Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 212 - 213

 J. M. BROWNSON.  Mr. Brownson's business until recently was that of a carpenter, contractor and builder; he has retired, however, from active labor for the present.  He came to Wichita in 1872, commenced building operations in 1876, and followed it three years, but in July, 1880, he had a fall from a scaffold that laid him up for a month.  He was disabled by that fall for so active a business, and went into a grocery store, where he remained for three years.  Since that time he has been keeping quiet.

      In 1886 Mr. Brownson put up two fine houses on his city lots; he resides at No. 228 Topeka avenue.  This property he built on in 1874.  The lot of fifty feet cost $100 in 1873, but he was offered $10,000 for it in 1886.  This is an indication of the wonderful growth of values in Wichita.  Mr. Brownson is a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he first saw the light of day, according to record, on the 26th of May, 1838.  He is the son of Leonard I. and Harriet (Brewster) Brownson, natives respectively of Richmond and Cambridge, Vt.; he was a millwright, and worked at that trade until his death, in 1853.  To them were born seven children, five of whom are now living--J. M., Leonard I., Betsy M., Hattie and Cynthia.  Asa died in 1854, at the age of fifteen; Betsy M. married a Mr. Bullard;  Hattie selected Mr. Dewey for her life partner, while Cynthia and Mr. Fletcher agreed to go through the world the same road together.

      Leonard I. is mentioned as the father of J. M., and his father's and mother's names were Asa and Betsy (Pickins) Brownson; they were from New York State.  The father of Harriet Brewster was named Alvah, of New York; her mother's name was Cynthia (Page) Brewster, of the same State.  Alvah's father was Jonah, a native of Massachusetts.  Reverting again to the name that heads this biographical notice, we find he was reared on a farm till he was twenty-two years old.  He then enlisted in Company K, 5th Vermont, as a private, and was in the Federal service from June, 1861, to September, 1865; was in the memorable battle of the Wilderness three times, receiving two slight wounds.  While participating in the battle of Spottsylvania he received a wound in the left shoulder which threw him off duty for six months, at the end of which time he was detailed in the veteran troops.  He was promoted to First Sergeant in 1862, and was in three battles at Fredericksburg, then at South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, Funkstown, and many others, besides the siege of the Wilderness, and with Gen. McClellan in the Peninsular campaign.

      After the war was over Mr. Brownson went to Ralls County, Mo., where he got 100 acres of land, improved it, and remained there five years.  Then he removed to the city where he now lives.  For a wife he selected Mrs. Amanda Laylin, of Missouri; she was a daughter of Stewart Self, of Virginia.  By his marriage with Amanda Laylin three children were born: Sherman S., a student in the High School; Josie L. and Lettie E.

      Mr. Brownson had the great misfortune to lose his dear wife on the 9th of November, 1886.  She was born March 19, 1845.  For ten years she was a consistent member of the Baptist Church.  Mr. Brownson is a member of the  Masonic fraternity, and votes the Republican ticket.

[ Home ]