The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-01-31
Biographical Sketch OF the Late
NeiIl n. Brown.

Ex-Gov. Neill S. Brown, who died at
l 80 o'clock yesterday morning, was a native
of Giles county, in this State, where he was
born on the 18th of April, lel0 His parents
were descendants Of Scotch Presbyterians,
respectable and enterprising people, and
were among the pioneers Of the county when
that region of the country was wilderness.
In such new country educational advant-
ages we're limited, so that the subject OF this
sketch received little more than a knowl-
edge Of the common English branches up TO
the b ge of seventeen, at VIII ch time he was
throw upon his own resources, and took 10
teaah ng school as means OF promoting his
own ardent desire to Obtain II collegiate edu-
cation. In this laudable undertaking he was
not disappointed, his energ and ambition
being sufficient to carry him through the null
tiplied difficulties and hardships which beset
his path until he had completed, unassisted,
his college and law course, and been admit
ted to the bar, with as brilliant and encOur.
aging prospects as most young lawyers. In
1885 he geryed as a soldier III the Semin nle
war In Florida, and ,upOn his return in 1887
wAs elected o member Of the Legislature
from Giles county. He soon acquired in
nolitit aot only inf uenee, but considerable
ambition, being q ready and huent speaker,
both In the house Of legislation and upon
suasive Kind, mixed with anesdote, Keen
wit and satire, which renders speaker pop
nlar and effective with people and before
juries. When The great politioa, parties
NcIO lOE meu No V6Oh prominent ana active
part a. Whig, and, after very spirited
contest, was elected Governor in 1877. He
WAS an honorable and popular chief mag
istrate; In 1850 he was appointed United
8 ates Minister to Russia and was abroad in
that capacity about three years. In 1865 he
was chosen TO represent Davidson county 10
the LEGISLATURE, and was elected Speaker of
the House. From this time he hold no p0-
litieal Office until 1870. when he was elected
a member of the convention called TO re-
m odel the existing constitution OF the State.
Gov. Brown, though opposed to the war OF
1851 60, was an nti-secessionist, yielded to
ths issue when IL was mqde up and took
des with the South. Since the war he
neither held nor sought any public Office, but
was an active and open advocate of the
Union and OF peace and reconciliation. His
professional career as q lawyer began in
1885, and he practiced ever since except
when prevented by political engagements. I
Few men in the profe sion attained bet
ter standing at the bar, although it is I'M
doubleday trua that public duties somewhat
divided his attention and detracted from the
full exercise of his powers aud abilities in
the strict line of his profession. still, he
was one of the ablest lawyers of the county
bar, and his services were retained in the
most important cases both in the criminal
and civil 20 irts.
He took an active part ip the political cam
paigns OF 1886, 1910, 1874, lh56 and 1850, and
was an elector on the ticket of Judge White
in 1886 and Of Henry Clay in 1874. He was
and of education in all its branches. and
few men. were more fully trusted and highly
esteemed in the community in which he re.
sidad