HENRY H. BROWN

Sacramento County

Biographies

HENRY H. BROWN

HENRY H. BROWN--The most important factors in public life in any community are the men who occupy responsible positions in successful business interests; and such a one is Henry H. Brown, the capable sales manager for the firm of National Commercial Securities Company. His birth occurred at Lathrop, Cal., October 27, 1880, a son of James H. and Matilda (Cozens) Brown. At the age of two years James H. Brown was brought by his parents across the plains in an ox-team train in 1854 and settled in San Joaquin County, Cal., where he was educated, and later removed to Roseville, where he still makes his home; the mother of our subject passed away in November, 1911.

Henry H. Brown was educated in the public schools of San Joaquin County; then made his own way by working on ranches in the vicinity of his home until he was nineteen years old, when he enlisted in the United States Marines and was in the Philippine Islands for four years, and during his service was promoted to the rank of sergeant; he was discharged October 8, 1905. He then returned to Sacramento and again engaged in ranch work, meantime joining the National Guard of California, serving as lieutenant; he then became a salesman for the Hood Improvement Company until 1912, then accepted a position with the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, where he remained for three years. In June, 1916, he went to the Mexican border as a captain, serving until November of the same year; then he was made a major at the Presidio, San Francisco, and was sent to Camp Kearney on September 25. On the organization of the 40th Division, Major Browns battalion became the second of the 160th Infantry, composed of parts of the 2nd and 7th California Infantry; on July 27, 1918, Major Brown went to France and there his division became the First Army Reserve; at the signing of the armistice, he was made a lieutenant-colonel and recommended for permanent position with the regular army. Upon returning to the United States his division was mustered out and Lieut. Colonel Brown was assigned to the 32nd Infantry of the regular army and on July 28, 1919, returned to private life; he then accepted a reserve commission of lieutenant-colonel. Having been promoted in June, 1922, to the rank of colonel, he is now commanding the 361st Infantry of the 91st Division, with headquarters in Sacramento. In May, 1920, after having served as president of the Western Film Corporation, Colonel Brown entered the sales force of the National Commercial Securities Company at Santa Ana, Cal., and in January, 1921, he became sales manager for the same company in Sacramento.

The marriage of Colonel Brown united him with Miss Genevieve Purcell, a native of New York. He is affiliated with the Spanish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 699-700. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.