ROBERT BROWNELL, one of the 114 & best known and most respected agriculturists of Plainfield township, Kent county, Mich., is native here and is the second son born to Philo and Sarah (Rood) Brownell, of whom more may be read in the biography of Thaddeus O. Brownell, to be found on another page of this volume. The birth of Robert Brownell took place on his present homestead Tune 18, 1850, and here he lived with his parents until about twenty-three years of age, receiving, in the meantime, a sound common-school education and also acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of farming, which, with the exception of a short time passed in lumbering, has been his lifelong occupation. March 30, 1873, Mr. Brownell was united in marriage with Miss Delphine A. Porter, a native of Alpine township, Kent county, born January 28,. 1854, the seventh child of Henry B. and Malvina (Smith) Porter, highly respected pioneers. Henry B. Porter was a native of Hamilton, N. Y., was born September 24, 1820, and came to Alpine township in the fall of 1843, bringing with him his wife and daughter Frances, and here the remainder of his life was passed. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brownell has been blessed with three children, of whom Roy, the eldest, is employed as engineer by the Michigan Barrel company at Grand Rapids; Edwin R., the second born, assists his father at the home farm, and Lloyd, the youngest, is attending school. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Brownell purchased the old homestead of I00 acres on which he was born, and this farm he has placed in a condition of cultivation that rivals any place of its dimensions in the township of Plainfield, if not in the county of Kent, and his dwelling is a testimony to the skill of Mrs. Brownell as a housekeeper. In politics, Mr. Brownell is non-partisan, and his vote is cast as his judgment dictates; fraternally he is a. member of the Court of Honor at Rockford. Socially, both Mr. and Mrs. Brownell are classed with the best citizens of the county, and their home is the abode of a genial hospitality and social enjoyment.