The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-25
SKETCH or Ills CAREER.
His Enrly Life and Rapid Advnnc enicnt
pul,Iic IInunrs

HIS Enrly Life and Rapid Advancement 10
Public IIonors.
James II. Brown was born In Cabell
county, Virginia, on the e5th day OF De-
ccmber, 1878. His father, DR.. Benjamin
Brown, was native Of the same State
rs were his ancestors from the time Of
their emigration from England. Judge
Brown was educated ut Marietta College,
Ohio, and was graduated at Augusta Co..
lege, Kentucky.
lie was admitted to the bar in 1912, ard
began the practice OF his profession in the
counties OF Cabell and Logan, where he
is still remembered and respected by the
old citizens OF those counties. He soon
extended his practice to kanawha and
adjoining counties, 10 the District and
State courts, and the Supreme Court Of
the United States.
in 1851, he was one Of the delegates
from kanawha county to the State Con-
vention, which assembled at the White
Sulphur Springs, to consider the subject
OF internal improvements.
lie was member OF the Convention
which met in Wheeling in 1861, and voted
there for the submission to the people OF
the question of new State. lie was
member Of the Legislature of Virginia
which met, in Wheeling in December,
1851, and tookan active part in its proceed.
ings.
In the winter Of 1862, he was elected
Judge OF the 18th Judicial Circuit OF Vir-
ginia, and resigned his seat in the Legisla-
ture. Shortly afterward lie resigned his
seat in the Convention, was qualified rs
Judge, and held court in every county OF
his district. In 1868, he was reelected to the
Constitutional Convention which met To
consider the Amendment to the Constitu.'
ton, proposed by the National Congress
lie opposed to attempt to restrict the
right OF suffrage to tax payers, and also
opposed the restrictions upon internal
Improvements by the State.
Ill 1868 he was elected Judge OF the
Supreme Court Of Appeals of West Vir.
ginia, and the reports Of the court bear
ample testimony to his ability as jurist.
HIS LEGISLATIVE RECORD.
In 1882 lie was elected member OF the
Legislature from Kanawha county. While
in the Legislature That winter, he voted to
instruct our members OF Congress to op-
pose any reduction in the duty on wool,
thereby voting 10 protect the wool grow
ers Of our State. lie also voted against
the misapplication OF the School Fund to
the payment OF the salaries OF an Execu.
tive State officer and hts clerk, which the
Constitution requires should be paid out
OF the State treasury. lie was also promi
nently instrumental in passing the
bill for, preserving to the School
Funds OF the counties their share
of the proceeds of the forfeited lands,
which for years has been paid into the
State treasury, to the great injury and i'm.
poverishment OF the people Of the poor
counties in which these lands lie, and
whose local taxes are double, aud some
times nearly treble, the amount paid by
the people OF the richer counties. lie also
rcsolutcly opposed all measures to raise
salaries and increase the expenses and bur-
dens OF the people. II
MS RECENT LrFE|
In 1888 he was nominated rs Republi-
can Candidate for. Congress in the Third
district, and, although not elected, greatly
reduced the usual Democratic majority.
During the recent State election he was
candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court
on the Republican ticket.
For forty years, Judge Brown has been
prominently before the people of Wes,
Virginia, and it is not too much to say
that as u private citizen, lawyer Mt the bar,
legislator 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 so
large measure OF confidence and respect
The reason is not far to seek: He has
always labored for the best interests OF
the people, among whom he. was born
and reared, and valued his own integrity
and self.rcspect is worth more to him
than place or power.
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