HON. ROBERT BROWN was born at Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois, October 19, 1835, a son of John and Jane (Beckett) Brown; the father was a native of Fayette county, Kentucky, and emigrated to this State about 1831, settling at Rushville; he was a carpenter by occupation, and followed this calling until his death at the age of fifty-eight years; the mother was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and died in this county at the age of sixty-six years; they had born to them a family of ten children, five of whom are living. Robert Brown remained at home until he was thirty-one years of age, when he was married. At the age of twenty-four he was practically at the head of a large family, but he early developed remarkable business ability, and was quite equal to the cares that devolved upon him.

He was united to Miss Mary M. S. Hoffman, October 31, 1866. She was born in Woodstock township, Schuyler county, Illinois, September 7, 1845, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret C. (Narding) Hoffman; Samuel Hoffman was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Illinois in 1838, and here spent the remainder of his life; he was a soldier in the Mexican war, and died of a fever contracted in the service, at the age of twenty-eight years; he was a son of Joseph and Mary (Meyers) Hoffman, natives of Pennsylvania; Margaret C. Narding was born in France, October 26, 1822, and emigrated with her parents to America in 1823; they first settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1839 came to Illinois and located in Woodstock township, Schuyler county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had born to them five children, four of whom are living: Robert W., born October 26, 1868; Lilly J., born April 28, 1870; Herman H., born June 14, 1875; Edward C., born August 24, 1880.

After his marriage Mr. Brown bought eighty acres of land, a portion of the farm he now owns; as his means increased he invested in land, and now has 400 acres in a body in Woodstock township. In 1881 he replaced the old log house which had been a home for so many years with a modern structure, and he has made many valuable improvements upon the place; he does a general farming business, but makes a specialty of high grades of blooded stock.

Politically, Mr. Brown was identified with the Democratic party, but was elected to the State Senate by Democrats and Grangers by a majority of 1,476; he served four years, giving entire satisfaction to his constituency; he was a member of several important committees, and always showed a wise consideration of the subject in question. He was a member of the School Board for fifteen years, and has favored elevating the educational standards, and has filled the office of Supervisor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the State Grange. In addition to the business interests mentioned, Mr. Brown is a stockholder in the Bank of Rushville. He is a man of excellent business ability, his judgment carrying great weight. He has accumulated his property through his own unaided efforts, and he is in every way worthy of the esteem in which he is held.