Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-11
Hen. John b. Brown.

Hon. ey00M Is BOWL
A dispatch received here yesterday, an
Dounced the sad intelligence Of the death Of
Hon. John B. Brown, At his home in Portland.
Mr.. Brown was born at Lancaster, n H.,
May ~. 1904, and was therefore nearly ~
years of age 1t the time Of his death. His
father vas farmer, and when Mr.. Brown
vas quite young lad moved to Bartlett, and
thence to GRAY. where he became the propri-
etor of the principal hotel. 1t was in Gray
that Mr.. Brown met Mr.. st. John Smith, and
later the two youths came ts Portland, where
they became clerks with Alpheus Shaw. in
the Wholesale grocery and West India trade,
where the Morton Block now stands on Con-
gress street Latter Messrs. Smith and
Brown formed partnership and continued
the business for many years. When this con-
nection was dissolved. Mr.. Brown pursued
business alone, under the firm name Of J. B.
Brown, but, little while after, formed
partnership with Mark P. Emery and Jedde-
diah Jewett for a brief period.
In 1915, the extensive sugar house was es-
t6VtlSUcU ~ Tic CDfuct VI sAapfC anu tchs-
mercial streets. MessEs. Greeley & Guild
of Boston, and Mr.. Brown we're the movers
inthis enterprise. During longtime the spec
ulafion hung in the balance. Greeley Child
failed and Mr.. Brown had to bear tile weight
Of the whole speculation. For brief pc
Rod he was losing money fast But his
courage never for q moment failed him.
In 1855 charter was procured. incor.orat-
ing the Portland Sugar Company, Of which
J. r. Brown, Dependence II. Kurdish, and
Philip II. Brown were the incorpOrators. I'M
der the firm name Of J. Il. Brown Sons.
agents. This corporation proved highly suc-
eessful. engaging q capital of almost half
million dollars, employing, directly or indi-
rectlv, up TO the time Of the great fire, 1000
people and turning out $50 barrels of sugar
dav When the great fire of 1866 consumed
these works, Mr.. Drawn rebuilt them bnt ran
them only little while as the machinery
could not compete with the modern centri-
fugal process. After the sugar house was
given up company was formed under the
firm name of Churchill. Browns &. Manson
for the purpose of doing a large West Indian
and Western business. This firm was dis
solved in a few years, and Mr.. Brown, with
his sons. formed the banking house of J. Il.
Brown & Sons, doing business on Exchange
to their present quarters under the Falmouth
Hotel.
One Of Mr.. Browns great enterprises was
the purchase of the land known as that be-
longing to the Paine heirs, and embracing a
great portion Of the present seventh Portland
ward, living around and about Bramhall
and converting that barren tract into the most
beautiful portion of the city. thus adding to
its taxable wealth, and increasing his own
immense fortune. Another of his enterpris-
es was the erection of the Falmouth Hotel
Mr.. Brown. at a cost Of half a million, con .
structed this house which is the equal af any
hotel east OF New York containing 24O rooms
and provided with all the modern convenien-
ces. When the Atlantic & st. Lawrence
Railroad was Incorporated Mr.. Brown was
one Of the incorpotators. He was the presi-
dent Of the Board of Trade and continued so
for nine years. He gave largely to the
Maine General Hospital and was its presi-
dent. lie was one of the largest owners in
the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad and a
director; director of the Erie Railroad Com
pauy president of the Portland Savings
Bank: director in the Portland Company
Maine Central and Portland. Saco & Ports
mouth roads (and has been in the East
ern Railroad,) Rolling Mills. Kerosene
Oil Company and Maine Steamship Com
pdHN III iuCt tttre HAS HdTiiS MI tuttIpft~f
started for the advancement of Portland in
which Mr.. Brown did not take an interest
pecuniarly. He was a great friend of Bow
doin College and had been large donor to
that institution of learning. which honOred
him bv electing him a trustee. He was also
founder Of the Brown Fund, giving medals
each year to the most proficient graduate
male and female. in the Portland High
School He was a manager of the Portland
Benevolent Society.
In politics Mr.. Brown was a staunch re-
publican. lie had served the CITY in both
branches of the Council. and had represented
her in the upper branch of the Legislature in
1857
Mr.. Brown married Ann Matilda Greedy.
daughter of Philip Greely. Esq. an honored
merchant and granddaughter of Hon. Eli
phalet Greedy, and by her had five children.
Mr.. Brown was man Of keen, clear per
captions and a brilliant schemer. But. IN
like most schemers, his castles were sub
stantial ones. He seemed to comprehend at
once whether a project had money in it.
So enterprising Mr. Brown in former
years that people got an idea into their heads
that he ought to do everything. If hotel
was wanted, or a theatre. or a horse railroad
il was Mr.. Brown who should build it. By
his investments in real estate in Portland he
improved many sections of the city, and even
up to the dav he was stricken down he was
engaged in devising plans that would help
Portland. not the least of which was the es-
tablishment there of new elevator and
wharf property by the Grand Trunk.
A a husband and father Mr.. Brown was
one of the kindest and most generous of men,
He rarely gave himself holiday but
made two trips to Europe. and as result
his gallery Of paintings contain some of the
finest efforts of European artists. He was
generous towards native talent and possessed
pictures by the leading men of the Academy
of Design. He was constant attendant at
the High street church, Portland.
ME-. Browns death Is serious blow to
Portland and to the entire State. His loss
will be felt. and the many industries which
depended upon his watchful and sagacious
guidance for success, will. with the people.
miss him as a benefactor.