CYRUS T. BROWN secretary and treasurer of the Troy Wagon Works Company and a director and vice-president of the First National Bank of Troy, Ohio, is one of the substantial and influential men of Miami County, and makes his home on the old Brown homestead in Staunton Township. He comes of an old and respected family of the county and was born on the farm on which he now lives, June 13, 1844. He is a son of Daniel and Eliza (Telford) Brown, and a grandson of Arnold and Elizabeth (Owens) Brown.

Arnold Brown was a native of Rhode Island, where he was engaged in blacksmithing until 1832, in which year he moved west with his family to Hamilton County, Ohio, where he turned his attention to farming and cheese making. In 1836 he moved to Miami County, Ohio, purchasing 160 acres of land in Staunton Township, which formed the nucleus of the present magnificent farm, belonging to his heirs. He added to his holdings from time to time and was a man of considerable affluence at his death. He married Elizabeth Owens, and they reared six children as follows: Daniel, John, Elizabeth, who became the wife of Louis Morse; Mary, who married C. W. Singer; Joseph, and Alinira. Mr. Brown died in 1869 at the advanced age of eighty four years.

Daniel Brown was born at Chepachet, Rhode Island, May 9, 1809. When a boy he found employment straightening spindles in a cotton factory at Providence, that state, for which he received the munificent sum of two cents a day and his board, continuing this work for one year, and walking home thirteen miles from the factory every week to spend his Sundays at home. Later he accompanied his parents to Ohio, and resided on the home farm from the time it was purchased in 1836 until his death in 1878. He always farmed and accumulated a handsome property, having some 500 acres in the home place. June 1, 1843, he was united in marriage with Eliza Telford, who was born on the old Telford farm in Concord Township, Miami County, near the present site of the county fair grounds; she was a daughter of Andrew and Jane (McKaig) Telford; her death occurred November 27, 1899. The following were the issue of their union: Cyrus T.; Cornelia, who is now deceased; Dr. Mary B., who has been a practicing physician in New York since 1880 and has met with remarkable success in her profession; Arnold O., who resides in Troy, Ohio; Harry W.; and Rebecca, who died at the age of two years. Daniel Brown gave liberally of his means to the Troy Presbyterian Church, which he attended, although not a member. He was a generous-hearted, fair-minded man, and had the good will of all with whom he was brought into contact.

Cyrus T. Brown was educated in the district schools of Staunton Township and the public schools of Troy and spent his boyhood days in work upon the farm. When twenty-four years old he was placed in charge of the 500-acre farm by his father, and since the latter's death he has had the management of it. His labors, however, were not confined to the farm, as he became interested in some of the foremost enterprises of the city of Troy. He was one of the organizers of the Troy Wagon Works Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer, and be contributed materially to the success of the flourishing plant operated by that company. He also was one of the organizers of the Miami Farmer's Fire Insurance Company, of which he has been treasurer for more than thirty years. His position as vice president and one of the directors of the First National Bank has been already referred to, and he was also clerk of Staunton Township for more then twenty years. Politically he is a Republican but has never been active in political affairs. He is a man of wide acquaintance in the county and has many friends.