Rev. Nathaniel Brown, grandfather of Wilder and Walter, came from Strafford, Orange County, Vt., in 1809, and located at West Bethany, on the place now owned by John S. Baldwin. He was the first Freewill Baptist minister west of the Genesee River. He organized the first church of that denomination there in 1809. He was a pensioner of the Revolution. Rev. Mr. Brown, after coming to West Bethany, preached for the people there the remainder of his life without compensation. On one occasion he was induced to take one dollar, and before he arrived home he gave it away to a poor man. Col. Daniel Brown, his youngest son, was born at the old home in Orange County, Vt., August 10, 1806, and came in 1810 with his parents to the home his father had located in 1809. He received a fair education for that early day, and was a man well versed in all matters concerning the welfare of his country and County. He was a fluent public speaker, and was colonel of the i6th N. Y. Cav. He first married Julia Lounsbury, by whom he had three children, Jane, Laura, and Marquis. For his second wife he married Elanora A. Cook, and they had nine children, viz.: Wilder, Julia. Emerette, Cassius, Walter, Sarah, Abigail, Marquis, 2d, and Alice. Wilder, born May 28, 1841, received a common school education, and is a carpenter and farmer by occupation. November 29, 1865, he married Frances E., youngest daughter of Charles Lorish, of Linden. They have one son, Cassius Stanley, born April 3. 1875, Col. Daniel Brown died March 31, 1879. Walter Brown was born February 13, 1847, and received a good education. He has a good intellect with perceptive faculties well developed, and is a farmer and general dealer. December 31, 1872, he married H. Jenne, youngest daughter of the late Harry G. Lincoln, of Bethany. They have one son, Leon H. D., born May r4, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are living on road 19, adjoining the Col. Brown homestead.

FROM: Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, New York, Edited by: F. W. Beers, J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890