Andrew Brown bought Section 17 January 31, 1878 from the Northern Pacific Railroad and he secured a tree claim from the U.S. Government, the South of the xxx 'h of Section 8-138-58 (Patent October 12, 1886).
When Mrs. Brown came to Valley City the only bridge available was the Northern Pacific bridge at the east side of town, so when he wanted to walk out to his farm to find the stones marking his boundaries he had to find a boat. He found a boat at the Walker Mill at the south side of town. The Walkers had tied a rope to a tree on each side of the river and a rope fastened to the boat and made to slide on the guiding rope. The boat capsized and as Mr. Brown could not swim the Walkers rescued and got him safely to the other side of the river. Then Mr. Brown had to walk ten miles to his farm to locate the corner stones of his farm. He also had to find food and shelter for the night.
Mr. Brown hired several men to help him cut logs along the Sheyenne River and haul lumber from Valley City to build a house and other buildings. He also had other men plowing to prepare the soil for the new crop so he could send for his wife and two sons, Martin and John, in Rushford, Minnesota, where Mr. Brown had owned a general store. They raised several good crops. In about 1884 O. P. Enerson traded his store in Valley City to Mr. Brown for the farm and it has since been known as the O. P. Enerson Farm.
Mr. Brown's wife, Rebekka, died June 22, 1883. After several years Mr. Brown married Hattie Laugen. To this union was born a son, Richard Gustav, October 1, 1889 in Valley City. Five years later on a farm Mr. Brown had purchased ten miles south of Valley City was born another son, Torger Andrew.
Richard G. Brown of Valley City, North Dakota and Clara G. Axness of Wilmar, Minnesota, were married at her mother's home at Wilmar, Minnesota, June 21, 1921. They had no children. Clara Brown died in 1972. Torger A. Brown of Valley City, North Dakota married Dorothy W. Gates of La Moure County at her parents' farm home June 12, 1924. They had two children, Dorothy Lorraine, the oldest that married Warren W. Ells of Okanogen, Washington. They have one daughter, Shari Lynn, and live in the Seattle area. The second daughter, Helen Corvine, married Charles D. Ryder of Long Beach, California. They have two daughters, Terri Lynn and Lisa Dawn, and live in the Westminster, California area.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 36