A. C. Brown Family

Arthur C. Brown was born to Mary and Omer Brown at Clinton, Iowa on May 23, 1898.  His father had a furniture store in partnership with a brother.  A fire wiped out the business and all their records were burned so they collected no insurance.  From there they moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota where they operated a mattress factory, sewing the mattresses by hand.  They later moved to Walters, Minnesota, where they had a drug store and a general merchandise business.  A. C. 's father wanted him to take over the store but his mother wanted him to go on and get more schooling.  A. C. attended Mankato Commercial College, Mankato, Minnesota and the University of Minnesota.  A. C. recalled his father purchasing a 1914 Ford 4 door sedan for $550.00.  Ford had agreed to refund $50.00 if a certain number of cars were sold.  They sold this particular amount so the $50.00 was refunded.  A. C. recalled going to Kiester, Minnesota which was 6 miles away to get the car, and having never driven a car before, he drove in the ditch on the way home.  A. C. 's folks finally disposed of the store, and they retired to Spring Valley, Minnesota.

A. C. was a World War I veteran and after the war came to Pillsbury, North Dakota to work in a bank.  He often told about his first trip into North Dakota and seeing the unusual sight of burning straw stacks all over the countryside, an unheard of practice in southern Minnesota.  While at Pillsbury, he met and married Viola Sowden of rural Pillsbury.  He later worked in the bank at Luverne, and in 1927 came to Hannaford, at which time he organized the Security State Bank.

A. C. and Vi were very active in all community affairs, as well as many different fraternal organizations.  They were always working to promote Hannaford at every opportunity and A. C. has been referred to by some as "Mr. Hannaford".

Mr. and Mrs. Brown had two sons, Clinton and William, and after returning from service, Clinton has been engaged in farming and William has worked in the bank.  Clinton married the former Eleanore Lerum of Hannaford and they have four children: 

Dr. Richard Brown, a dentist residing at Carmichael, California and married to the former Julie Davis of Lakewood, California and they have a daughter, Amy Lynn

Robert, an economist with the United States Department of Labor with headquarters at Kansas* City, Missouri

Timothy, an engineer with Factory Mutual Engineering at Milwaukee, Wisconsin and married to the former Caroyle Haugen of Dazey, North Dakota

and Vicki Lynne, a senior at the University of North Dakota , majoring in music.

William is married to the former Lauretta Kramvik of Cooperstown and they also have four children:

Mrs. Steve Steinborn (Cheryl), who teaches music at Moorhead, Minnesota

John, with the Security State Bank and married to the former Nancy Jennings of Hettinger, North Dakota

Alan, attending the University of North Dakota

and Mark, with the Security State Bank and married to Marlys Gronneberg of Hannaford on June 14.

Mrs. Viola Brown passed away in 1956 and Mr. Brown later married Mrs. Edna Frorath.

The Security State Bank used to be located in what is now the Hannaford post office, but a new building was built in 1959.  It has served the community since its beginning in 1927.

A. C. Brown worked up to the day he suffered a stroke on June 25, 1973.  He spent approximately 4 months at Dakota Hospital and 4 months at Bethany Rest Home at Fargo, passing away on February 25, 1974.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 129