Siskiyou County
Biographies
THOMAS PEARSON BROWN, D. C.
Dr. Thomas Pearson Brown was a skillful and successful chiropractor of Yreka during the last six years of his life and enjoyed a most favorable position in the community, both by virtue of his able work in his profession and by his public-spirited attitude towards of local import. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, September 16, 1864, and had attained the age of sixty-six years when he passed away on the 11th of November, 1930. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in the same house which had been the birthplace of his father, John Brown, and his grandfather, Elisha Brown. John Brown, the father, followed farming in the Hoosier state until 1868, when he removed to Kansas, where he continued in agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. His death occurred at Oswego, Kansas. To him, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Wharton, were born eleven children, of whom five survive, three sons and two daughters, namely, William B., of Williams, California; Elisha, of Fresno, California; George B., of Parsons, Kansas; Mrs. Maggie Thomas; and Miss Belle Brown, of Dewey, Oklahoma.
Thomas P. Brown, who was a little lad of four years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas, pursued his education in the common schools of the Sunflower state and after putting aside his text-books was first employed as a cow puncher. It was in June, 1911, that he took up the study of chiropractic in Kansas City, Missouri, where he completed his course by graduation on the 3d of June, 1914. His first active practice of his newly acquired science was at Sabetha, Kansas, whence he removed to Aurora, Missouri, where he remained for one year. During the World war, Dr. Brown was in the service of the United States government as an inspector of threshing machines, after which he entered the lead and zinc mine business in Missouri and Arkansas. He located some good mines, but lost in further ventures. He next made his way to the state of Idaho, where he practiced chiropractic for three years, on the expiration if which period he came to California in 1922. After a year at Sacramento he went to Santa Rosa and thence to Wheatland, eventually opening an office at Yreka in 1924. He was extraordinarily successful in his work here, and his office was thoroughly equipped with the most up-to-date appliances used in his profession.
Dr. Brown was married first in 1892 to Miss Nora Collins, who was born and reared in Barry county, Missouri, and died at Lewiston, Idaho. He was married again at Wheatland, California, his second union being with Mrs. Laura Briggs, representative of a pioneer family of that vicinity. Besides his widow, Dr. Brown is survived by Ruth, and Thomas P., of Oakland, who were orphans but were reared by the Doctor from infancy.
In political matters Dr. Brown maintained an independent position, while fraternally he was identified with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to the lodge at Yreka. His favorite diversion was golf. At his passing one of the local papers said in part; “The news of his death cast a pall of gloom over Yreka. He had resided in Yreka for a number of years, practicing chiropractic, and was well and favorably known. Dr. Brown was a public-spirited citizen, interested in all civic improvements, looking always for the betterment of Yreka.”
Transcribed
by Craig Hahn.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 pgs. 40-41. Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago
1931.
© 2005 Craig Hahn.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies