Forest Lafayette Brown was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina August 12, 1881. He was the son of William Theo­dore Brown, who had served as a corporal in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Forest was one of their 18 children. Since the production of cotton and cotton milling was the chief source of livelihood there, Forest was sent to the mills at a very early age to work and help support the family.

Anxious to be on his own, he left home as a young man and followed the milling trade all through the Southern states. Eventually he settled in St. Louis, Missouri. He served as an assistant foreman in the "Home Cotton Mill". In 1910 Forest married Elizabeth Staat who was born and reared across the street from the mill, and was employed as a weaver. To this union was born one son, Forest, Junior on April 22, 1913.

In the spring of 1920, Forest and Elizabeth, tired of the mill trade, purchased a small farm in Jefferson County, two miles north of Woodlawn. They acquired a retired fire-engine horse and a high wheeled peddler wagon and drove from St. Louis to Woodlawn over miry muddy roads. Many terrifying experiences were related by the city-bred wife and son about the fire horse which reared and plunged and ran backwards when it was restrained.

Forest and Elizabeth sold the farm and moved to Mt. Vernon in 1947 where they operated a cafe for a number of years. Forest, Sr. died in 1951 and Elizabeth in 1955. Both are buried in Old Shiloh Cemetery.

Forest, Jr. married Mary Stonecipher in 1934. They began farming and seasonally Forest was employed at the Woodlawn Hatchery. Later they moved to a farm owned by their employers, John and Della Watkins. In 1943 they purchased the Joseph F. Payne farm which had been in the Payne family since its purchase from the government in 1837. The adjoining farm of William B. and Bess Gaston was added in 1957. Originally this farm was obtained from the government by Franklin S. Casey for $ 1.25 per acre. The house on the Payne farm, in which Forest, Jr. and Mary reside was built 140 years ago. It has been added to but is still in good condition.

*NOTE* Some ommisions may have occured to protect living individuals.

Source: "Facts and Folks A History of Jefferson County, Illinois"
Jefferson County Historical Society
Printed by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX Page 101
Submitted by Sandy Whalen Bauer