The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Franklin Township, pages 594-595
John Wesley Brown, section 26, Franklin Township, is a son of Amiel and Susannah Brown. He was born Sept. 26, 1836, on the farm where he now resides. He was married Sept. 26, 1859, to Sarah J. Smart, daughter of Isaac Smart, who came from Ohio to this township in 1851, at present living in Cass County, Mo. To them were born two children--Virgil died at the age of six months and Effie died at the age of two years. Mrs. Brown died Jan.21, 1862, aged twenty-one years, and Mr. Brown married for his second wife Mrs. M. W. Critchfield, widow of J.G. Critchfield. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., a daughter of Robert and Eliza Turner. They have two children--Ora A. and Jessie W. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are consistent members of the Christian Church. Mr. Brown has served acceptably as Township Trustee, and has been prominently identified with all enterprises for the good of his township. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Amiel Brown, father of our subject, was born Sept. 10, 1810, in Guilford County, N.C., and in 1826 his parents, James and Rebecca Brown, moved to Wayne County, Ind., from thence to Morgan County and subsequently settled in Iowa, where they died. Amiel Brown was married in 1832 to Susannah Burris, a native of Highland County, Ohio, and a daughter of John Burris. They reared seven children--Mrs. Louisa Jane Crawford, died at Stilesville, May 22, 1884; John W., our subject; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Swope, a resident of Stilesville; Mrs. Mary F. Dunnington, deceased; Verlin G., living in Kansas; Mrs. Carrie E. Hollingsworth, deceased, and Laura P., residing in Stilesville. After his marriage Mr. Brown settled in Liberty Township, and in 1835, moved to Clay Township. He came to this township in 1844, settling on a farm on section 26, which contains 160 acres of excellent land and is now owned and occupied by our subject. Amiel Brown died at the old homestead April 13, 1869. His wife died Aug. 2, 1883, in her seventy-fourth year. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.