Herbert A. BROWN, who is the general manager of the Carlisle Mill and Elevator Company, was born in Rockport, Spencer county, Indiana, December 9, 1860, son of Thomas H. and Martha (Jones) Brown. Thomas Brown was born in Russellville, Ohio, February 4, 1809, and died in Princeton, Indiana, April 2, 1900. He was of Pennsylvania German descent. He was a drover and stock dealer, and also handled real estate. He came to Spencer county, Indiana, in 1818, with his parents, Conrad Brown and wife. They located on the bluffs and built a log cabin at a point where is now located the county seat of Spencer county. Conrad was a farmer. Thomas H. Brown lived in Spencer county until 1888, at which time he went to Princeton, Indiana, where he lived until his death. He was supporter of the Republican party and served three terms (six years) as sheriff. He was a member of the Masonic lodge and took much interest in Masonry. His wife was born in Spencer county, Indiana, September 7, 1830, and died April 21, 1900. She was of English descent and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were united in marriage in Spencer county, Indiana, in 1852, and were the parents of six children, as follows: John Y., residing in Princeton, Indiana, where he is engaged in the livery business; Adalie A., wife of Prelot Rounds, an electrical engineer, residing, in Providence, Rhode Island; Herbert A. of this sketch; Harry T., residing in Los Angeles, California, and engaged as a contractor and builder; Nora, wife of Charles Morris, residing in Troy, Ohio; he is a tobacco dealer; Mary, wife of R. L. Tichenor, residing in Princeton, Indiana, where he is engaged in the livery business.
Reared in Rockport, Indiana, and educated in the same place, Herbert A. Brown was sixteen years of age when he began to learn the miller's trade in his native town. He continued there three years, then went to Eureka, Spencer county, where he remained about six months. He next went to Hazelton, Gibson county, Indiana, where he remained two years, working as a miller. He then went to Carmi, Illinois, but remained there only a short time, when he moved to Sumner, that state, and lived there two years. The next six years he spent in Vincennes, Indiana, with J. & S. Emison. He then went back to Hazelton and engaged in the milling business on his own account, remaining between four and five years. Thinking to better his condition, he moved to Webster, Missouri, remaining a few months and then went to Lawrenceville, Illinois, where he remained two years, going from there to Birds, Illinois, and engaging in milling for himself. Two years later, he went to Princeton, Indiana, and engaged with the Zenith Milling Company for three months. In the month of June, 1903, he went to Carlisle, Indiana, and operated the mill for Wiley Brenton for about two and a quarter years, since which date he has been operating the mill for the Carlisle Mill and Elevator Company; he is the head miller and general manager of the mill. This is a high grade flour-producing plant and the product is shipped to all parts of the country. They also buy and ship all kinds of grain. The "Golden Eagle" brand of their flour is a trade-winner and has given Mr. Brown a wide reputation as a flour maker.
Mr. Brown is a Republican in his political views, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum lodge at Vincennes, Indiana; the Court of Honor in Carlisle; No. 60 Tribe of Ben Hur at Carlisle, and the Mutual Protective League Council No. 226, at Litchfield, Illinois, as well as holding membership with the T. P. A. at Vincennes. He was married August 27, 1881, to Laura Briscoe, born in Warrick, county, Indiana, May 17, 1860. She is the daughter of With and Adeline (Brown) Briscoe, both natives of Warrick county, and both now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of three children, only one of whom is living: Agnes, born in Sumner, Illinois, November 13, 1882. She is still at home and is a graduate of the J. Smith Business College, at Vincennes, Indiana. For two years she was employed with Bay & Company's wholesale house in Vincennes, resigning on account of her mother's failing health. The other two children died in their infancy. Mr. Brown's wife and daughter are acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal church.