Tolen E. Brown
To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is honored and respected from childhood deserves more than passing mention. One may take his place in public life through some vigorous stroke of public policy and remain in the hearts of his friends and neighbors, but to gradually rise to the same position, winning through sterling worth and faithfulness to trust, rather than by a craving for popularity, is worthy of the highest praise and commendation. Such has been the life of Tolen E. Brown, a prosperous farmer of Madison township and the present recorder of Fayette county, Ohio. The people are demanding better officials today and when a man proves satisfactory in office, it is becoming the custom to re-elect him, an honor which has come to Mr. Brown in the office of county recorder.
Tolen E. Brown, the only child of Isaac and Belle (Vance) Brown, was born in Madison county, Ohio, September 25, 1880. His father was reared in Madison county, and lived the life of a farmer there until his death, in 1881; his wife lives in this county. The parents of Isaac Brown were early settlers in Ross and Madison counties, Ohio, where they reared a family of four children, John, Isaac. Prudence and Anna. Isaac Brown's wife's parents were Thomas and Mary (Harrison) Vance, both natives of Ohio. Thomas Vance was a farmer and died in Fayette county in middle life, his wife still surviving him, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Ten children were born to Thomas Vance and wife, Robert, Batteal, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Benjamin, Martha, Fannie, Josephine, John and Belle, the wife of Isaac Brown.
Tolen E. Brown was reared in Madison, Ross and Fayette counties, Ohio, coming to Fayette county with his parents when he was eleven years of age. He received a good common school education in the district schools of these three counties. His father died when he was one year old and he lived with his mother and grandmother until reaching maturity. He married at the age of twenty-one and then began farming in Madison township, this county, where he has met with success commensurate with his efforts. He was farming in that township when was elected to the office of county recorder in the fall of 1910. and since that time has lived in Washington C. H. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as township trustee of Madison township for one term before his election as county recorder, and so satisfactory was his first term that he was re-elected in the fall of 1912, and is still performing the duties of that responsible position in a manner which indicates that he is a man of ability and efficiency.
Mr. Brown was married December 24, 1901, to Rosa F. Uhrig, the daughter of Philip and Laura (Hammond) Uhrig, and to this union were born two children. Selden E. and Beulah May, both of whom died in childhood. Mrs. Brown was born in Ross county. Ohio, her mother being a native of this state, while her father was born in Germany. Both of her parents are now living at Madison Mills, Ohio, where they moved after retiring from the farm. Philip Uhrig and wife are the parents of four children, Anna, Rosa. Carrie and Laura.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally. Mr. Brown belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Washington C. H. and the Knights of Pythias at Madison Mills, this county.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)