California Biographies

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


OLIVER CROMWELL BROWN. Since the year 1879 Mr. Brown has made his home in 
the Golden state, locating in that part of Tulare county which has since been incorporated in 
Kings county. His first purchase of land consisted of eighty acres of prairie, four acres of 
which he set out to fruit trees, and the balance was devoted to the raising of wheat. Prosper- 
ing in this small venture he enlarged the scope of his holdings until he had two hundred and 
ten acres under his control, the entire tract being devoted to the raising of raisin grapes, 
peaches, apricots and prunes. Until 1899 he made his home on the ranch, but in that year 
he moved into the city limits of Hanford, and has since lived retired from the cares and stress 
of an active business life. The ranch is located eight miles southwest of Hanford, and is now 
rented, Mr. Brown receiving one-half of the gross proceeds. 

Oliver C. Brown is a native of Illinois, born near Hillsboro, Montgomery county, February 
24, 1829, a son of John Brown, who was born and reared in Kentucky. After his marriage he 
went to Montgomery county, Ill., where he took up raw timber land, and made his home for sev- 
eral years. Later he sold this land and invested in a tract of prairie land and in the course of 
time owned a fine farm of two hundred acres, which was his home until his death, when about 
fifty-two years old. As a private he took part in the Black Hawk war, and in politics he was a 
Democrat. Although a comparatively young man at the time of his death he had accomplished 
much in the course of his life, gaining the competence which he left to his heirs solely by his 
own efforts. His father, Richard Brown, was a native of Virginia, removing from that state 
to Kentucky when it was as yet a new country. From his plantation in the latter state he went 
to Illinois in an early day and purchased a farm, upon which his death occurred when he was in 
his seventy-eighth year. The grandfather was a descendant of English ancestors who located in 
the south many generations ago. The mother of Oliver C. Brown was Sarah Craig prior to her 
marriage, and was a native of Kentucky. In Adair county, that state, occurred her marriage 
with John Brown, and she died in Illinois when about seventy-four years old, having become the 
mother of nine children, of whom Oliver Cromwell was the eldest. 

In the public schools adjacent to his father's farm in Illinois Oliver C. Brown gained a good 
education, and when nineteen years old began teaching school. Until reaching' his twenty-first 
year he gave his father the benefit of his services, at that time purchasing an adjoining farm, al- 
though he continued to live at home until his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty- 
three years old. Until 1872 he made his home in Illinois, but in that year he began to work 
his way toward the west and for seven years resided on a farm in Fillmore county, Neb. 
After suffering from the grasshopper plague for three seasons he decided to make a change of 
location and wisely chose Tulare, now Kings county, Cal., as offering the best advantages 
from an agricultural standpoint, as well as affording a good home for his family. 

In St. Louis county, Mo., in 1850, Oliver C. Brown was united in marriage with Elizabeth 
Kelso, who became the mother of ten children, the eldest of whom died in infancy. John W., 
born September 15, 1853, is a rancher near Selma, Fresno county; Sarah E., born July 20, 
1855, died October 14, 1875; Artimesia, born January 30, 1858, died October 15, 1875; Frank- 
lin James, born January 4, i860, is also a rancher near Selma ; William H., born March 1, 1862, is 
conducting a fruit ranch near Selma; Mary M., born March 7, 1864, died February io, 1881 ; 
Edward E., born April 26, 1866, is a rancher near Chico ; Charles C, born October 24, 1868, 
conducts a fruit, stock and grain ranch near Durham: and Cora M., born March 13, 1871, 
is the wife of Elmer Young, a rancher near Han ford. The mother of these children died 
December 26, 1893, at the age of sixty-five years, seven months and twenty-four days. For his 
second wife Mr. Brown married India C. Mezick. who though born in Illinois was reared in 
Indiana. Politically Mr. Brown is a Democrat in national affairs, and in local matters votes 
for the men best fitted to serve the public good, regardless of party. He has always refused to 
accept any office within the gift of his fellow citizens, preferring to keep out of public life, 
although he takes a keen interest in the welfare of his home town. He is a self-made man in 
the best sense of the term and may well be proud of the success which has attended his efforts 
since making his home in the Golden state.