Merritt Holmes Brown was born at Bennington, Vt., Oct. 20, 1806.  He was a son of Merritt Brown, a native of Connecticut, who, in early life, removed to Bennington, and subsequently in the year 1818, settled at Dansville, in this county.  Here he spent the remainder of his life.  He was a man of sterling integrity, and strong native good sense; a love of justice and a high sense of honor were prevailing traits in his character.  To these qualities may well be added that piety whose constant duties are enjoined by the dictates of conscience; he worshiped and revered God in no noisy demonstrations but in the fullness of moral excellence, in spiritual light and in true devotion, unassumingly and humbly exhibited. 

  He was one of the early postmasters of the village.  For many years he discharged, in an acceptable manner, the duties of a magistrate of the town of Dansville.  Though Mr. Brown bore a name so common in the nation, he was the only representative of his own family in this county, his ancestry having emigrated to America from England at an early period in the nation's history.

  Few men ever lived a more useful or a more blameless life in their sphere of action than Merritt Brown.  He lived at a very advanced age beloved and respected by all who knew him.  As he came to Livingston county three years before its present territory was formed into its present County organization, he was one of its honored pioneers--a race of enterprising men who laid the foundation of its present unexampled wealth and prosperity-- whose toil, hardship, usefulness and moral worth have passed into history.  Mr. Brown died at Dansville.

  Merritt H. Brown, his son, to whose life these pages are devoted, removed with his father to Dansville when in his 13th year.  Here he received a good English and business education which rendered him fully qualified to enter successfully into the labor, competition and struggles of the business world, and therefore his name is identified with that class of business men who gave to Dansville its high rank and prosperity.

  For upwards of thirty-five years he was known as a leading hardware merchant and manufacturer.  In his more active life, Dansville was the most important business centre between Rochester and Northern Pennsylvania.  Hence he drew customers and patrons, not only from the adjoining counties, but even from Pennsylvania.

  With such prudence, judgment, unflagging industry and success did he conduct his business that a handsome competency was his reward, every cent of which was honestly and honorably gained.

  Mr. Brown possessed qualities of head and heart that naturally made him many friends.  His genial and sunny nature, his rare social qualities, acknowledged courtesy and never-failing good humor, will long be fondly remembered in Dansville.  He had a kind word for all who approached him, especially for those who, amid life's vicissitudes, were unfortunate.  To this class he recommended himself by those nameless acts of kindness and charity unknown to the world, as it were, by the right hand all unknown to the left.

  Like his father, Merritt H. Brown was a Democrat of the true Jeffersonian school -- whose creed is "the greatest good to the greatest numbers."  These principals always found in him a zealous, but never a captious or troublesome advocate.

  Though strongly and ardently devoted to his party, he was never, in any sense, a place or office-seeker.  His business interests were so important, so absorbing that he found no time to look after official position for himself.  He felt that the life of a mere political office-seeker, even at the best, is dangerous, if not dishonorable; successful to-day -- to-morrow disastrous and unfortunate.  He was often solicited to accept nominations for official positions by his friends, but always respectfully and firmly declined.

  The only exceptions to this was when, at the request of his friends, and after much hesitation, he accepted the position of Postmaster of the village for two successive terms.

  In the year 1829 Mr. Brown was united by marriage to Miss Arvilla Danforth, a daughter of Jonathan Danforth of Saratoga, N.Y.  Few marriage relations have proved happier than this.  Mrs. Brown, who still survives him, unites in her character those estimable qualities which in a wife and mother adorn the character of a true woman with such infinite grace and attraction.

  Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, six of whom are still living, and we assert fearless of contradiction, that a happier household than theres was never vouchsafed to the married relation.  It was a home where the love of the parents was reciprocally and tenderly blessed with those of the children.

  To Mr. Brown his home was his all.  It was his empire, where he centered all his ambition, -- all his hopes.  That he should make that home as happy as the happiest, is a natural sequence of his nature, and of his manner of life.  As has well been said "he always wanted his children about his fireside."  "One vacant chair" there rendered him unhappy, even though he knew its occupant was only temporarily absent.  Whatever tended to the educational, religious, or business advancement of the village, always found in Mr. Brown a liberal advocate.

  Several years before his death he erected the large commodious brick store standing on the east side of Main street, occupying the north-east corner of Main and Ossian streets, Dansville.  Here for many years he was the senior partner in the well known and flourishing hardware house of Brown & Grant.

  In the year 1847 Mr. Brown became one of the proprietors in the well known foundry and agricultural works of S. Sweet & Co., in Dansville.  He retained his interest therein down to the time of his death in 1864.

  Merritt H. Brown died at Dansville on the 27th day of June, 1864, in the 55th year of his age.  To his family, -- of which it is needless for us to add, he was the idol -- his death was an almost overwhelming blow.  To the village it was an irreparable loss, for it took from their business circles one of its prominent supporters.  Alas! how many of his friends, associates, and compeers in business, have followed him to that beautiful resting place where the fragrant flowers of spring, summer and early autumn, keep watch and ward, and whose pure breath is the incense which undying affection offers to their memory. 

  Mr. Brown's highly esteemed consort still presides over the family mansion, where she enjoyed with him and her children, so many happy years, and where her loved husband left her and them for "that better land."

  On the whole we may say of Merritt H. Brown that his well spent, useful life, devoted as it was to the business interests of Livingston county, has appropriately prepared for him a place in its honored historic record.