Los Angeles County
Biographies
BEN H. BROWN
One of the officials of the Los Angeles whose integrity is unquestioned is Ben H. Brown the public administrator. He is a native of Canada, born in Marysville, Province of New Brunswick, July 1, 1891, a son of William and Susan (Mawhenney) Brown. The parents were both born in England but settled in Canada when they were young. Ben H. Brown received his education in the public schools of the Dominion and in 1909 came to Los Angeles, where he completed a business course in Woodbury Business College. His first position here was with the California Savings Bank where he laid the groundwork for his successful business career. After leaving the California Savings Bank he became bank examiner for the Los Angeles Clearing House Association. His reputation for accuracy, and fidelity to his work was quickly noted and after seven years he entered the employ of the Hellman Banking interests and spent another seven years. His next step up was in an entirely new field of activity as an employ of the Los Angeles county in the public administrator’s office as senior state investigator and was given the management of the office under Frank Bryson. When Mr. Bryson retired in the fall of that year Mr. Brown took first place in the civil service examination among a large group of applicants and received his appointment early in February, 1934 to his present position as public administrator of Los Angeles county.
Mr. Brown was married in 1912 to Miss Marguerite Woodall of Los Angeles and they have three children: Eldora, Elwyn and Robert. Mr. Brown is active in civic affairs and is a member of the governmental and Taxation Commission of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. In politics he is a republican and his religion is of the Baptist faith. He holds membership in the Acacia Club and is a prominent Mason being a member of Henry S. Orme Lodge, No. 458, F.&.A.M.; Signet Chapter, No. 57, R.A.M.; Los Angeles Council, No. 11, R.& S.M.; Jannistan Grotto, No. 76; Scottish Rite Consistory; and the Al Malaikah Shrine; also of the Los Angeles County Peace Officers’ Shrine Club. For recreation he enjoys gold and other out of door sports.
Transcribed
12-21-12 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
533-534, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES