The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-08
HE REACHES AN OLD AGE
"UNCLE JOE BROWN CELEBRATES
EIGHTY-sECOND BIRTHDAY.
He Has Had n Career Full of Interest
Long Term of Service in the
Courthouse.

uncle Joe" Brown, transcript clerk in
the county clerks Office, yesterday cele-
brated his eighty-second birthday by adj
miring a large bouquet on his desk and
putting in his regular eight hours work.
For tw~enty-seven years he has held this
position in Marion county. a term longer
than any county, State or federal official
in Indiana. He was appointed transcript
clerk by his nephew, Austin II. Brown,
county clerk in 1875. and has continuously
held that position through the various
changes OF administrations.
Uncle joe was born in Clermont coun-
ty. o., May Z. 1920. and came with his
father 10 Rush county in April, 1921.
He is now perhaps the Oldest of
the original settlers of that county. He
was educated in the common schools of
Rush county. the State University and at
Hanover. Among his classmates at Han
over were Governor Hendricks, Governor
Porter, William II. English and MAJOR Cor
don. He came to Indianapolis with his
brother, William j. Brown, father of Ad-
miral Brown. Feb. q. 1887: His brother was
then secretary of State when the Gov
ernor's house occupied the Circle. He read
law under Judge Isaac Newton Blackboard,
an eminent jurist and for thirty-hve years
a distinguished justice of the Supreme
Court. He was admitted to the Supreme
bar on his twenty-irst birthday and is now
Its oldest member with the exception OF
Simon Yandes. In 1S41 he was elected prin-
cipal clerk of the House in the legislature
and was elected a second time.
In 1S43 his brother was elected TO Con-
gress land he went to Washington with
H. 49,. l.. rs..~l g. Ls4.
He was assistant clerk in the House for
many years, served as chief clerk TO the
adjUtant general and acted as chief clerk
in the War Department for several years.
In lS4S he and William III. English incor-
porated the Washington Gas Light Com
pany, owning the entire $4,000 capitai
stock. To-day the stock is worth $3,OO0, 900,
81, 100000 of which is held by JOhn r. Nc
Lean, of Cincinnati. Mr.. Brown was man
ager Of the company for fifteen years, re-
signing in 1870 on account of deafness.
While in Washington he was alderman
several years, and for twelve years served
as president of the board, and also as
mayor during frequent absences of thai
ofhcial- He was appointed police commits
siOner by President Lincoln in 1861, and
reorganized the police force. He became
treasurer of the Board OF Commissioners
and held that office six years, during
which time the responsibility of the de-
partment was intrusted TO him. Washing
ton, ID. c., had a municipal government
from 1902 TO 1871.
Leaving washington III 1910, he returned
to indianapolis and took up the duties of
transcript clerk in the county clerks office.
In all this public career Uncle joe has
witnessed many OF the early achievements
the first telegram was sent by Professor
Morse to Baltimore The message was a
quotation from the Scripture, "Wha
hath God wrought" He was a pas
Senger on the first train that ever ran west
of the Allegheny mountains. on July 4,
1859. BY his side sat Uncle Billy" Jackson.
Uncle Joe" is now the only passenger of
that train living. He is also. perhaps, the
oldest merchant in the city, he and his
brother having established the first book
store in indianapolis. in 1858, at the corner
of Meridian and Washington streets, where
the Yohn block now stands.
Mr.. Brown, although aged. keeps up his
end of the work at the courthouse. He
is a great reader of poetry. writes some
himself. and at odd times enjoys a volumi-
nous s~crapboOk which he keeps at the Of
flee. He says he knows more people In
Crown Hill than in the city.