JOHN J. BROWNING was born in Woodstock township, Schuyler county, Illinois, July 4, 1857, a son of James H. and Sarah E. (Hall) Browning. The paternal grandparents, Abner and Nancy Browning, were natives of Virginia, but passed their last days in Hancock county, Illinois, dying at the ages of eighty-two and seventy-eight years. James H. was born in Virginia, May 8, 1818, and was but four years of age when his parents moved to Kentucky; there he was reared to agricultural pursuits until he was sixteen years of age, when he came to Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois. In 1834, he purchased a portion of the land on which John J. Browning now resides; there he lived until his death, which occurred August 19, 1883. His wife, Sarah E. (Hall) Browning, was born September 28, 1831, in Wayne county, Kentucky, and died February 28, 1883; she was one of a family of ten children, and the father was one of eight. Politically he adhered to the principles of the Democratic party; for twenty years he was Justice of the Peace, and he held the office of Supervisor at the time of his death. He was prominently connected with the political history of the county, and for many years was a preacher in the Christian Church. He was married to the mother of our subject, September 7, 1856.

Mr. Browning was, himself, united in marriage December 25, 1884, to Miss Mary Sweeney, who was born in Jefferson county, Missouri, March 25, 1858; her parents, Michael and Margaret (Gavin) Sweeney, were natives of county Galway, Ireland, and emigrated to America, first settling in New York State; later they removed to Missouri, and there Mr. Sweeney was engaged in farming until 1861; in that year he came to Schuyler county, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Browning are the parents of three children: Pearl B., born October 23, 1885; Alta M., born July 27, 1888; and Lizzie M., born February 27, 1891. Until 1884 Mr. Browning resided on the home farm; he then purchased a tract of land, which with the inheritance from his father covers 300 acres; the land is under excellent cultivation, and in all branches of husbandry he has been successful. Politically he supports the issues of the Democratic party, but takes no active interest in the movements of that body.