gowan. serving as such for two vears. When he ^avc up this work he went into the cigar business, which he carried on until a short time after his marriage. F.'iiling in business in 18 8 1, he commenced to scr%-c an apprenticeship at the machinist’s trade with the Montour Iron 8: Steel Company, and after completing his four years o f service s|>cnt eight years more in the same employ, as a journeyman machinist. During this time he w as sent out to work fo r C u rry & A’annan, and also fo r the North Branch Steel Com pany. when the services o f an extra mechanic were rc<piired. H e worked faithfully to Ijquid.'itc all his obligations after his failure in business, and succeeded, paying cent for cent, and no nwn in Danville has any higher standing to-day. his integrity and reliability hcing unimpeachable. He owns the Brown building un Mill street, containing office and store rooms, and has other valuable profferty in the borough. He also has a ni.u'hinc shop and garage, where he has built up an excel lent business, making a specialty o f rc|>air work. On M.ay 13. 1880. M r. Brown married Kcturah Antrim, who w as liorn Nov. 25. 1858.
