Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Brower, John E. December 3, 1821 - 
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Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

JOHN E. BROWER, a prominent citizen of Oaks, is a descendant 
of an old Montgomery county family. He was born at the old 
Brower homestead, where he still lives, on December 3, 1821. 
He was reared as a farmer, and educated in the common schools 
of the neighborhood. He is a son of Abram and Margaret 
(Crawford) Brower, both of Montgomery county, in which 
county they were married and have always lived. Abram Brower 
is a son of Daniel and Fannie (Reiff) Brower. Both families 
are of German descent, and one of the earliest settlers in 
the state of during colonial days. Daniel Brower bought a 
large tract of land and erected a dwelling with all the 
improvements, on which place John E. Brower now resides. He 
reared his family on this farm, and when his death occurred 
his farm passed to his son Abram. Abram Brower resided on 
the old homestead until his death, which he in turn passed 
over to his son John, who is still surviving at the advanced 
age of eighty-three years.

Daniel Brower (grandfather) was a very prominent man and 
farmer in his day. He was a member of the Mennonite church, 
was widely known throughout the surrounding country, and was 
highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. His 
children: Henry, died in Canada; Fanny (Mrs. Pennypacker); 
Barbara (Mrs. Kurts); Eliza, married J. Pennypacker after 
the death of her sister Fanny; Mary (Mrs. Blickler); Daniel, 
hotel keeper, miller and farmer; Abram (father); Christian, 
also a farmer, miller and hotel keeper; Ann (Mrs. J. H. 
Umpstead); Sarah, never married; Catharine (Mrs. Judge Henry 
Longacre).
 
Abram Brower (father) was born, reared and always resided at 
the old homestead after the death of his father. He 
purchased the interest from the other heirs and carried 
forward what his father had intended to be done, and reared 
his (Abrams) family at the old homestead. The old home was 
situated in the valley of the Schuylkill river, and was an 
excellent place for him. too carry on systematic farming and 
stock raising, to which he gave his entire attention, 
raising horses, cattle and hogs. He was known to have the 
finest horses in that section of Pennsylvania, and formed a 
market for the sale of these animals both at home and in 
Philadelphia. Politically, Mr. Brower was a Whig and a 
Republican. He represented his county in the legislature, 
and filled other prominent positions. He took an active 
interest in all public questions and used his influence for 
his party. He was not a member of any church. He died in 
1871, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife preceded 
him in death, dying in 1869, aged eighty-five years. She was 
a daughter of Joseph Crawford, of Lower Providence township. 
She was of Irish descent, and the members of her family were 
among the early settlers of this township. Her father was 
well known and highly respected. Their children were: 
Margaret (mother of John L. Brower); Joseph, a farmer; 
Alexander, died single. The children of Abram Brower; Ann 
Mrs. U. Sheppard; Joseph, yet resides in this neighborhood 
at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years; Fanny (Mrs. S. 
Umpstead); Abram, a farmer; John E., the subject of this 
sketch; Jane B. (Mrs. John Tyson).

John E. Brower was reared on the old homestead, at which 
place he yet resides. After the death of his father, he 
purchased the interest of the other heirs and so far has 
spent his life on the farm. He has sold some of the land, 
but still owns about eighty acres. The quaint stone building 
erected by his grandfather is still doing service as the 
dwelling house; it has been repaired and remodeled, and the 
same is capacious and comfortable. The farm has required all 
his energy, and in addition to this he has given careful 
attention to the raising of stock of all kinds. In politics, 
Mr. Brower is a Republican, and he was the first of his own 
immediate family to vote the Republican ticket. He voted for 
Fremont. He has never aspired for office. He is very much 
interested in the doings of "Our Country," and notes 
carefully all progress made by this nation.

Among his first recollections is the old canal traffic, 
before railroads were known, and when the marketing was 
carried to and from the large cities by horses and wagons 
only. He is widely known and highly respected by all in his 
community.

On August 30, 1841, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna 
E. Horning, who was born in Montgomery county, May 8, 1824. 
She was a daughter of James and Sarah A. (Miller) Horning, 
both of this county. James Horning was the son of Samuel 
Horning, also of this county, and he was a son of Michael 
Horning, a prominent settler of German descent. The Horning 
family were mostly tillers of the soil, and also handled 
flax seed oil. He was known very well in that section of the 
county. In politics, he was a Democrat. He had filled some 
minor offices, but never aspired to public service. He 
contributed freely to the support of different churches and 
attended the meetings of same, but was never a member of any 
church. He died in 1863, his wife preceding him in death, 
dying when she was quite young, thirty-two years of age. She 
was a member of the Lutheran church. The children of Samuel 
Horning: James (father of Mrs. Brower); Martha (Mrs. Eli 
Rambo); Mary (Mrs. J. Arr); Lewis; Hannah (Mrs. J. Bickley); 
Samuel. 

The children of Mr. Miller: Christian; Maria (Mrs. E. Bean); 
Sarah A., mother of Mrs. Brower; Julia A. (Mrs. William 
Amsley); Rebecca (Mrs. Samuel Ashenfelter); Rachel (Mrs. 
Hait); John; Ellen, still single; Elizabeth also single; 
Letitia (Mrs. Hearst); Emaline (Mr. J. Freedly); Jackson.

James Horning's children: Anna F;., wife of John E. Brower; 
Samuel F.; Mary (Mrs. U. Hurst); Frank; John; Lewis; Martha 
(Mrs. Snyder).

The children of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Brower; Abraham, of 
this township; Sara A. (Mrs. F. Highly); James H., 
iron-worker of Phoenixville; Fanny (Mrs. H. Parsons); Frank, 
of Phoenixville; Anna S. (Mrs. C. Jarrett) Mary, still 
single; Norris, formerly superintendent of the shirt 
factory, of Hagerstown, Maryland, but now superintendent of 
state roads in Pennsylvania; Martha J. (Mrs. Hobson). All 
these children are living but Anna. There are nine children, 
twenty-four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. 
Mrs. Brower is a member of the Dunkard church.


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