JOHN REUWEE BROWN, a late greatly respected farmer of Walker township, Kent county, Mich., was born near Verona, Oneida county, N. Y., May 14, 1829, and his parents, Frederick and Betsey (Douglas) Brown, were respectively natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut. When John R. was three years of age they removed to Byron, Genesee county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood and worked at painting some years. He married, March 29, 1854, in Byron, Miss Phebe M. Benton, who was born in England. In August, 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Brown came to Michigan and located on section No. I8, in Walker township, on land he had already bought, as he had been here a couple of times before. His first house was a small cabin, and he had a small clearing already made with four or five acres of wheat on the place. The tract was originally heavily timbered, but he improved it And lived on it ten years. He bought the first eighty acres of the present farm in I864. Later he added an adjoining forty acres, and built his late home in I875. Starting on this farm with only fifty acres improved, he has made one of the most desirable farms devoted to general farming, an important adjunct being a nice orchard of several acres. He through life kept systematic accounts of his business, which show that for the first three years on this farm his profits were $5,ooo. He strictly followed that method of keeping memoranda touching various matters, so that his diary is a record, not only touching his own family but those of all the neighborhood. Formerly Mr. Brown was for 29 some years school superintendent for the township when teachers were examined locally and was ever much interested in school work. He taught school in New York at nineteen years of age, although he had only a country school education, supplemented by a short course in a high school. He also taught in Kent and Ottawa counties, Mich., for sixteen terms, hiring the farm improved by the wages thus earned, but kept up his interest as school director, etc. In politics Mr. Brown was a republican but was not often found in party councils. When spiritual manifestations began to attract the attention of thoughtful minds, in New York, half a century ago, both Mr. Brown and the lady who became his wife were drawn to its truths, and both espoused the belief. Later and more mature investigations only tended to emphasize their interest and confirm their faith. They became earnest followers and experienced such personal communications from the spirit world, that when his companion passed on, it became the theme most uppermost in his mind, and he longed, also, to go to take up that other existence and commune with her, with whom so many joyful years were passed. Realizing the importance in organization, he became a charter member of Harmony grange, P. of HI., at its organization more than twenty-five years ago, and ever remained in close touch with the work of the order. He was twice master of that grange and at his death was its treasurer. He was sent as delegate to the state grange, and ever felt great confidence in the grange movement as tending to invaluable benefit to every agricultural interest. He freely contributed to the building of grange halls, and to whatever demands arose to advance the prosperity of the farmer, among whom he was ever held in loftiest esteem.

April 30, 1898, after forty-four years of congenial life together his companion took her place in "the ghostly nation." She was a helpful woman, who was a suitable companion for a man of his temperament. She was ever ready to help the needy in sickness or distress, was a woman of many amiable qualities and beloved by a large circle of friends. Their family of three children were named, Douglas M., a fruit grower in Walker township, and proprietor of Maple Camp farm; Lillie, wife of George Thompson, who resides on the home farm, and Sarah Medora, who died at seven years of age. Douglas M. Brown, proprietor of the Maple Camp Fruit farm, lived at home until he married Dulcibel Woodward, daughter of Ephraim Woodward, of Walker township, and both born on adjoining farms and reared children together. He has a sixty-five-acre farm adjoining the Woodward homestead and lying on the county line next to Ottawa county. He has it largely devoted to fruit growing-peaches, plums, pears, quinces, etc. Three children grace this marriage: Myrtle, Bessie and Benton Reuwee and all the family are held in the highest esteem. Lillie Brown was married to George Thompson October 15, 1890. He was in the employ of the G. R. & I. R. R. until the last three years, since when he has operated the old homestead. On the I7th of August, I899, after a brief illness, low twelve was sounded for him, and at the last stroke he awoke in that land "beyond the waveless sea." The beautiful and impressive services of those who hold that death is but passing into life, were conducted by Dr. Barthof, of Grand Rapids, as a few months before similar ceremonies were held over his wife by Mrs. R. W. Barton. Harmony grange, of which he had been an active and honored member for a quarter of a century, expressed the high sense of esteem borne for him by all-suitable resolutions saying among other things: " Drifting along without a fear of the change called death, he passed on to the beautiful progressive life beyond to join the loved companion who preceded him a little over one year ago, and together they will journey in that summer land where the roses never fade and pain and death are known no more. There is no death, the stars go down To rise on fairer shores And bright in heaven's jeweled crown They shine for evermore. There is no death; the dust we tread Shall change with summer showers To golden grain, to mellow fruit, To rainbow tinted flowers; And ever near us, though unseen, The dear immortals tread; For all the boundless universe Is life-there are no dead.