Alameda County
Biographies
SAMUEL FRANKLIN BROWN
Samuel Franklin Brown, deceased, for many years one of the representative agriculturists of Alameda county, was born near Erie, Pa., January 16, 1831, and died upon his ranch two miles from Alvarado, Alameda county, Cal., March 16, 1899. He was reared on a farm and received a limited education in the common schools. As a boy he assisted in the operation of his father's farm, worked at times in a sawmill and a lumber camp, and at about the age of sixteen years engaged in work on the Erie canal. At this time James A. Garfield was similarly employed. Mr. Brown afterward learned the carpenter's trade. In 1853, at the age of twenty-two years, he decided to cast his lot with the men who were seeking wealth in the gold fields of California. Joining a party whose destination was Placer county, he made arrangements to pay his passage by contributing $100 to the expense fund, and to assist in driving ox teams. Immediately after his arrival in Placer county he engaged in surface mining, and afterward he and his partners spent eighteen months tunneling into the mountain. His efforts not meeting with success, he went to the Sacramento valley where he worked in a large vegetable garden and on the ferry across the Sacramento river, below Hangtown, now Placerville. A few months later he went to Utah for the purpose of meeting his mother, who in 1855 had crossed the plains to that point. After spending a year in the latter territory he decided to return to California. Locating in San Bernardino county, he rented a tract of land and engaged in farming for about four years. While there he was united in marriage, July 9, 1857, with Louisa K. Benson, who was born in Hancock county, Ill., December 4, 1840. Upon leaving San Bernardino county, Mr. Brown followed the carpenter's trade for about a year in Santa Cruz. While there he helped build the wharf at Suscal, now Capitola. Subsequently removing to Alvarado in 1861, he took the contract to haul supplies for the construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Union City through the Niles canyon. In 1863, his contract on the railroad work having terminated, he located a short distance south of Alvarado and for a year rented land where the beet sugar factory is located. For a year following he rented a ranch on Alameda creek, which he successfully cultivated. In November, 1866, he rented seven hundred acres, part of which is included in the property now occupied by his widow. He continued to farm this ranch until 1882, when three hundred and forty acres of it became his by purchase. This land is all exceedingly rich and fertile, and is most advantageously located, both from an agricultural standpoint and for commercial purposes. All his energies were devoted to its development until his death in 1899, at the age of sixty-eight years. One of his last acts was to use his efforts toward securing the location of a station on the narrow gauge branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad opposite his home, called Arden. Up to within two months of his death Mr. Brown was always vigorous and very active, entering into the work connected with all his undertakings with great zeal. He firmly believed that a sluggard was not entitled to consideration on the part of his fellow-men, and by his example inspired those with whom he was in any way associated with the same spirit which characterized his daily efforts. Though a stanch Republican in politics, and ever ready to do all in his power toward advancing the interests of that party, Mr. Brown never sought nor consented to fill public office, preferring to devote his time to the prosecution of his personal affairs. Fraternally he was connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Mrs. Brown accompanied her parents from Illinois to California when she was ten years of age. The family settled in San Bernardino county where she attained maturity. She became the mother of six children, named as follows: Mary Isadore, a teacher in the Haight school of Alameda; Samuel Franklin, a rancher of Alameda county; Floribel C., residing at home; Barton A., who operates the home place; Ida Louisa, who died at the age of sixteen years; and Susie B., who, at present, is a student at the University of the Pacific. Mary and Floribel are both graduates of the State Normal School. Mrs. Brown and her children are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Brown was a man of quiet and unassuming character, but of strong convictions and earnest disposition. Though in no sense a public man, he exhibited a keen and unselfish interest in the success of all projects inspired by a desire to advance the welfare of the community in which he resided. His generous spirit, his unquestioned integrity and his abhorrence of wrong in any form caused him to stand out conspicuously among the citizenship of Alameda county, and he will long be remembered as one of its best representative men. He left his family a legacy of a highly honored name, and the record of his life here preserved should prove a source of unbounded gratification to all his descendants.
Transcribed
7-7-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1227-1228. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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