Emerald E. Brown, superintendent of public instruction of Greenwood county, is a native Kansan. He was born on a farm in Chautauqua county, near Sedan, November 10, 1886, and is a son of Jackson R. and Ida (Failger) Brown. The father is a native of Missouri and was born in St. Louis county, December 11, 1864, a son of John and Lucinda (Stein) Brown, both natives of Missouri. Jackson R. Brown came to Kansas in 1882 and bought a farm in Chautauqua county, where he was successfully engaged in farming until 1892, when he removed to Manhattan. He remained there but a short time, when he bought a farm in Greenwood county, which he conducted until 1913, when he retired and removed to Eureka, where he now resides.

Ida Failger, the wife of Jackson R. Brown, was born in Harrisburg, November 5, 1864. She was the daughter of Jacob Failger, who came to Kansas with his family in 1871, locating in Cherokee county, where they remained until 1879, when they removed to Sedan. The father died at Manhattan, October 11, 1908.

Emerald E. Brown, the subject of this review, is the elder of two children, the younger being Elsie May, born May 1, 1889. She is a graduate of the Manhattan High School of the class of 1905, and of the State Agricultural College of the class of 1909, and is now the wife of Arthur Rose, of Salina, Kan. They have one child. Emerald E. Brown was educated in the public schools of Chautauqua and Greenwood counties, and graduated in the Madison High School, class of 1902. He then attended the Kansas State Agricultural College one year and the State Normal School at Emporia two years, at the same time teaching at intervals. He was the principal of the Fall River school one year, and in 1910 was elected county superintendent of schools of Greenwood county, and reëlected to that position in 1912. During his administration of the office he has introduced many practical reforms. He has consolidated several of the smaller school districts into central schools, which is giving excellent results, and he is recognized as one of the progressive educators of the State.

Mr. Brown is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a close student, a keen observer and is well fitted for the responsible position which he holds.