Biographies
ALFRED J. BROWN
What lies within the power of a resolute
purpose to accomplish for itself appears in a record of the activities of
Alfred J. Brown, one of Sacramento's successful business men, a citizen who has
risen steadily in material affairs notwithstanding the
handicap of adversity that orphanage threw over the years of his youth. Born
November 26, 1866, he is a son of the late Thomas Brown, for years a valued employe of the Waltham Watch Company, but later connected
with the Cornell Watch Company at Grand Crossing, a suburb of Chicago, Ill.
When the latter corporation established a branch factory at San Francisco, he
was sent west to superintend the new plant and remained in charge of the same
until the death of Mr. Ralston, which was followed by the failure of the
company. When forty-five years of age he died in San Francisco, having for some
time survived his wife, who passed away when only thirty-four years of
age.
The schools of Vacaville, Solano county, and of San Joaquin county gave to Alfred J. Brown
the benefits of a primary education, but the necessity of self-support obliged
him at the age of ten years to earn his own livelihood. For a time he worked
for board and clothes as an assistant on a ranch near Ripon, San Joaquin county.
Later he received wages as his work increased in value. When he had saved a
small sum beyond his ordinary needs he came to Sacramento and took a course of
study in the business college, after which he secured employment with the
Capital Packing Company. Leaving that firm at the expiration of one year, he
entered the employ of W. S. Kendall & Co., money brokers, of Sacramento.
His next position was that of bookkeeper with L. L. Lewis & Co., owners of
the pioneer hardware store in Sacramento. Eventually he associated himself with
the John Breuner Company, one of the largest firms in
Northern California. Beginning as a bookkeeper he soon proved his worth as an
assistant and secured several promotions from time to time, until in the year
1902 he was chosen financial manager and for many years was secretary of the
large establishment.
Mr. Brown owns an attractive residence on
Sutter Terrace which has been beautified through his own tasteful efforts,
supplemented by the artistic co-operation of his capable wife, formerly Miss
Ella Ruth Brown, who prior to their marriage was a leader among the young
people of the capital city, as she has since been prominent with the older
established social circles of the place. In fraternal matters Mr. Brown for
years has been an active worker in the blue lodge of Masonry, while he has
further enlarged his fraternal relationships through co-operation with the
Woodmen of the World and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Brown
owes much of his success in business to the high standard he has adopted in all
his business relations, all his dealings being guided by honesty and integrity
of purpose. When it is recalled that he received no extraneous aid in
struggling against adverse circumstances and that he fought his own way forward
to success, it is realized that great credit is due him for the tenacity of
purpose that inspired his actions and the determination of will that enabled
him to wrest victory from what with some others so often results in defeat. The
city with whose success his own is associated receives his loyal support in all
measures for its permanent upbuilding and owes its
rising progress to the patriotic devotion of its large corps of citizens who,
like Mr. Brown, cherish for its institution the deepest affection and most
profound respect.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 967-968. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.