The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-01
ORR WAR GOVERNOR DEAD.
Ex-senator Joseph E. Brown Sinks
Peacefully 10 Sleep.

His Demise Not Considered Imminent
Until Thanksgiving Day - He Sank
Rapidly During the Night and Yester-
dav Morning and Passed Away at
215 o'clock Yesterday Afternoon-A
Sketch of His Distinguished Public
and Private Career.
Atlanta, Ca, Nov. S0.-Georgia's war
governor, Joseph Emerson Brown, died
ar his home here at 2:15 o'clock this
afternoon He had been in feeble health
for four years. but not until yesterday did
collapse appear to be imminent. He sank
steadily during the night and this fore
noon The end came very quietly.
GOV. Brown was a successful bust
ness man, and he leaves an estate worth
100000.
The funeral will probably occur on Mon
day
Joseph Emerson Brown, twenty-fourth
governor of Georgia, was born in Pickens
district. South Carolina, April Is, 1921 In
his youth his father removed with his
family to Union county, Georgia. At the
age or q the young Brown left his fathers
house with nothing but his clothing and
a pair of oxen. walking most of the way
10 the Calhoun Academy in South Caroli-
ua where he acquired an education, for
which he had to go into debt. Returning to
Georgia. he taught school for a time at
Canton While teaching he studied law.
He was admitted to the bar in August,
lSi6, and the next year was graduated
from the Yale law school, and began
the practice of his profession at Canton.
He entered into politics at about
the time that he began TO prac-
tice at the bar. In 1919 he was
elected a member of The state Sen
ate. and at once went to the front as one
of the ahlest members of tnat body.
in lS52 he was a presidential elector for
the Pierce ticket, and in 1865 was elected
TO the judgeship of the superior court
Of the Blue Ridge circuit. He was elected
governor of the state in 1851 over Benja-
min II. Hill, afterwards senator of the
United States. Two years later he was
reelected by the democrats by an in
creased majority over Warren Aiken. He
was a secessionist in 1860 and his admin
is,ration after Georgia seeded was so
vigorous that, in spite of the unwritten
law that a governor should have but two
terms. he was reelected TO a third term
in 1851, and to a fourth term in 1868. de-
teating Eugenius A. Nesbit, afterwards
supreme court judge; Joshua Hill. an
original union man, afterwards United
States senator, and Timothy F'urlow. an
original secessionist. Sixteen days before
Georgia seeded from the union, Gov.
Brown seized Forts Pulaski and jackson,
rear savannah, and took 1. .5asession OF the
federal arsenal at Augusta, five d:ys after
the passage of the secession ordinance.
During the war he was a vigorous sup
porter of the confederate government, but
4
tutonality of the conscripton measures.
During Shermans invasion he put into
the field an army Of 10000 men, made up
OF state officers, youths, and aged men,
usually exempt from military duty. But
he refused TO send them out of the state
when requlsition was made for them by
the confederate government. In October.
1864 he refused Gen. Shermans request
ior conference denying that he had
power TO act without permission from the
legislature. After the surrender in 1865 he
was imprisoned at Washington, and after
his release he resigned from the governor
ship In 1866 he strongly advised that
ms state accept the situation, and comply
with the terms of reconstruction. The
position he assumed made him unpopular,
and for a time he acted with the republic
cans, supporting Grant in 1865 In the
same year Gov. Brown was defeated for
me United States Senate by Joshua Hill.
After he was defeated for the Senate he
was appointed chief justice OF the supreme
court which office he resigned in 1870, and
temporarily left public life. Upon his re-
irement he became president of the Wes-
tern and Atlantic railroad. and director
of several other large corporations at
me same time devotng attention to the
development of the resources of the state.
since 1872 Coy. Brown acted with the
democrats, and in 1850, upon the resigna-
uon Of Senator Gordon, he was appointed
10 It'll the vacancy in the Senate until
me meeting of the legislature. And that
BODY elected him to fill out the term. Gen.
a. r. LawtOn was the opposing candidate
before the legislature. At the expiration of
'he term Senator Brown was elected to
succeed himself, there being but one vote
-ior Robert Toombs-cast against him.
me served the full term, and on March 3,
-''l retired finally from public life After
i-s election to the Senate in 1880 he made
speech before the general assembly. jus
ulyns his course in 1866. Gov Brown
was the chief owner of numerous enter
lIlses employing thousands of men. He
is feputed to have been one Of the wealth
lrst men in the south, and possibly the
Iiahest man in Georgia. His charities
We're large, and included churches, col
Iaes. and other causes. His farms were
irotably the largest and most profitable
III the state.