John Brown was born February 22, 1837, at what is known as Old Fort Brown. He died October 2, 1921. He was the son of Reuben Brown and Sarah (Parker) Brown. He was the grandson of Elder Daniel Parker, who established the first protestant church in Texas, of which his mother was a charter member. John Brown was born in what is now Houston County, on the banks of San Pedro Creek, in a fort built of post oak logs. This fort is mentioned in several books, as well as John’s obituary which appeared in the Grapeland Messenger on October 27, 1921. He was born, lived his entire life, died and was buried within one mile. He was a Civil War Veteran. He entered the service on August 9, 1861, and was a member of Hood’s Texas Brigade, 1st Regiment, Company.

Houston County. He was awarded the Southern Cross of Honor by the Daughter’s of the Confederacy, and attended many Veteran’sReunion, at which he received a reunion badge. All these are now in possession of his great grand daughter, LaWanda Pennington. John was first married to Izziebella Carolina Murchison. She was a daughter of William and Mary Wilson Murchison. She was born February 20, 1830 and died November 11, 1873. They had six children: 1. Daniel Frank Brown – born September 14, 1856; died April 22, 1929. He married Emily J. McKenzie, They had two children: Luther Howard Brown I, and Carrie Brown Skidmore. 2. William Reuben (Will) was born January 9, 1860. He married Bettie Dickey. They had three children: Clyde Brown, Mary Lou (Brown) Kelly; and Flora (Brown) Pennington 3. Sarah E. Brown, born April 15, 1866, died April 14, 1867 4. Lucy Texanna Brown – born November 29, 1867, died 1955, married Rufe Woodard 5. John Washington Brown – (called Johnny), born April 23, 1870. He married Linda Anderson. They had five children: twins, Olen and Eula, Laura Belle Brown, Marshall Brown and Amy Brown 6. Mary Isabelle (Bell) Brown –born November 3, 1873, never married. Following the death of his first wife, John Brown married Mary Lucy Dickey born May 9, 1849, died December 21, 1924. Mary was the daughter of William Houston Dickey and Rachel Telitha (Lively) Dickey. To John and Mary Brown, two daughters were born: 1. Minnie Ann Brown – born 1875, died July 20, 1935. She married Andrew Burnydot (Dot) Dunnam. They had seven children: Ottis Abner Dunnam; Lula Virginia (Dunnam) Jones; John Odell Dunnam; Burny Woodberry; Ruby Orlene (Dunnam) Knight; Fredric Milton Dunnam; and Edna Mae Dunnam Bunt. 2. Telitha Virginia Brown – born May 14, 1876, died March 18, 1963. She married William Claude Owens. They had four children: Lester Grady Owens, Golden Harley Owens, Era (Owens) Thetford, and Garland Owens.