GEORGE HENRY BROWN. Prominent among the enterprising farmers l of Alpine township is George Henry Brown, born February 20, 1858, on the home where he now lives. He is the third child of Elisha and Laura (Bradish) Brown, the others being Julia M., wife of Andrew Welton, of Grand Rapids, and Mattie M., a teacher for ten years in the Grandville avenue school, and James Warren Brown, of Grand Rapids, a traveling salesman. His father was a native of Geneseo, N. Y., and dated his nativity June 24, 1828. He came to Michigan in 1848, with his parents, Avery and Martha Brown. After marriage he located on section No. 29, Alpine township, where he made his home until a few years prior to his death. He sold agricultural implements and established his business in the city about twenty-four years since, in which he continued until his death, September 21, 1892. His son, Frank E. Brown, was associated with him, and the business is now conducted under the firm name of Brown & Schler, who are familiar to all the farmers of Kent county. His wife was also born at Geneseo, N. Y., January 7, 1827. She came to Michigan with her husband, he having returned to New York for her, and has since made her home in this state, at present residing with her daughter at Grand Rapids. George Henry Brown began life for himself when about twenty-four years of age, prior to this having lived with his parents, and from his fifteenth year in company with his brothers carried on the farm, his father then traveling in the interest of the implement trade. The most important step he took after attaining his majority was to secure a helpmate, and he continued farming on the old homestead. He has pursued the same vocation to the present, and now owns a fine farm of 210 acres, 131 of which he has added. By intelligent management and closely persistent attention to business he has made farming win, and stands to-day a representative of the better element of Kent county's many successful farmers. On April 4, 1882, he was married to Miss Elva Norton, a native of Alpine township, born in the year I862, and the second child born to Nelson and Mary (Hiscock) Norton. Her father was a native of Lenawee county, Mich. When young he lived with his parents, John and Harriet Norton, at Grand Rapids, and after considerable moving about finally located permanently in section No. 23, Alpine, where he still resides. Her mother was born near Battle Creek, Mich., in the year I838, and still lives on the old Alpine home. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have three children-Jesse, a student in the Agricultural college at Lansing; Bertha, at home, and William Loomis. In politics Mr. Brown is a supporter of the McKinley doctrine. Both he and his amiable wife are members of the Alpine and Walker Congregational church, and are ever ready to assist in a good cause.