WILLIAM J. BROWN, who was a
prosperous and well-known farmer of Ledyard, was born in this town, August
31, 1841, son of James J. and Sophia E. (Crandall) Brown. The father was
a native of Rhode Island, born near Hopkinton, April 3, 1806. When five
years old, as his parents had a large family of children, he left home
to live with his uncle, James Woodbridge, a large land-owner of Ledyard,
who had no children. His marriage with Sophia E. Crandall was solemnized
in 1840. She was born May 15, 1811. They became the parents of two sons—
William J. and Albert Z. Albert is a farmer on a portion of the old Woodbridge
farm. The mother was nearly eighty-four when she died on March 4, 1895.
William J. Brown supplemented a district-school
education with three terms of study in Dr. Hart's High School at Stonington
Point. When nineteen years old he began teaching, which calling he followed
in the winter season for several years. The most of his life, however,
was spent in agricultural pursuits. He died January 2, 1897, on the farm
whereon he had passed his last fourteen years.
On September 14, 1882, Mr. Brown married
Mrs. Jennie A. Sabin, the widow of Charles Sabin, by whom she had no children.
She is a daughter of Henry and Lucy (Smith) Denison, who were natives respectively
of Stonington and Groton, Conn. Mr. Denison thirty years ago settled on
this farm of one hundred acres, and continued to live here until his death,
April 5, 1885. Mrs. Brown then succeeded to the property. Her parents'
ten children, three sons and seven daughters, grew to maturity; and eight
are living in this section. Her mother died May 23, 1872, in her seventy-fifth
year. Mr. Denison lacked but three days of ninety-two years of age at the
time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one daughter living, Jennie
E., born July 6, 1883, who is an apt scholar in the common branches of
study, and possesses considerable musical talent.
Though afflicted with heart-disease for years,
Mr. Brown was always a hard worker, and at his death left his wife and
daughter in good circumstances. Mr. Brown was always prominent in public
affairs, and highly esteemed in the community as a man of sterling worth.
He represented Ledyard in the State legislature for two terms, and served
as School Visitor for several years, taking a deep interest in educational
matters. Mrs. Brown and daughter are members of the First Groton
Baptist Church. They reside on the farm.
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 301 - 302
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