JAMES B. BROWN is a son of Henry BROWN, a native of Wake County, N. C. The gather received a limited education, and came to Tennessee in 1833, locating in Bedford County where he engaged in farming. He was married in 1830 to Miss Sarah K. ALSTON, whose ancestors were from North Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. BROWN were born the following family of children: Aley A., Comer N., S.L., L.S., J.J., A.S., J.B., Lucy F. and G.A. and one who died in infancy. Mr. BROWN died at this residence near Shelbyville in 1875. He was a member of the order of Sons of Temperance, and he and his wife, who died in 1873, were members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
James B., our subject, was born May 1, 1848, and spent his boyhood days on a farm. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point when but eighteen years of age, and remained there about one year. He finished his education at the Union University at Murfreesboro, Tenn., after which he served an apprenticeship at photography, and followed that occupation three years. He then turned his attention to farming and horticulture, and his farm is known as the “Home Nursery Farm”. He was married December 15, 1875, to Sarah J. HIX, daughter of John C. and Emily HIX, and by her is the father of five children: Cora E., Abbie P., Maud M., Alice E. and Lula S., who is deceased. Mr. BROWN is a member of the Masonic and K. of H. Fraternities, and of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Source: Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.