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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
The farming interests of Mahaska county find a worthy representative in A. Browneller, who, living on section 6, Spring Creek township, is actively and successfully carrying on general agricultural pursuits. He owns and operates a neat and well improved farm of one hundred and ten acres situated only two and a half miles from Oskaloosa, so that the advantages of city life are easily attainable, while those of country life are constantly enjoyed by the family. His residence in the state covers the period from 1882 to the present time. Mr. Browneller was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of October, 1847. His father, Samuel Browneller, was born in Lancaster county,. Pennsylvania, in 1815, while the grandfather, Frederick Browneller, was a native of Germany and became an early resident of the Keystone state. Samuel Browneller was reared to manhood in Lancaster and Fayette counties, Pennsylvania, and in the latter was married to Sarah Slaughterbach, whose birth occurred in Lancaster county. Mr. Browneller followed farming in Fayette county and there reared his family, continuing his residence there up to the time of his death, which occurred about 1896. His wife passed away in 1895. A. Browneller of this review was the youngest of the family of five sons and three daughters, all of whom reached adult age with the exception of the eldest son, who died at the age of five years. The others are all yet living. Mr. Brownehler of this review remained a resident of Pennsylvania through the period of his boyhood and youth, spending his days upon his fa- ther's farm and attending the public schools. When a young man he went to Ohio, where be worked at the carpenter's trade. Subsequently he made his way westward to Kansas, settling in Topeka, where he worked for six years for the Santa Fe Railroad Company, being employed in the shops for two years and upon the road for four years, making his home throughout that entire time in Topeka. Mr. Browneller was married in that city in November, 1880, to Miss Emma Arthur, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and there spent her girlhood, while in the public schools she was educated. She is the only child of Frederick and Edith (Murphy) Arthur, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky, but were married in Indiana. The father, who was a stock dealer, died at the age of forty-five years, and the mother passed away at the age of thirty-five. For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Browneller resided in Topeka, and came to Iowa, settling in Mahaska county, where Mr. Browneller purchased a farm. Taking up his abode thereon he began to cultivate and improve the place and the evidences of his earnest and indefatigable labor are seen in the various improve- ments that he has placed upon his property. He has erected a good residence, supplied with all modern equipments, including furnace heat and telephone. He has also built a basement barn, has fenced the land, drained it by tiling and altogether has developed a valuable farm which is well equipped in every department and presents a neat and attractive appearance. In ad- dition to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also raises high grades of cattle, hogs and horses, and both branches of his business are returning to him a good income. Mr. Browneller cast his first presidential ballot in 1868 for U. S. Grant and has supported each nominee at the head of the republican ticket since that time, but has been without aspiration for office for himself, preferring to give his time and energies to his business affairs. In addition to his farming interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers National Bank of Oskaloosa, and he has prospered in his work as the years have gone by, owing to his judicious management, practical methods and untiring enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Browneller have become the parents of four children: Harry Arthur, who is a business man of Oskaloosa, being a partner in one of the leading shoe stores of the city; Clyde O., Wilbur Earl and Eva May, all at home. The members of the household are highly esteemed in the community and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes in this part of the county. Mr. Browneller is widely recognized as one of the most active and progressive farmers of Spring Creek township and a good business man, well known in Oskaloosa and respected wherever known.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy