The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-02
candidate for Congress In the Third Con.
gr~essionnI District of West V~irginia,

] w NANAN A"A -
gressionni District of West Virginia,
Was born in Cabell county, Virginia, on
the 25th day OF December, 1878. His father,
Dr.. Benjamin Brown, was a native Of the
same Slue-as were his ancestors from the
time Of their emigration from England.
Judge Brown was educated at Marietta
College, Ohio, and was graduated at Augusta
College, Kentucky.
He was admitted 10 the bar in 1912, and
began'the practice Of his profession in the
counties OF CabeIl and Logan, where heis
still remembered and respected by the old
citizens OF those counties. He soon ex-
tended his practice to Kanawhauud adioin.
ing counties, TO the District and State
Courts, and to the Supreme Court OF the
United States.
In 1851, he was one the delegates from
Kanawha county to the State Convention,
which assembled ct the White Sulphur
Springs, 10 consider the subject OF internal
improvements.
He wa a member OF tho Convention
| which met in Wheeling in 1861, and voted
there Tor the submission to the people of
the question Of a new State. He was a
member Of the legislature Of Virginia
which met III Wheeling in December,
1851, and took ah active partin It's proceed
ings.
In the winter OF 1872, he was elected
Judge Of the 18th Judicial Circuit OF Vir-
ginia, and resigned his seat in the Legisla-
ture. Shortly Hiterward he resigned his seat
in the Convention, was qualified rs Judge,
and held court in every county oihis district.
In 1858. he was reelected to the Consti-
Lutional Convention which met to consider
the Amendment to the Constitution, pro-
posed by the National Congress. He
opposed the attempt 10 restrict the right OF
suffrage TO tax payers, aud also opposed the
restrictions upon internal improvements by
the State.
In 1863, he was elected Judge Of the
Supreme Court OF Appeals OF West Vir-
ginia, and the reports OF the court bear
ample testimony t. his ability as a jurist.
In 1882, he was elected Il member Of the
Legislature from kGnawha county. While
in tho Legislature last winter, he voted to
instiu ct our members Of Congress to oppose
any reduction ia the du y OH wool, thereby
voting to protect the wool growers Of our
State. lie also voted against the ~misapplica.
ton Oilhe School Fund to the payment oithe
salaries OF IN Executive State officer and
his clerk, which the Constitution requires
should be paid out of the State treasury.
He was also prominently instrumental
in passing the bill for preserving to the
School Funds Of the counties their share
Of tho proceeds Of the forfeited lands,
which for years has been paid into the
State treasury, to the great injury aud i'm.
noverishment Of the people Of the poor
counties in which these lands lie, and
whose local school taxes were double, and
sometimes nearly treble, the amount paid
by the people OF the richer counties.
lie also resOluteIy opposed all measures
10 raise salaries and increase the expenses
and burdens OF the people.
He also supported the measure for the
ventilation and safety oil mines, and the
better protection OF the miners, with due
regard to the interest OF the mine owners
and operators.
For forty years, Judge Brown has been
prominently before tho people OF West
Virginia, and it is not too much 10 say, that
rs a private citizen, lawyer at the bar, leg
islator and judge, his character is abso.
lutely stainless; and few men WHO have
occupied so many responsible positions,
under such difficult circumstances, have
succeeded in securing and retaining 80
largea measure Of confidence and respect.
The reason is not far to seek: He has
always labored for the best interests ofthe
people, among whom he was born and
reared, and valued his own integrity and
self.respeGt as worth more to him than
place or power.
Judge Brown is nov in the meridian Of
his physical and intellectual strength, with
the promise OF many years Of usefulness to
the people OF his district and State.