James Burton Brown was born in Albemarle County, Virginia and at age 7 his family moved to Mead County, Kentucky, where they lived for 5 years and then moved to Saline County, Missouri. They settled on the E.W. Brown farm. James was mostly educated in Saline County. In 1837 he married Eliza R. Durrett, daughter of Captain William Durrett. James had 12 children and 11 were still alive in 1881. In 1881 he was living on his farm of 400 well improved acres.
In 1862, during the Civil War, he enlisted in Captain Sutherlin's command, part of Major General Nathanial Price's army (Confederate). He surrendered and was discharged in 1865. He was in the battles of Lexington (October 19, 1864) and Pea Ridge (September 28, 1864) where he was wounded in the thigh. He was taken with typhoid fever and hauled home from Ozark. He was the son of Judge Bernis Brown, who was one of the prominent men of Saline County, Missouri.
James and Eliza both joined the church September 12, 1839.
Submitted: Kevin Pickard