In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1905) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1825
From Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905), Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894)
WILLIAM E. BROWN. The Second National Bank of Hamilton, of which Mr. Brown is President, was organized with a capital stock of $100,000 in 1864, at which time he with others went to Washington, D. C., and obtained the charter. For thirty years he has been associated with the management of this bank, and for the last twenty-four years has been its President, not a mere figure-head, but one who by his ability was fully competent to take and did take an active part in the management of this institution. 1 1 is forty years’ experience as a lawyer has always been of great use to the bank and to many of its patrons who avail themselves of his advice. Not only has the bank paid good dividends, but at the present time it also has a surplus of $50,000, and its deposits average over $500,000. The bank owns its own building, which is arranged in such a manner as to facilitate business, and as an investment has proved one of the best. During times of panics, when many banks failed or suspended, this institution maintained its credit unimpaired, and came out of each crisis without loss of confidence or the failure to honor each of its obligations when presented.
Some facts connected with the personal history of Mr. Brown will bo of interest to the reader. He is a son of Edward and Ann (McCue) Brown, the latter of whom died in 1827. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, as early as 1818, while living in Blairsville, Pa., engaged in transporting goods between Pittsburg and Philadelphia. Unfortunately, however, he lost the savings he had so laboriously accumulated. He left Blairsville in 1824 and moved to Xenia, Ohio, and in that city our subject was born November 13, 1825. In 1826 the family removed to Cincinnati, where the wife and mother died the following year.
At the conclusion of his studies our subject began to teach school, at the age of nineteen, in Greene County, Ohio, and was thus engaged for some time. Having learned the trade of a shoemaker, he was thus enabled to pay his way while reading law at Xenia and Dayton. In March, 1849, he was admitted to practice at the Bar. With a letter of introduction from his preceptor addressed to Thomas Millikin, of Hamilton, he then proceeded to his future home, and arriving here hung out his “shingle” as an attorney-at-law. With limited resources and few acquaintances, business did not come his way at first. In the fall of 1849 an older lawyer was obliged to go away on account of ill health, and he left young Brown in charge of his office and practice. Shortly afterwards the lawyer died and Mr. Brown thus became successor to the business, which amounted to about $600 per annum, and which he had no trouble to retain.
In 1852 Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of Robert Beckett. Failing health induced him to move into the country, but he still gave some attention to his legal practice and also dealt in real estate. In this he was successful, his knowledge of the law being of great assistance to him. lie continued thus occupied until 1870, when he became President of the Second National Bank. He still continues to deal in real estate, and is also President of the Carr-Brown Milling Company. In public affairs he has always been interested, though not aggressively so, and as a substantial and honorable citizen has merited and received the confidence of the people with whom he has had business or social relations. In daily life he was a Democrat, but became a supporter of the Republican party upon its organization, and has since advocated its principles, though never himself an aspirant for official positions.
Six children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, as follows: Clara, who married W. B. Carr, and died in January, 1892; Robert; William B.; Mary, wife of Judge R. E. Sloan, of Arizona; and Ella and D. P., who are with their parents. To his children Mr. Brown gave the best possible educational advantages. The family are members of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he has officiated as an Elder since 1857.
As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM E. BROWN was born at Xenia, Ohio, November 13, 1825. His parents were Edward and Ann (McCue) Brown, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was early engaged in transporting goods between Pittsburg and Philadelphia. In 1824 he left Blairsville, Pennsylvania, where he had resided, and moved to Xenia, Ohio. In 1826 the family removed to Cincinnati, where the wife and mother died the following year.
The subject attended the public schools and when nineteen years of age taught school in Greene county, Ohio, in which profession he was engaged for some time. Having learned the trade of shoemaker, he was thus enabled to pay his way while reading law at Xenia and Dayton. In March, 1849, he as admitted to practice at the bar. With a letter of introduction from his preceptor, addressed to Thomas Millikin, of Hamilton, he then proceeded to his future home and arriving here hung out his “shingle” as an attorney-at-law. With limited resources and few acquaintances, business did not come his way at first. In the fall of 1849 an older lawyer was obliged to go away on account of ill health; he left young Brown in charge of his office and practice. Shortly afterwards the lawyer died and Mr. Brown thus became successor to the business, which amounted to about six hundred dollars per annum, and which he had no trouble to retain.
In 1852 Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of Robert Beckett. Failing health induced him to move into the country, but he still gave some attention to his legal practice and also dealt in real estate. In this he was successful, his knowledge of the law being of great assistance to him. He continued thus occupied until 1870, when he became president of the Second National Bank, in which responsible position he remained until his death in 1904. During his incumbency as president of the bank he continued to deal in real estate and was also president of the Carr-Brown Milling Company. Mr. Brown always took a deep interest in public affairs, and was an honorable and substantial citizen and received the confidence of the people with whom he had business or social relations. In early life he was a Democrat, but later upon its organization became a supporter of the Republican party.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born six children, as follows: Clare, who married W. B. Carr, and died in January, 1892; Robert; William B.; Mary, wife of Judge R. E. Sloan, a member of the supreme court of Arizona; and Ella and Paul. To his children Mr. Brown gave the best possible educational advantages. The family are members of the United Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Brown officiated as an elder from 1857 until his death.
As printed in Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Thomas Millikin
Their biographies name William E. Brown: William Beckett
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.