Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-02-04

THE VENERABLE EX-GOVER-
NOR DIES AT HIS HOME.
A Sketch of This Distinguished Son of
Tennessee,

NASHVILLE, Jan, 30.-Ex-Gov, Neill
S. Brown died at 1:20 O'Clock this morn
ing, For many months he has been in a
very feeble condition, and his death
would not nave surprised his friends at
any time. A few days ago he was taken
perceptibly worse, and gradually weak
ened until death relieved him Of his suf,
fering,
Neill S. Brown was a native of Giles
county, in this State, where he was born
on the 18th of April, 1910. His parent,
were defendants of Scotch Presbyterians,
respectable and enterprising people, and
were among the pioneers of Giles county
when that region Of the country was a
wilderness. In such "A new country edu,
c%ational advantages were limited, so that
the subject of this sketch received little
more than a knowledge of the common
Englifh branches up to the age of II, at
which time he was thrown upon his own
resources, and took to teaching school as
a means of promoting his ardent desire to
obtain IA collegiate education. In this
laudable undertaking he was not disap.
pointed, his energy and ambition being
sufficient to carry him through the multi.
piled difficulties and hardships which be-
set his path until he had completed, un.
assisted, his college and law course, and
been admitted to the bar, with as brill.
ant and encouraging prospects as most
young lawyers.
In 1886 he served as a soldier in the
Seminole war in Florida, and upon his
return in 1887 was elected a member of
the Legislature from Giles county. lie
soon acquired in politics not only influ.
ence, but considerable ambition, being a
ready and fluent speaker, both in the
house of Legislation and upon the stump.
His oratory was of that persuasive kind,
mixed with anecdote, keen wit and satire,
which renders a speaker popular and eff.
f%ective with people and before juries.
When the great political parties were
formed he took a prominent and active
part as a Wing, and, after a spirited con
test, was elected governor in 1S47. lie
was an honorable and popular chief mag.
istrate. In 1850 he was appointed United
States minister to Russia and was abroad
in that capacity about three years. In
1855 he was chosen to represent David.
son county in the legislature, and was
elected speaker of the house. From this
time he held no political office until 1870,
when he was elected a member of the
convention called to remodel the existing
constitution of the state.
Gov. Brown, though opposed to the
wal OF 1876, was an anti -secesslonisi,
yielded to the issue when it was made up
and took sides with the south. Since the
war he neither held nor sought any pub.
lie office, but was an active and opeE adj.
yocate of the union and of peace and re.
Cancellation. His professional career as
a lawyer began in 1885, and he practiced
ever since except when prevented by poll.
tical engagements. Few men in the pro-
fession attained a better standing at the
bar, although it is undoubtedly true that
public duties somewhat divided his at.
tention and detracted from the full exer.
else of his powers and abilities in the
strict line of his profession. Still, he
was one Of the ablest lawyers of the coun
ty bar, and his services were retained in
CRIMINAL and civil courts.
He took an active part in the political
campaigns of 1886, 1910, 1874, 1856, and
1860, and was an elector on the ticket of
Judge White in 1886 and of Henry Clay
in 1874. He was always an ardent friend
of common schools and of education in
all its branches, and few men were more
fully trusted and highly esteemed in the
community in which he resided.