Hon. Norris J. Brown, one of the most able lawyers of Grand Rapids, Mich., is a native of the state of New York and was born in Granby, Oswego county, April 21, 1852, a son of Erastus and Jane E. (Miller) Brown, who were natives of the same state, married in the same county, and became the parents of three children, viz.: Emma, wife of Jason Hicks, a mechanic of Belding, Mich., Norris J., whose name opens this paragraph, and Ida, wife of William Langs, a farmer of Kalamazoo county, Mich. Erastus Brown a farmer by vocation, came from New York to Michigan in 1855 and followed his calling in Branch county until 1860, when he removed to Ionia county, farmed until 1887, and finally settled in Montcalm county, where he still resides. Here his wife passed away February 21, 1888, a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1896 Mr. E. Brown took for his second wife Mrs. Belle Grasely, the marriage taking place in Montcalm county. In religion, Mr. Brown is a Methodist; in politics, he is a prohibitionist. He is a gentleman of good habits, is of medium stature, is full of vitality, is an indefatigable worker, and is possessed of a comfortable competency. Norris J. Brown attended the district school until fourteen years old, and then was advanced to the high school at Portland, Ionia county, from which he was graduated in the classical course of 1871. At the age of sixteen, however, he had begun teaching school in Ionia county, where he taught five years, and then one year in Montcalm county. In the meantime he had undertaken the study of the law in the office of Hon. A. Williams, in Ionia, and by this and supplemental private study was qualified for admission to the Ionia county bar in 1873. He began practice in Montcalm county in 1875 and met with unusual success. As a republican, Mr. Brown has been and still is very popular. For four years he was circuit court commissioner of Montcalm county, and four years prosecuting attorney. In 1889 he was elected to the state legislature by 144 majority, whereas his predecessor had received a majority of 1, and he was a democrat at that. Mr. Brown was very active and efficient while in the house, was the author of several important bills, was a member of the judiciary committee and chairman of the committee on railroads, and was "characterized as the 1 big hearted member from Montcalm." In 1890 Mr. Brown removed to Muskegon, where he again met with flattering success as a lawyer, and for one year was city attorney. In January, 1897, he came from Muskegon to Grand Rapids, and he now commands a leading share of the litigate business of the city. Mr. Brown was united in marriage, in Montcalm county, December 21, 1876, to Miss Anna B. Pitcher, who was born in the Empire state in 1852, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Pitcher, whose parents were pioneer of Michigan. This marriage has been blessed with two children, viz.: Lula M., born December 1, 1879, and Wells B., born February 4, 1883. The family attend the Congregational church, and fraternally, Mr. Brown is a member of Grand Rapids lodge, No. 34,, F. & A. M., of the Knights of Pythias lodge, and of the Knights of Maccabees. Professionally, he is an all around attorney, as noted above, he conducted seven murder trials in one year and managed over 1,000 criminal cases within four years—a task herculean in itself. The resident of Mr. Brown and family is at No. 34 Eighth avenue, and is the seat of a genial hospitality, where his few leisure hours are passed in the society of his many warm friends.