HON. BARKER BROWN was born in Bourbon County, Ky., December 5th, 1824,
son of John and Polly (Searight) Brown, and is of Scotch-German descent.
The father of Mr. Brown was born in Mason County, Ky., July 10th, 1792,
and died April 7th, 1857, in Rush County, Ind. The subject's mother was
born in Bourbon County, Ky., December 25th, 1800, and now resides in
this county, near Milroy. The Brown family came to Rush County in 1825,
and settled in Anderson Township. The subject of this sketch was the
only child born to his parents. He was reared on the farm and received
a good common school education, and at the age of nineteen years he began
teaching school, which he continued for three years. In 1848, he
commenced farming for himself and has since followed that vocation, and
now owns more than 600 acres of land, and also one of the finest
residences in Milroy. In January, 1887, he removed to Milroy, and in the
following April engaged in the grain business in partnership with William
Root. In politics, he was formerly a Whig, but since 1854, has been an
ardent Democrat, and manifests an active interest in the affairs of that
party. In 1850, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served four
years. In 1862, Mr. Brown was Citizen Wagonmaster of the Sixty-eighth
Indiana Volunteers, and was taken prisoner near Mumfordsville [sic],
Ky. In 1863, he assisted to drive Morgan from the state. In 1874, he was
elected Joint Representative from the counties of Rush, Decatur and Ripley,
by a majority of 750. In 1880, he was a candidate for re-election, and was
defeated, and in 1882 was again nominated for Representative and a second
time defeated by the Republicans. The marriage of Mr. Brown occurred in
1848 to Miss Nancy Farlow, a native of Rush County, who was born October
lst, 1828, daughter of Hiram and Betsey (Townsend) Farlow, natives
respectively of North Carolina and Kentucky. To this union four children
were born, viz.: George W., Mary A., Elizabeth E. (deceased), and Joseph W.
(deceased). Mr. Brown is a Universalist, and is a prominent and highly
respected citizen. His portrait appears elsewhere in this volume.
