California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


CHARLES JOSEPH BROWN. A native of Fresno county, Mr. Brown has made his own way in the 
world since attaining his sixteenth year. His labors have been richly rewarded, and although a 
young man, he has accumulated a handsome competency and is one of the leading 
agriculturists of the county. His father, Samuel Brown, was born in Maine, and when a young 
man "rounded the Horn" to San Francisco. Shortly after he located in Stanislaus county, where 
he engaged in the stock business. Later, however, he disposed of his interests there and 
settled on Little Dry creek, Fresno county, where he became interested in the sheep business, 
subsequently reengaging in the cattle business, which occupation he followed for some years, 
but was engaged in farming at the time of his death in 1895. His wife was Miss Jennie Gift, a 
native of Tennessee, and she survives her husband. This union was blessed by the birth of 
eight children, four sons and four daughters. Mrs. Brown makes her home on a ranch near 
where she and her husband first settled when they came to Fresno county. 

Charles J. Brown first saw the light of day May 21, 1870. His early life was spent on his father's 
farm, but at the age of sixteen he started out to make his own way, leasing the Helm ranch and 
engaging in grain raising. Here he has since made his home, at times having several thousand 
acres under cultivation, although there are but six hundred and forty acres of the original Helm 
ranch left. During these years the business ventures of Mr. Brown have met with success and in 
1900 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the Burkhead ranch, to which he added 
eighty acres later on. In addition he also owns three hundred and forty acres adjoining this 
place, on which he is now engaged in grain raising and the cattle business. To carry on such 
extensive farming operations Mr. Brown has the latest and most improved machinery, and also 
owns nearly fifty head of horses. These he uses for freighting during the winter between 
Fresno and the copper mines, thus being actively employed twelve months in the year. 

In Garfield was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brown and Miss Dottie Browne, who was born in 
Stanislaus county, a daughter of Jacob Browne, one of the very old settlers of that section of 
the state. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of the following children : Floyd, Stanley, and 
Lawrence Burnette. In politics Mr. Brown is a Democrat, but he has been too busy looking after 
his own interests to take an active part in political matters. He is at all times ready and willing to 
give of his time and means to further the interests of his county, and this policy has won, not 
only friends by the score, but a most enviable position.