Henry Cordes Brown was born on November 12, 1820 near St. Clairsville in Belmont County, Ohio. His parents were Polly Newkirk and Samuel Brown. It was Samuel's second marriage. Samuel was a 2nd lieutenant during the Revolutionary War and served at the Battle of Bunker Hill, at the Siege of Boston, at the Battle of Concord, and during Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec. Henry was one of the Sons of the American Revolution.