Ira Brown b1818 grandson of Aaron & ?? Nieukirk
Not my family line.
The following Biographical sketch was copied from the book "HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY COUNTIES OF WHITE AND PULASKI, INDIANA. Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. Chicago; F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers. 1883.
page 702, Indian Creek Township, Pulaski County, Indiana.
"IRA BROWN (deceased) was born near Daretown, Salem County, New Jersey, October 30, 1813. His grandfather, AARON BROWN, appears in the history of that region about 1750, and it is probable that he was of Holland descent, as his wife's name was NIEUKIRK. WILLIAM BROWN, father of IRA, married HANNAH VAN METER, who bore him eight children - CHARLES, EDMUND, JASON, AARON, ELAM, IRA, EMILY, and DANIEL. IRA BROWN inherited nothing from his parents except a healthy body and a good name, and received, unfortunately, but one winter's schooling; nevertheless, he availed himself of every opportunity to learn, and eventually acquired a good education. In his twentieth year, he hired out to a Mr. COOK, who conducted a Hotel, a butcher shop and Tanyard, and while engaged in this varied service young BROWN gained a business experience which proved of great after benefit. In his twenty-third year, he started for Indiana, then a far distant country, walking the greater part of the way until he reached Franklin County, Indiana, and there he first saw the lady who afterward became his wife. In 1838, with a view to marrying and settling down, Mr. BROWN attended the land sale at La Porte, La Porte County, Indiana and bought a little over a quarter section in this Township, (Indian Creek, Pulaski County), at $1.375 per acre. In February, 1839, he married Miss SOPHIA BLEW, eldest daughter of JOHN and MARGARET (MOAK) BLEW. The BLEWS were Dutch people from New Jersey, and the MOAKS were Germans from Virginia. Young Mr. and Mrs. IRA BROWN arrived on their own land in this township (Indian Creek), May 30, 1839, and at once entered upon the life of the pioneer, enduring a long and hard struggle, but meeting, in course of time, an ample reward. In 1847, he built a frame dwelling containing six rooms; the stories were respectively nine and seven and a half feet high, and for this great folly he was severely criticized by his neighbors. In 1853, in company with JOHN DECKER, JONAS GOOD, Jr., and others, he built the first saw and flouring mill in the vicinity. He next served as one of the Commissioners having in charge the bridging of the river at Pulaski, to which he contributed largely from his private means. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in the county, and held office at several different times. In 1843, he was elected a Representative in the State Legislature, from the District composed of Pulaski, White and Jasper Counties, and his name appeared on the roll as "BROWN OF WHITE". In 1849, he was appointed Judge of Probate for the County, which position he filled until the office was abolished. He was a Democrat up to the Charleston Convention of 1860, when, being opposed to the extension of slavery, he withdrew from the party and supported Abraham Lincoln, and during the late war was a sterling patriot. He at first thought to enlist, but when his four sons enrolled themselves he was of necessity compelled to remain at home. In the fall of 1864, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and often afterward expressed regret that he had delayed so long. The first attack upon his health was made in the winter of 1870 - 1871, but nothing seemed to be alarming, however, and unexpectedly on the night of March 22, 1871, he died as he had lived, quiet, silent and resigned. His widow still survives him and resides on the old homestead. The names of their children are as follows - MICHAEL, lawyer and Judge of Circuit Court, Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Michigan; JAMES W., late Captain of Company H., Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and now a lawyer at Crete, Saline County, Nebraska; EDMUND R., merchant at Winamac, Monroe Township, Pulaski County, Indiana, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; STEPHEN I., physician at Francesville, Pulaski County, Indiana; HANNAH, who died in April, 1879, the wife of C. D. WOOD; SAMUEL G., a sketch who appears in this volume, EMILY and MARGARET, now living with their mother."