From Denise Darcy Research:
One of the old settlers of Shelby Co., KY, was born in Washington Co., PA. on the 25 April, 1810. His grandfather, James Brownlee was a Scotchman, who on his immigration to America settled in PA. Thomas Brownlee, father of the subject of this sketch was born and raised in Washington Co., PA, and married Ann McLain, a native of the sam county. James Brownlee was the oldest of 10 children. In the year 1824, when he was 14, the family moved to Richland Co., OH. He obtained a good education and when 21 years old began teaching school, the occupation he followed for several years in Tuscarawas, Carrol and Richland Counties. In 1831 he married Elizabeth Sheridan, a native of Carrol Co., OH. She died in 1837. April 1838, he married Rachel Dye, and 1839 came to IL and settled in Ridge Twp, entering land where Prairie Bird is now situated. In 1846 he moved to Cold spring twp, entering land in section 10, of twp 10,range 2. and has since resided in that part of the county. His second wife having died in March 1849, he married Mary M Curry, a native of TN who died in Oct 1869. He was married to his present wife, a native of Medina Co., OH whose maiden name was Lucinda Fulks, on the 6th of April, 1871. He was originally in sympathy in his political views with the democratic party, and cast his first vote for president in 1832, for that strong and stalwart champion of democratic principles, Andrew Jackson. He remained a Democrat for many years, till he bacame convinced that the doctrines of the party on financial questions were fundamentally wrong, and he then became a member ofth National Greenback organization. In 1876 he supported Cooper, and in 1880 Weaver. He has always taken an interest in public affairs, and a few years after he came to the county was elected county commissioner. He was also elected county surveyor and for six years discharged the duties of that position. On the adoption of township organization, he was elected the first member of the Board of Supervisors from Cold Spring township and several times was re-elected to the same office. He nine children living, four sons and five daughters whose names are as follows: Mary, the wife of Samuel Wallace of Tower Hill township,:Rebecca, now Mrs William C Brownlee a resident of Iowa,: Reuben Brownlee who is in the drug business at Mt. Zion in Macon county.:Joseph Brownlee residing in Kansas,:William H Brownlee engaged in farming in Macon county,:Rachel the wife of A J Fryman of Iowa,: Julia Ann, now Mrs Thomas Jester of Tower Hill township,:Isabelle the wife of Joseph Jester of Tower Hill Township,:and Robert T Brownlee who still resides at home. Mr Brownlee is a man who has always stood high in the estimation of the citizens of the county. For a number of years he has been a member of the Baptist Church. He has been a resident of the county for upwards of 40 years and in that time has witnessed many changes. As one of the surviving representatives of the earlier population of the county his n
ame deserves mention in this work.