Bios: JOHN B. BROWN: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

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  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
  Coordinated by Ed McClelland

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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    JOHN B. BROWN,
    
    [p. 37] a prominent citizen of New Castle, who, although thrown on his own
  resources at an early age, managed to acquire an education and become known
  as a prosperous, self-made man, winning the confidence and esteem of his
  fellow-citizens, and finding time to fill various offices of responsibility
  in addition to attending to his private business, is a leading dealer in real
  estate to-day, and was born in New Castle, Pa., May 18, 1855. He is a son of
  James and Jane (Britten) Brown, who were both born near Enniskillen, Ireland.
    
    Our subject's father, when about twenty years of age, came to America, and
  found work in Washington County, of this State, in the rolling- mills, and
  was engaged in that industry the greater part of the active period of his
  life until he retired; he is living at the advanced age of seventy-three at
  this writing in New Castle, where he reared his family. His wife died at the
  age of fifty-eight, death being caused by injuries received by falling
  down-stairs. Their children were: John B., the subject of this sketch;
  Lizzie, widow of the late George Truesdale; Kate L., the wife of Frank
  Simpson of New Castle; James H., the Chief of the Fire Department of New
  Castle; and Ellen, deceased, who was the wife of Homer Reynolds.
    
    At the age of nine years, John B. Brown found employment in the
  rolling-mills as an assistant boy, and worked for a number of years, until he
  reached the years of young manhood, at a small wage; upon attaining the years
  of maturity, he realized that he was lacking a good education, and
  accordingly entered the One Study College, and fitted himself for a business
  life at his own expense. Having accumulated some little capital, he invested
  in real estate, buying lots, and having built on them, selling the property
  thus improved at good prices, allowing him a comfortable profit, and enabling
  him to increase his capital, and widen the field of his operations. This
  business, in connection with other ventures, he followed until 1896, having
  built thirty houses in the meantime. In 1883, he was elected alderman of the
  Fourth Ward for a term of five years, and was re-elected to another term of
  same duration in 1888, but in November of that year he was elected to the
  Legislature and served for two years. In 1890, he was elected to the position
  of mayor of New Castle, and filled that office to the entire satisfaction of
  the citizens of New Castle until 1893, and has since served two terms in the
  select council, serving one term as the president of that body. He is an
  active member of the Republican County Committee, and is skilled in practical
  politics. He was appointed post- master of New Castle by President McKinley
  May 1st, 1897, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of that position
  June 1st, 1897. In 1890, he became associated with S. B. Marshall in the U.
  S. Detective Association, and remained in that connection until 1896, when
  his business demanded his whole time, and so he relinquished the detective
  work. Mr. Brown, in his building operations and real estate dealings, has
  built a number of stores, and as a silent partner has entered into their
  operation.
    
    Mr. Brown married Miss Eva A. Moore, daughter of Mrs. J. C. Moore, and has
  one child, George C., born Nov. 14, 1880. He has a fine residence at No. 467
  South Mill Street, which he built for his home in 1891. He is a member of the
  Western Star Lodge, K. of P., No. 160; New Castle Council, No. 131, O. U. A.
  M.; and New Castle Home Circle, No. 6.