Alameda County Biographies

HON. LEWIS HENRY BROWN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 

	The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of H
aywards, Alameda County, California, was born March 24, 1857, and is the son of George and 
Fidelia (Larabee) Brown.  The father of the young legislator, whose name commences this short 
memoir, was born in the State of Maine, and in an early day made the weary and hazardous voyage 
to California in a small craft, coming through the rock-bound coast and tempestuous waters of 
the much dreaded Straits of Magellan.  On arrival he located near Alvarado, and commenced 
farming operations, but subsequently proceeding to the redwoods of San Mateo County, there 
stayed only a short time, and finally proceeded to the �Iron House� District, Contra Costa 
County, where he opened a store of general merchandise, and resided there until the spring of 
1856, when he returned to Alameda County, located at Haywards, opened a mercantile business in 
a small building near Haywards� Hotel, and conducted it until 1880, when he sold his interest to 
his son, Lewis H. Brown, retiring from business on account of ill-health.  Mr. Brown, Senior, 
died August 2, 1880, at the age of fifty-six years.  Our subject, Hon. L. H. Brown, was entirely 
educated at the common schools of Haywards, his present position being both an honor to the 
institution wherein he received his training and the application for study which it proclaims for 
himself.  At the age of fifteen years he commenced business on his own account, first in 
insurance connections and afterwards in newspaper work.  In two years from the start he was 
appointed to take charge of the agency of Wells, Fargo & Co., and likewise engaged successfully 
in the fruit trade.  In 1877 he formed a partnership with William G. Long, and purchased the store 
occupied by his father, but a few months thereafter Mr. Long seceding from the firm, his interest 
was bought by Mr. Brown, Senior, and the firm of George Brown & Son was established, they owning 
at the time half of the block on which the store is located.  Being a native of the county, and, 
above all, possessed of strong sense and good business qualifications, it is no wonder that he 
received the Republican nomination by acclamation, which resulted in his election to the State 
Legislature as a member of the Assembly for Alameda County, on November 7, 1882.  His record in 
the capitol is such as any one of more years may be proud, while his actions have received the 
cordial approbation of his constituents.  In 1879 Mr. Brown was appointed to fill the vacant 
office of Town Treasurer of Haywards, to which position he has since been annually re-elected.  
In that year, too, he was elected a Trustee of the town of Haywards.  He is a member of the 
Oakland Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and Master of the Masonic Blue Lodge of Haywards, and also 
Past Grand of the Lodge of Odd Fellows in Haywards; is also a member of the Knights of Honor, 
and as well as Past Worthy Chief of the Good Templars Lodge of Haywards.  From the foregoing it 
will be gathered that Mr. Brown is foremost in all public and social institutions of his native 
town.  His career is watched with interest by all who know him, while it requires no great seer 
to predict that in old age his brow will be decked with the laurel chaplet of fame, bearing the 
appropriate legend � palman qui meruit ferat.  Married, November 19, 1878, Miss Willitta Long, a 
native of Thomaston, Maine, and has one son, viz., George Chester, now aged three years.

History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 855