Born on March 18, 1839. He is a native of the state of New York and his parents were Abel and Mary Ann (Brigham) Brown. After the death of his parents in 1842 and 1844, Walter B. Brown lived with his grandmother Brigham until he attained the age of seventeen years. He then went to Pennsylvania and remained during the winter and in the spring went to Illinois and then to Wisconsin where he attended school and also engaged in teaching for some time. In the spring of 1857 he decided to see some of the western country and starting out came to Cedar Falls and then to Fort Dodge. Upon reaching Fort Dodge he together with a companion learned of the Indian massacre in Dickinson County. They scouted about for a few days and then came around the East Okoboji Lake and located the claim on which our subject settled upon afterwards. After returning to Fort Dodge Mr. Brown returned to this county to make his home. Mr. Brown remained on his first farm until 1885, when he sold out and spent a winter in Oregon. He remained away from Dickinson County for about a year then returned and purchased a farm in Center Grove Township which he resided upon for years. He was united in marriage to Hester Ann (Rogers) Hook on July 17, 1858. No resident of Dickinson County took a more active part in developing the financial interests of the county than did Mr. Brown. He was always public spirited and lent his aid to all worthy projects toward the improvement of the county. Politically he interested himself in the republican principles. He was a member of the Iowa legislature from this district in 1880, was County superintendent of schools for four years. Clerk of the court four years, treasurer and recorder four years and county surveyor for one term. He was one of the most prominent characters in the official history of Dickinson County, Iowa.