William Brown, father of Mrs. James C. Gardiner, was born in Glasgow. He married Isabel Rutherford of the same city. In the year 1832, after the birth of three boys and two girls, he left his home and came to Canada to prepare for the family. After two years he had succeeded in securing a farm in the centre of the forests of Huron County, of making a small clearance and building a log shanty. He then sent for his loved ones. In the interval sorrow and loss had befallen the family in Scotland. Two of his three boys had died. With the remaining son and her two daughters Mrs. Brown started to join her husband. On the voyage across the children were smitten with black measles and she and they were put off the vessel on to an island. After four weeks in quarantine here they were allowed to proceed to their home in Canada. They were among the earliest settlers in all the County of Huron. The family consisted of the following:-
- Lilly who married Robert Melville of the County of Perth.
- Grace who married Alec Melville, a brother of Robert.
- William a bachelor, who died in London.
- John unmarried and still alive in1936.
- Isabella who died at the age of twenty-two.
- Annie who died at the age of sixty four.
- David M. who married Mary Ashton.
- Elizabeth, the youngest, was born October 22, 1858.
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