Thomas H. Brown Biography

	This biography appears on page 472, 473-474 in "History of Minnehaha 
	County, South Dakota" by Dana R. Bailey and was scanned, OCRed 
	and edited by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031
.

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BROWN, THOMAS H., was born in Portabello, Durham county, England, 
August 17, 1837.  In 1848 he came to the United States with his 
parents, who settled in Wisconsin.  Until the breaking out of the war 
of the rebellion he was engaged in farming and mining. In 1861, he 
enlisted in Co. I, Third Wisconsin Infantry, and served until August, 
1865.  After the war he went to Montana, where for a year and a half he 
engaged in mining. He then went to Brodhead, Wis., and engaged in the 
hardware business.  In 1867 he was married to Miss Mary Morse.  In 
1872, he came to Sioux Falls, and moved into the first frame dwelling 
house built at that place, which was located where his present 
residence now stands, on the corner of Phillips avenue and Twelfth 
street.  The next spring he entered into a copartnership with B. F. 
Roderick in the lumber business, but during the year following retired 
from the firm, and bought a half interest in the business of Nye 
Phillips, who was dealing in hardware, drugs, and leather. This firm 
was in existence about five years.  He was then employed by the 
Northwestern railroad company in obtaining the right-of-way and 
locating town sites on the Dakota Central.  In 1888, he bought the job 
office and bookbinding plant of Sam T. Clover, and when the effects of 
the Insurance Company of the Dakota were disposed of by its receiver, 
he purchased the printing outfit. May 1, 1889, he took into the 
business Eugene Saenger, and the firm of Brown & Saenger has now the 
largest and most complete bookbinding and printing establishment in the 
state.

Mr. Brown since coming to Sioux Falls, has been active in Masonic 
matters. He organized the first lodge in the county, and was its Master 
the first three years.  He was the first Grand Master of the Grand 
Lodge in the Territory of Dakota, and a few years later was again 
elected to this office.  He has taken an active part in educational 
matters, and was president and member of the school board for several 
years. He took a prominent part in securing for Sioux Falls the B., C. 
R. & N. railroad, and has been a director of the company since that 
time. He was one of the South Dakota Commissioners at the World's Fair 
in 1893, and was the executive officer of the commission.  It is 
needless to add anything to the foregoing record to establish the fact 
that Mr. Brown is a prominent man of affairs, and takes great interest 
in the welfare of South Dakota in general, and Sioux Falls in 
particular.