HENRY AUGUSTUS BROWN, of the
well-known Brown Paint Company, of New London, Conn., was born in the adjoining
town of Waterford on December 28, 1830. His parents were Henry and Lucretia
(Smith) Brown. Charles Brown, his paternal grandfather, also a native of
this county, was a mariner in early life, attaining the position of mate
on a deep sea merchantman. Later he was for many years engaged in farming
on Jordan Cone. He married, and he and his wife reared four sons and three
daughters. With the exception of one daughter, they all married and had
families. All have now passed away. Grandfather Brown died in middle life;
while his wife lived to be an old lady, dying in 1836.
Their son Henry was born at the homestead
in 1799, and became a prosperous farmer, acquiring a good estate. He was
twice married. His first wife, Lucy Prentiss, died in the prime of life,
leaving five children, three of whom are now living, namely: Charles A.,
who resides on Town Hill; J. P., who is a Baptist preacher in this city,
and Frances, who also live on Town Hill. Lucretia Smith, who became his
second wife, had four sons and three daughters, four of whom are now living:
Ellen C., Mrs. Perkins, of this city, a widow; Henry Augustus; John N.,
of this city; and Phoebe, wife of Albert G. Langham, of Waterford. The
father died about 1876, and the mother in 1884, at the age of eighty years.
They were both highly respected members of the Waterford Baptist Church.
Henry A. Brown was educated in the common
school, and worked on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of
age, when he began to learn the sail-maker's trade with Thomas Holstrom,
with whom he remained four years. lie went into business for himself in
New London in 1853, and was prosperously engaged in sail-making till 1868,
when he sold out, and then turned his attention to ship-chandlery. The
firm of H. A. Brown & Co. also engaged in canning fruit and vegetables,
running the plant until 1883, when they sold out to Gorton Brothers. For
three years thereafter Mr. Brown was a commercial traveller for Nichols
& Harris, introducing a specialty in New York, Pennsylvania, and New
England. He is now manager of a stock company organized to carry on the
wholesale and retail paint business. Their plant, at the corner of State
and Bradley, has been a paint store for a quarter of a century, Mr. Brown
having bought George E. Damon's interest.
In October, 1853, at the age of twenty-three,
he married Susan C., daughter of Alvin B. Chappell. Her father was captain
of a coasting-vessel. He died in 1884, at the age of seventy-five, having
long survived his wife, who died at the age of forty-six, leaving one child,
Mrs. Brown. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Brown is at 17 Franklin Street.
Their only child, a son named Elmer Brown, died at the age of two and a
half years. Mr. Brown is a highly respected member of the Second Baptist
Church, in which he officiates as chairman of the Society and Church Committee.
In politics he is an independent voter.
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 470 - 471
|
