Calaveras
County
Biographies
FRANK BROWN
Frank Brown, who is occupying the
position of postmaster at Milton, is also a prominent factor in commercial
circles there as the proprietor of the leading mercantile establishment. He was born in Cornwall, Addison County,
Vermont, on the 2nd of December, 1857, and therefore almost the
breadth of the continent lies between his birthplace and his present
abode. He is a son of Frank and Nancy
(Dwyer) Brown, and is of English and Irish lineage. His parents, however, were both natives of
the Green Mountain state, and to them were born seven children while they were
residing in Cornwall. Five of this number are yet living.
The mother died in 1887, in the fifty-seventh year of her age. The sons are Alexander, who came to
California in 1872 and is now a prominent citizen of the state, residing at
Milton; he has served in the general assembly and is now a member of the state
board of equalization; and Daniel, who is a well known businessman in Stockton.
Frank Brown, the third son, was
educated in the public schools in his native town. He continued his studies in the Middlebury
high school, after which he graduated in the Middleton College, with the class
of 1882. Subsequently he spent two and a
half years in the Empire state, as a traveling representative for a Middlebury
marble house doing a wholesale business.
In 1885 Mr. Brown came to California and accepted the position of salesman
in the mercantile house of his brother Alexander. On the expiration of three years he became a
partner in the business and in 1890 he purchased his brother’s interest,
becoming sole proprietor of the store, which he has since successfully
conducted, and is enjoying a large patronage.
He deals in men’s furnishing goods, boots, shoes and notions and is
recognized as an enterprising merchant.
He has made a close study of the public needs and is thoroughly in touch
with the progressive methods of the west.
In 1886 Mr. Brown was appointed postmaster
by President Cleveland, filling the position until after the change in the
presidential administration; but when Cleveland was again elected as chief
executive of the nation he was once more honored with the appointment and is
now serving in a manner creditable to himself and highly satisfactory to his
constituents. He has been a life-long
Democrat, being prominent in the work of the party and doing everything in his
power to secure the adoption of its principles.
He has been a member of the Democratic county central committee for
twelve years and of the Democratic state committee for eight years, and his
opinions carry weight in political councils, his sound
judgment and comprehension making his ideas of value in party management. He was elected a justice of the peace by the
Democratic Party in 1886, ’88 and ’90.
Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in
which he has filled all the chairs. He also
belongs to the D. K. E., a college fraternity.
Mr. Brown owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fresno County and
has a business building and lot in Mendota, California, in addition to his
property interests in Milton. Success
has crowned his well-directed efforts, and industry has been the key which has
unlocked for him the portals of prosperity.
He is a gentleman of broad education and genial manner, of sterling
worth, and is both popular and prominent in social, business and political
circles.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 578-579. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Calaveras County Biographies