The Colorado statesman., 1906-03-10
H. C. BROWN DEAD
DONOR OF COLORADO CAPITOL
SITE DIES IN SAN DIEGO.
BUILT BROWN PALACE HOTEL
California rty-Niner-colorado Pio-
neer of 186o-One of the Famous
Empire Builders of the Great West.


Empire Builders of the Great West.
San DIEGO, Cal.-Henry C. Brown,
the weil-known capitalist of Denver,
died Tuesday evening in his rooms in
the Hotel Robinson, where he had
been since last Thanksgiving, having
come West for his health. The cause
of his death was a general breaking
down on account of old age. He was
eighty-five years old November 18th
last. His son, James H. Brown, was
with him at the time of his death.
With the death of Henry Cordes
Brown, one of the most vital forces
which made Denver the great city that
it is has been removed.
The life of the man who made such
notable fortune reads like a story OF
adventure. Born in st. Claire county,
Ohio, of sturdy American stock, he
early evinced a desire to wander away
from the beaten paths. AS boy, and
in conformity with the custom of the
times, he was apprenticed to a farmer,
and later learned the carpenter trade
after having received such an educa-
ton as the schools of the district in
which he lived offered. His first ven
ture from home was made into West
| Virginia, where he engaged in the
| work he knew, receiving as compensa-
tion SIS month.
Hearing of the gold finds in Califor-
mia, he crossed the plains with an OK
team and reached the land of promise
in 1S49, the trip occupying 110 days.
Having made several trips into the
Northwest he returned to California,
where he went into the contracting
and building busisess, later going to
South America, where he lived for six
months, coming back to America by
way of Cape Horn.
From the moment he came to Colo
RADIO in 1860 he had firm faith in the
possibilities of the state, faith which
was shaken but once, when, after
many discouragements, he offered
certain transfer company, in return Tor
passage back to Kansas for himself
and family, all the land which he had
acquired, extending from Broadway to
the City park and from Tenth avenue
to Colfax avenue. The offer was re-
fused, ard H. G.. Brown was fastened
firmly to the wheel OF Denver's prog
ress.
Before leaving St. Joseph, Missouri,
from which point he made his entry
into the West, he had married Miss
Jane Thompson, who came with him
into the new land and was always
helpmeet when the days seemed dark
est Among the first ventures of the
man whose efforts were crowned by
the splendid hotel which bears his
name, was the purchase, in 1872, oil
the newspaper now known as the Re
publican, formerly known as the Den
yer Tribune, which he afterward sold
Another venture was the establish
ment of bank at the corner of Six
teenth and Market streets. With the
late Ex-Governor John Evans he built
the tramway, at one time being owner
of one-third of the stock of the cor
poration. But perhaps he will be
longest remembered by Coloradoans
as having been the donor of the prop
erty upon which the state capitol is
built and as having built the great
hotel which will ever stand as monu
ment to his enterprise and public
spirit as citizen. He at one time was
the owner of the entire Brown & Glenn
ent's addition, and while he owned
property which is to-day valued al
from s15,000,000 to $20,000,000, he died
a comparatively poor man.
The deceased is survived by three
children-James H. Brown, DR.. Sher
man T. Brown and Mrs. Carrie H. Cas-
sell.