Solano County Biographies

CALVIN BROWN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


Civil Engineer in charge of Department of Yards and Docks, Mare Island, a 
gentleman of rare attainments, was educated at Roxbury Grammar School, Mass., 
where he graduated in 1828.  In 1834, he commenced the study of civil 
engineering in Boston, serving under several of the leading engineers of the 
time, when, in 1841, he was appointed to the post of Civil Engineer to the 
United States Navy Yard at Kittery, Maine, where he remained five years, during 
which time he carried on the construction of the Quay wall at that place, where 
was first introduced into the United States the practice of blasting rocks in 
deep water.  Thereafter he was engaged in sundry works, principally railroads, 
until 1852, when he was appointed Civil Engineer at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, 
Virginia. During his term of office of nine years at this post he superintended 
the erection of a large number of the buildings there, and carried on the 
construction of the Quay wall.  In 1861 Mr. Brown was ordered from Norfolk to 
Mare Island, where he has been ever since, with the exception of from 1864 to 
1869, when he constructed the large dam and reservoir at Pilercitos valley for 
the Spring Valley Water Works, and executed the surveys, designs and location of 
the canal and locks at the Willamette Falls, Oregon.  For a portion of the time 
he was connected with the Board of Commissioners on the Central Pacific 
Railroad, and was subsequently appointed one of the Government Commissioners 
both on that and the Southern Pacific line of railroads.
            On May 13, 1869, he was reappointed Civil Engineer to the Mare 
Island Navy Yard, and continues to hold the office.  During his connection with 
the yard Mr. Brown has made most of the additions on that admirably fitted-out 
establishment.  He has constructed a large portion of the foundry and machine 
shops, built the saw mill, the ordnance and the office building, one of the 
large timber sheds, the iron-plating ship; superintended the construction of the 
Marine Barracks, and was one of the superintendents, with Dr. J. M. Brown, 
U.S.N., of the Naval Hospital.  Designed and built the stone Dry Dock, one of 
the largest in the world, as far as it has now progressed; superintended the 
construction of the new powder magazine, and also that of the reservoir, known 
as Lake Rogers.  Not the least of the many distinctions to which Mr. Brown may 
lay claim is that, from under his training, several of the most distinguished 
engineers of the day have developed and are now a credit to their country as 
well as to the scientific preceptor, who labored with them during their 
tutelage.  His family are among the oldest in the country, having come to 
America in the year 1632.  The subject of this sketch was born at Roxbury, 
Mass., now known as Boston Highlands, on March 25, 1816, and married, in 1838, 
Miss Susan W. Sager, of that place, by whom he has now living Harriet E., born 
1840; Frank E., born 1841, and Wilfrid L., born 1846.
 
History of Solano County � San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley  & Co., East 
Oakland, pub 1879, pp 334-335