The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-03-10
H. C. BROWN DEAD
DONOR OF COLORADO CAPITOL
SITE DIES IN SAN DIEGO.
BUILT BROWN PALACE HOTEL
California Forty y-Niner-Colorado Pio-
neer Of lSeo-One of the Famous
Empire Builders of the Great West.

San Diego, Cal.-Henry c. Brown,
the wel-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 apath was a general breaking
down on account of Old age. lie was
eighty five years old November 18th
last. His son. James II. Brown was
with hlm at the time of his death.
Will 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 lie OF the man who made such
nota3,g fortune reads like a story of
adven IIp. Born in st Claire county,
ONO, u sturdy American stock. he
early 'ynceG :. desire to wander away
from lGa beaten paths. As boy. and
in con3ormity with the custom OF the
times, b" was apprenticed to farmer,
and Ia learned the carpenter trade
after having received such an educa-
tion a 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-
ton S q month.
Hearing of the gold finds in Califor-
MIA, h. crossed the plains with an OK
team and reached the land of promise
in 1872 the trip occupying 10 days.
Having made several trips into the
Northwest he returned to California,
where lie went into the contracting
and hlilding busiSess, later going to
South America. whore he lived for six
months coming back to America by
way oI Cape Horn.
From the moment he came to Colo,
RADIO in 1850 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 for
passagc 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 II. 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 a
helpnloet when the days seemed dark
est. Among the first ventures OF the
man whose efforts ~ere crowned by
the splendid hotel which bears his
name. was the purchase, in 1872, OF
the wspaper now known as the Re
publican. formerly known as the Den
yer Tribune. which he afIerward sold.
Another venture was the establish
nent of a bank at the corner of Six,
icpnth and Market streets. With the
lare Ex-Governor John Evans he built
the tramway. at one time beng owner
of onethird 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 ii nonu-
ment to his enterprise and public
spirit as a citizen. He at one time was
the owner of the entire Brown d Glenn
ent's addition. and while he owned
property which is to-day valued at
from SIS, 900, 900 to s20,00000o, he died
comparatively poor man.
The deceased is survived by three
chldren-James II. Brown, DR.. Sher-
man r. Brown. and Mrs. Carrie II. Cas-
sell.