Godfrey Brown
Middle Run Baptist Church
— The Brown Settlement —
Godfrey Brown
1768 1843
“As to debts, thank God I owe no man anything but love”
Godfrey Brown was born a slave in Brunswick County, Virginia in the year of 1768. He yearned for freedom and was freed by his master on March 7, 1820. He worked many long hours for planters and was able to save $5,600.00 to buy his family out of slavery. He died January 31, 1843 and was buried in the Brown Cemetery located 7 miles south east of Xenia. At the time of his death he owned 654 acres of land in Van Wert, Shelby & Greene Counties.
Middle Run
Baptist Church
est 1822
In 1822 he organized the
first Negro Baptist church
in the state of Ohio. The
church was named Middle
Run because it was located
between two streams. He
served as minister of the
church for 24 years. At that
time this was a station for
the underground railroad.
The church moved to Xenia,
Ohio in 1889.
The Brown Settlement
founded 1822
He purchased 254
acres of land in Caesar Creek
Township, Greene County Ohio
on March 23, 1822. He and
his sons cleared the land and
built log houses, thus began
the well known Brown
Settlement. They also
established a school and the
Middle Run Baptist Church.
At one time over one hundred
families lived there. A
small cemetery is all
this page online
Erected 2001 by Descendants of Godfrey Brown.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 39° 41.348′ N, 83° 54.73′ W. Marker is in Xenia, Ohio, in Greene County. Marker is at the intersection of Church Street and North Patton Street, on the left when traveling east on Church Street. Marker is on the front lawn of Middle Run Baptist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 E Church St, Xenia OH 45385, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Greene County Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Greene County Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); 74th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry (approx. 0.9 miles away); Northwest Ordinance and U.S. Constitution Bicentennials Trees (approx. 0.9 miles away); War Savings Stamps (approx. 0.9 miles away); Desert Shield - Desert Storm - Persian Gulf Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); April 3, 1974 Xenia Tornado Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Greene County War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Xenia.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,078 times since then and 106 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 25, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
