For some time prior to the Civil War, Frank Brown's grandparents resided in Jefferson Co. His maternal grandparents were Dr. Thomas Bernard and Hawkins Bernard. His paternal grandparents were Calvin M. Brown, born in Washington Co. m., Dec. 27, 1827, and Anne Eliza Foster. Both came from Tennessee. Calvin M. Brown served in the Mexican War, enlisting at age 19. He served with the sixth Reg., Ill. Inf. Col. Collins, Co. A. He returned to Spring Garden Twp. where he farmed 840 acres of fertile land.

In the spring of 1851, he married Anne Eliza Foster and they had 9 children, one of whom was Stephen Edgar Brown, father of Frank E. Calvin died in Oct. 1922.

Stephen E. Brown was born in 1862, and married Fannie B. Bernard, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bernard. Later Stephen inherited the land of his father and subsequently donated the land for the R.R., the streets, alleys, churches and school for the present town of Ina.

Stephen and Fannie had three children.

1. Ina, for whom the village was named; married Ralph Wyatt;
2. Ann Eliza, who remained single; and
3. Frank Edgar Brown.

Frank E. Brown was born in Ina on July 9, 1895. He attended grade school there and spent some months at college in Valparaiso, Ind. He left college to work briefly for Standard Oil Co. Frank loved animals and horses especially. His father gave him a fine gaited horse whose name was "Winnie McGee". Frank enjoyed recalling the happy times he had with Old Winnie, including the trips to take his sister back and forth to Ewing College. Frank entered military service Feb. 27, 1917 and served in England, France, and Germany during W.W. # 1. Shortly after the war's end, Nov. 11, 1918, he returned home. He entered the lumber business in 1922 and continued in it until his death. He loved the farm life and raised registered Hereford cattle.

He married Miss Merle E. Dunbar of Benton on July 8, 1931, at the home of D. C. Youngblood in Ina. Frank and Merle have two children.

1. Marilyn Joan Brown, married James E. Lane and have Stephen Raymond and Sarah Elizabeth, and live in Mt. Vernon.
2. Judith Eleanor Brown married Bradford F. Storey. They have one son Todd, and live in Ina.

Frank was a member of Trinity Baptist Church at Benton, ILL. He passed away Oct. 24, 1977. Merle is a member of Ina Freewill Baptist Church, and she continues to run the lumber company and to reside in Ina.

*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, 102
Submitted by Sandy Whalen Bauer