Reverend Martin Collins Brown of Texas County, Missouri

Rev. Martin Collins Brown, or "Parson Brown," as he is familiarly known, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Cabool, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., January 14, 1831, and is the son of Jesse and Mary (Hicks) Brown, and grandson of Hezekiah Brown, one of the pioneers of Flat Creek, Bedford Co., Tenn. His nativity is uncertain. Jesse Brown was a native of Tennessee, and was a farmer by occupation. He went to Illinois in 1840, and located near Shawneetown, where he died one year later, at the age of forty-one years. His wife, Mrs. Mary (Hicks) Brown, was a native of South Carolina, and the daughter of James Hicks, who was a native of Ireland and who settled in South Carolina in pioneer days. Rev. Martin Collins Brown was the seventh child and only son in a family of ten children. He attained his growth on his father's farm, and in 1850 was united in marriage to Miss Cordelia Brown, of Illinois. He then farmed and taught school for about seven years, and in 1854 he professed religion, and with his wife joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. About eighteen months after this he united with the presbytery of that church, and began preaching, and at the same time carried on his teaching. Up to 1867 he traveled as a missionary through Southern Illinois, and in the spring of that year he went to Franklin County, Kas., where he remained, engaged in his ministerial work, until 1871, when he returned to Franklin County, Ill. In the spring of 1876 he moved to Texas County, locating on a farm on Elk Creek, and remained there until this year. He has 180 acres of valuable land; is a breeder of hogs and cattle, and is doing well. He is the father of these children: Jesse M., of Elk Creek; Emily, wife of Morgan Stotts, a farmer of Bates County, Mo.; Wiley Luther, a farmer of Elk Creek; Julia, deceased wife of George Marsh, of Washington Territory, and who left a daughter; Agnes, wife of Gideon Harmon, of Piney Township, Texas Co., Mo.; George B., a farmer; Charity M., James M., Josie Minnie and Maggie T. Of this family all are well educated, and bright lights in their social relations. The three eldest sons have taught school. Parson Brown is a public-spirited gentleman, and contributes liberally to all objects having for their aim the general advancement of his locality. He has assisted greatly in the building of a new Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Cabool, and has rendered considerable aid to other church work.