Benjamin Johnson Brown

As printed in 1881

BENJAMIN J. BROWN.

Benjamin Johnson Brown was born in Franklin county, Kentucky, December 9, 1807. He lived in that state till about the age of twenty-five, and then, in 1832, moved to Missouri, and settled in Ray county, of which he was one of the pioneers. When he reached Richmond there were only three or four houses in the town, and the county was sparsely settled. He was here to encounter the inconveniences and hardships of pioneer life, and lived to enjoy the comforts, growth, and development of the county in after years. To this improvement no man contributed more than the subject of this sketch. Always enterprising and liberal, of an open, generous disposition, and a warm heart, he was ever ready to aid in all enterprises calculated to benefit his town, county, or state. He gathered rapidly and gave with a liberal hand, and was never known to turn his back upon any meritorious enterprise or object. There were but few men who shared so largely the confidence of the people. He was four different times elected by the people of his county to the office of sheriff — twice without opposition. He was also twice elected to the office of state senator from his district, and was president of the senate at the time of his death. These and many other positions of public trust were bestowed upon him by his fellow-citizens, the duties of all which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. At the outbreaking of the civil war, Colonel Brown espoused the cause of the south, and became a gallant soldier in the Confederate army. He ranked as colonel, and commanded a regiment at the battle of Springfield, Missouri, in which he lost his life, August 10, 1861, while leading a charge upon one of the columns of the enemy. From the position of the enemy the charge was, of necessity, somewhat protracted, and when killed, Colonel Brown was some thirty yards in advance of his forces, making observations with a view to triumphant onslaught. At the time of his death he was a member of the Christian Church at Richmond. Colonel Brown was twice married. The first time to a Mrs. Moon, of Richmond, Missouri, by whom he had five children, as follows: Thomas J., of Gallatin, Missouri; Mariah F., wife of James S. De Masters, of Richmond; Susan J., ofWaverly, Missouri; Ro* Ann, wife of James P. Kiger, of Richmond, and Alice J., wife of B. F. McCord, of Waverly, Missouri. His second marriage, December 15, 1845, was with Miss Mary Ann White, who was born August 28, 1825, in Scott county, Kentucky. About the year 1840, she moved with her mother (her father, David B. White, having died in Kentucky), to Clay county, Missouri, and subsequently settled permanently in Richmond, where her marriage with Colonel Brown was solemnized. She survives her husband, and with her son, Walter W. Brown, is keeping house in Richmond, at her beautiful home in the northern part of the city. The issue of Colonel Brown's second marriage is seven children, two of whom are deceased. The living are: Mary L., wife of Wesley Allison, of Lawson, Ray county; William T., of Lawson; Benjamin J., Walter W. and Emily Oliver, wife of Rev. James Elmore Dunn, of Plattsburg, Missouri. Walter W. Brown, who lives with his mother, was born May 26, 1858, in Ray county. He received his education at Richmond College. When seventeen years of age he engaged with J. W. Harrison, of Richmond, Missouri, to learn the trade of harnessmaker. After working with Mr. Harrison about five years, he accepted a situation with Dan T. Duval, of Richmond, with whom he is yet engaged. Mr. Brown is a skilled workman, devoting most of his time to fine work, for doing which he has an excellent reputation. He is a sensible, sober, industrious young man, and his success in life is assured.

As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.