Biography - Benjamin F. Brown, M.D.
1878 Biography
BENJAMIN F. BROWN, M.D., was born in Troupsburg, Steuben county, N.Y., on March 5, 1839. He was educated at Troupsburg Academy; studied medicine three years with Dr. McFarling, and graduated from the Albany Medical College, N.Y. He was Alderman two years in the city of Oneida. Dr. Brown was Assistant Surgeon three years during the rebellion; he was married on Nov. 20, 1866, to Jennie McCornack, has five children, all boys. He is a member of the M. E. Church; held the office of Steward for the past five years. Political views, Republican. Postoffice, Oneida.
Contributed by Joan Achille, extracted from the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois, published by Charles C. Chapman
Biography by Patti Smith
Benjamin
was the son of Joseph Brown and Sally Bartle of Troupsburg, NY. He began his
study of medicine at 19 years of age. When the Civil War started he enlisted
in the army where he was assigned as the hospital steward in the Washington,
DC area for 3 years. He served as a Assistant Surgeon at the Trinity Church
Hospital in Georgetown and the Judiciary Square Hospital in Washington, DC.
Later he was promoted to the Office of Surgeon, US Navy, where he served for
one year and was honorably discharged. After the Civil war, B. F. enrolled
in the Albany Medical College (NY) and attended the third course of lectures
and graduated with honors. B. F. declined the invitation of his friends to
follow his profession near his home town. He left NY in 1866 and moved to
Oneida in Knox Co, IL. There he established a medical practice which he
maintained until his death 13 years later.
Reported in Oneida News: Alderman in Oneida, IL for 2 years. Farm was
located west of Oneida on Pilot Knob.
Mr. Brown was twice married. The first marriage was to Josie Pittard of
Oneida, Dec. 25, 1895, and she died on May 23, 1926. On Dec. 26, 1928, he
married Florence McClure of Altona. During his long and useful life, Mr.
Brown was interested not only in his immediate business but in civic affairs
generally. While in Oneida he served as a director of the Oneida High school
board. At Yates city he served on the grade school board and was also a
director of the Salem-Elba Fire Protection district. He was a very public
spirited citizen, supporting all meritorious community endeavors. He was a
member of the Ontario Congregational church.
Jennie was the daughter of Robert McCornack and Jane Gordon McDowell
emigrants to Knox County from Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. Charles
McCornack was a elevator operator and farmer. He grew to manhood in the
Oneida community and engaged in farming. For 16 years he operated a grain
elevator at Oneida. Then moving to Yates City, he operated an elevator there
for 10 years. He retired to reside in Galva. Jennie died in Feb. 1878 and
Benjamin married Jeanie Ross daughter of David Ross & Sarah McCreadie.
Three
sons of Benjamin F. Brown were:
(1) Edwin Watson who became a prominent farmer in Mitchell, NE, raising
pedigreed hogs and cattle. He was the owner of a famous boar which was the
prize winner at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
(2) Eli who died in 1888.
(3) Mark Hamilton who died in 1887.
Benjamin died suddenly in April 1879 and the 5 brothers were left as orphans
in the care of their pregnant step-mother and her (Jennie's) brother John
McCornack as the guardian. After John died on May 20 1885 , Andrew McCornack
and Andrew Anderson (relation?)(Jennie's stepmother was a Anderson) were
named guardians. The brothers and their half-sister lived with Jeannie Ross
Brown.
