Frank Brown and Sebell Dunbar lived just west of what is now Ina. The Rend Lake College is located about where they lived on a farm. They had a son who was named Arthur after the town of Arthur, Illinois. He was born at the Jerry Brown house which stands today in Ina. He was born in 1880. At the age of 14 he went to live with Calvin Brown, whose grand­daughter was Ina, for whom the town was named. Nora was born in Wayne City, the daughter of Adelia Payne and Sylves­ter Holman, in the year of 1889. She and parents moved here in Ina where her dad was in the merchandise business. Nora and Arthur met right here in Ina and were married June 2, 1908, in Portogeville, Missouri. They made their home here in Ina, then lived on County Line between Jefferson and Franklin County lines for twenty-one years on a farm, lived where Rend Lake is now for sixteen years, then back to Ina again since 1961.

Arthur's grandfather was an old stockholder in Mt. Vernon fairgrounds years ago. He had eight or nine hundred acres of land as Arthur tells it. He attended Brown School near Rend Lake, then later to White with Hughart as the teacher.

Arthur says he helped dig the old Mill Pond which lies just east of the present house belonging to Oral Jones. Arthur tells of the story of Cicero Ward nearly drowning in this pond if Arthur O'Dell hadn't gone in and got him out while Arthur and others helped.

Nora tells of Preacher Jud Adams trading at her dad's store and bringing eggs in zinc tubs packed in oats, have to reach in and get them all out one at a time. Arthur and Nora are real joys to visit. They are both so cheerful and will lighten up any day when you step in to visit with them. Arthur was 97 a few months back, being our second oldest citizen in Ina.

*NOTE* Some ommisions may have occured to protect living individuals.

Source: "Facts and Folks A History of Jefferson County, Illinois"
Jefferson County Historical Society
Printed by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX Page 101
Submitted by Sandy Whalen Bauer