Brown, John E.

John E. Brown was a prominent farmer in Mitchellville, Iowa. He was commissioned by Governor Albert B. Cummins to represent Iowa at two national farm meetings in the early 1900s. Mary Brown Stuart, his daughter collected the genealogical materials in the collection.

"Moosemeat" John Hedberg was born in Sweden on March 13, 1866. He emigrated to the United States as a young man, working his way west as a logger, prospector, and trapper. He reached Alaska just before the turn of the century. He landed in Seward and from there he delivered mail by dog team to Sunrise, Hope, and Knik. He married Anastasie Nutnal'tna (b. 1886; d. March 5, 1939) in 1907 and they settled on the Kenai Peninsula at Nikiski where he acquired a 160-acre homestead. They had four children: Elmer, John, Lillian, and Alice. After Anchorage was founded he lived there and worked for the Alaska Railroad, acquiring property in town and in the Chester Creek and Mountain View areas. He was presumed dead on Aug. 16, 1951 when he disappeared at sea enroute from Kenai to Anchorage.

Alice Elisa Hedberg Brown was born in Kenai, Alaska on May 11, 1912. She married Elmer William Brown (b. Jan. 13, 1911; d. June 20, 1986). They had four children: Elva J., Elmer S., Gerald G., and John E. She was a former director of the Alaska Federation of Natives and worked on the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. She was a member of the Rural Affairs Commission under Gov. Walter J. Hickel and Gov. William Egan, a field representative for the Kenai Indian Association, and a former chairman of the Alaska Native Political Education Committee. She served on the board of directors of the Jesse Lee Home and Hope Cottage, the Greater Anchorage Area Borough, the Comprehensive Health Planning Council, and the Borough Comprehensive Health Center Steering Committee. She died on Feb. 1, 1973 in Anchorage. In June of 2000 the Kenaitze Indians held the Kenaitze Millenium Potlach to honor their elders, during which Alice Hedberg Brown was one of those honored.