Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-06-17
B. GRATZ BROWN.
His Kentucky RelatiOns-FOur Genera
lions OF OffieehOlderS - Governor
Brown in MissOuri-His Fami-
" and his Affairs.
IF the Boston Globe.l

Correspondence Of the Boston GlObe.l
81. Louis, June ?, 1877.
have been privileged by friend to
see a large pamphlet, the " Memoranda
Of the Preston Family, - which was COM
piled by John Mason Brown, a half
brother 10 Governor Brown, and printed
for private distribution. The PrestOns,
il may be remembered, were the first Of
the family who came 10 this country,
and il is TO keep record Of their numer-
Gus and distinguished progeny that the
" memoranda was written. John Pres
ton, the first Of the family who came to
America, was born in Ireland, in the
city Of Londonderry. his father and
three uncles were Englishmen who
served under King William, and aided
in the defense Of Londonderry, when
that city was besieged by King James.
He was Protestant Of the Presbyterian
denomination, a man Of strong mind
ana correct principles. He married
Elizabeth Patten, a sister of Colonel
James Patten, of Donegal, with whom
be removed TO Virginia in l740. Col
onel Patten had for some years COM
manded a merchant ship, and was
man Of property, enterprise and in
fuence. He obtained an order Of cOun-
ell from the Governor OF Virginia, under
which there were appropriated to him
self and his associates one hundred and
twenty thousand acres Of the best lands
lying above the Blue Ridge, in that
state, several valuable tracts Of which
fell to the share Of his descendants. He
was killed By Indians at Smithfield,
Virginia, in l753. He left two daugh-
tens, one Of whom married Captain
William Thompson, and the other Col
Onel John Buchanan. From the last
named are descended John Floyd, late
member OF Congress and Governor Of
Virginia, James ID. Breckenridge, Of
Louisville, Kentucky, late member Of
Congress, and the late Colonel w. ?.
Anderson, OF the United States army.
John Preston, the brother-in-law, also
obtained under the order Of the council
above mentioned a valuable tract Of
land called "RObinson's" which de-
seended 30 his son, and until recently
remained in the family. His children
We're Letitia, who married Colonel |
RODert Breckinridge; Margaret, who |
msrried Rev. John Brown; William, !
whose wife was Susanna Smith: Ann, |
who married Colonel John Smith. and /
Mary, who married John Howard.
From these marriages has come nu- |
merOus and celebrated line Of descend !
ants. In the list Of Letitia's children |
are John Breckenridge, who died in 1906, |
after having served in the United States |
Senate and as AttOrney-General in Mr.. |
JeffersOn's cabinet; John 3. Glayson, |
a General IN the Confederate army; Col |
Onel Peter \. Porter, a Colonel in the
United States army, killed al Cold Har- |
Dor, Virginia; Joseph CabeN BTeckin- |
ridge, Secretary Of state Of Kentucky; |
john {. BTeckmridge, United States
Senator, Nice-P President Of the United
States, a MsjOr-General and Secretary
Of War Of the Confederate States; Rev !
John Breckinridge, Professor at Prince |
ton College: Rev. Robert J. Breckin- !
ridge, a distinguished Presbyterian theo- |
lOgian and political writer; Robert J. |
Breckinringe, Colonel in the COnfeder- |
ate army and member Of the Confeder- |
ate Congress, and a score OF more Others, |
officers in both armies and members Of
both Congresses.
From Margaret Preston are descended /
the Browns. Her first son, John Brown, (
was lawyer and politician who rep /
resented the then district Of Kentucky 4
in the Virginia Legislature and in the 4
old Congress Of l767-SS. He afterward 4
represented Kentucky in Congress, and /
that state, a position which he held for |
eighteen years. His oldest son was Ma
son Brown, Judge aud Secretary Of
State Of Kentucky, and his oldest son
is Benjamin Graft Brown, the present
Governor OF Missouri. and the nominee
for Nice-PresidenJ on the Cincinnati
ticket One OF Gratz Browns uncles.
James Brown, was the first Secretary OF
State of Kentucky; also for many years
United States Senator from Louisiana
and minister to the Court Of France.
William Preston, the only son Of the
first Preston had no less than eleven |
children. or these John Preston was a
member Of the Virginia Legislature,
and for many years treasurer Of that
State. The next, Francis Preston, was
a member Of the Senate of Virginia. 4
Congressman from that State and a 4
brigadier-general in the war of 1872. 1
ne married a niece OF Patrick Henry. /
Besides these there are among those
who have attained nOtoriety, William
Campbell Preston, an orator and advo-
cate, a senator from South Carolina, and l
q President Of the College OF South Car
oliRa; Ed. G. Darlington, a captain in
the Mexican war, a brigadier-general Of
United States volunteers, and United
States Attorney for the District Of Co
lumbia; John 5. Preston, brigadier-gen-
eral In the Confederate army; Elizabeth
Mcdowell, who married Hon. Thomas
Benton, the old senator from Missouri;
Jessie Benton, who married General
John c. Fremont; James Mcdowell,
member of Congress and Governor Of
Virginia William Preston, a member
of the Constitutional Convention of
Kentucky, q Congressman from that
State, lieutenant-cOlOnel Of Kertucky
volunteers in the Mexican war, minister
to theCOurt Of Spain, and majors general