BIO: J. O. BROWN, Beaver County, PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson
  
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  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
  of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
  Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 300-303.
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  J. O. Brown is the junior member of the firm of Steffler & Brown,
  manufacturers of paving brick, in Darlington, Pennsylvania. Mr. Brown was
  born in Armstrong county, in October, 1867. After receiving a practical
  education in the public schools of his native county, he learned the trade of
  a carpenter, working as a journeyman in Armstrong county, and later in
  Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He went to the latter place in 1885, and entered the
  employ of Mr. Steffler, a prominent contractor and builder of that city. He
  remained in the employ of Mr. Steffler for a period of ten years, and became
  an expert workman.
  
  In 1896, in company with Mr. Steffler, Mr. Brown purchased the plant of the
  Darlington Fire Brick Company, then owned by Messrs. Cook, Sturgeon & Cook,
  and since then business has been carried on under the firm name of Steffler &
  Brown. Their plant is strictly up-to-date, and covers about three acres of
  ground. Adjacent to it is a bed of fine clay and coal. The clay from this
  district is as fine as may be obtained in any part of the world. Large
  quantities of the raw and ground clay are shipped to all parts of the United
  States. At the works are five large draught kilns and three large dry
  tunnels. Each kiln holds 60,000 brick. The kilns are kept going all the time.
  
  The engine house adjoins the machine room, and is equipped with two 100 horse
  power boilers and an 80 horse power engine. This large engine runs the crusher
  and dry pan for grinding clay, also the wire cutting
  
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  machine, the soft mud machine and the repressing machine. One brick-making
  machine has a capacity of 20,000 bricks per day. A smaller engine operates
  the fan for the dry tunnel.
  
  The company owns its own railroad siding, and a network of train and trestle
  roads for the transportation of clay and coal from the banks to the works.
  The main offices of the company are in Pittsburg. About twenty men are
  constantly employed, and the products of the plant are shipped to Pittsburg
  and throughout the West.
  
  Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Lily Steffler, the accomplished
  daughter of his business partner. Their marriage took place in Pittsburg.
  Mrs. Brown was born in Lawrence county, in 1872. One son, Harry, born June 8,
  1896, is the result of this most happy union. Mr. Brown is a stanch
  Republican, but has given his attention strictly to his business interests,
  having no time for political campaigning. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown are
  faithful attendants of the United Presbyterian church, and contribute
  generously towards its support. They also assist worthy charitable
  institutions. Both are well and favorably known in social and religious
  circles throughout Beaver county.