John 11. Brown. Although all the years of his life since reaching
manhood and some before he attained his majority, have been devoted
to mercantile pursuits, John 1). Brown has never allowed himself to be so
completely absorbed in business as to neglect the plain duties of citizen-
ship in reference to public affairs, but has always been earnest in his
interest in the progress and further development of his home city and
county, and zealous and effective in his efforts to promote their enduring
welfare in every way he couid. He has worked for their advancement
along wholesome lines of progress as a private soldier in the ranks of
development workers, and also as an official charged with the respon-
sibility of helping to direct those forces.
Mr. Brown is not a native of Oakland county, or even of the state of
Michigan, but his interest in them is as great as if he were. He was
born in Rochester, Fulton cotmty, Indiana, on October 3, 1873. and is
a son of Angus and Lucy (Chinn) Brown, the former a native of County
Glengarry, province of Ontario, Canada, where his fife began on Feb-
ruary 14, 1832, and the latter born in Shelby county. Indiana, and reared
in Fuhon county in that state. The grandfather. Hugh Brown, was a
native and life-long resident of Canada. His wife was Christina Brown.
