Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-08-24
STORY OF EDGAR BROWN.
Ranges Dies Penniless-Is Buried
at Expense of Friends.

Edgar Brown, discoverer of the Me-
saba and NerrlIion ore ranges, who died
penniless in a hospital at Sault Ste.
Marie, Mich, was buried the other
day at the expense of a few old
lrends, leaving behind him nothing but
the memory of his kindness in the days
OF his prosperity and the story OF how
John u. Rockefeller deprived him of
the fortune he found and developed, and
gained control of the property which
made the United States steel corporation
possible.
Brown in his declining years never re-
gretted Il cent he had given away or
been tricked out of, with the exception
of the coup of the oil king. Before can
Ger of the stomach became so serious
as to conhne him to his bed he used to
sit Oh the bank of the river, Wistfully
watch boat after boat of the steel cor
poration's fleet and tell some old friend
the story of how, but for Rockefeller,
he would have been the owner of that
Dr. John N. Goltra, who attended
Brown in his last illness, who stuck by
him through thick and thin and in
whom, more than any man on earth,
Brown trusted, often listened to these
stories. which follow:
Brown was born in Warren, Pa, six
ty-four years ago. He had an magma
tive mind. and foresaw the commanding
position which iron was destined to take.
When the war broke out, however, he
enlisted, and before the end of the
struggle had been promoted to the grade
of second lieutenant for bravery. When
the troops were mustered out Brown
made his way to northern Michigan,
where there had been rumors of iron ore
deposits. He associated himself with
G.. c.. Merritt, and the two tramped I'M
til they located what afterward proved
the richest iron mines in the country.
Even after the ore was found Brown
was discouraged on every hand by cap
italists. but he persevered until he final
ly interested Rockefeller in the scheme
and borrowed $1,500,000, mortgaging
his mining claims as security. Then
Brown set about bringing his mines out
Of the wilderness. He planned the Du
luth & Iron Range railroad. now the
greatest ore carrier in the world.
Negotiations were begun with James j.
Hill and several associates for the sale
of the property, and a deal practically
was closed for it's transfer at a price
which would have made Brown and Mer-
rift milliOnaires several times over.
1t was here that Brown made his fatal
mistake. He never suspected treachery
and told of the deal to Il man who was
closely associated with Rockefeller He
declared, over and over, that Rockefeller
put the screws on Hill and his associates
so that they could not get the ready
money to complete their bargain. At any
rate Browns notes to Rockefeller be-
came due, the mortgage was fOreclosed
and the Immensely valuable ore property
fell into the hands of the Standard Oil
chief for mere fraction of it's value.
Millions of dollars have been taken out
| of the mines since that time.
| The loss of the fortune almost within
his grasp proved too much for Merritt
lie was broken-hearted, and within five
weeks was carried to his grave But
Brown was made of sterner stuff, and
set out bravely to seek fortune anew He
came to the Canadian 500 and opened
mining brokerage business, where he
prospered moderately. But his big heart
kept him from amassing a fortune.
Even to the last Brown was an ad-
venturer. Even after he was attacked
by the disease which ultimately caused
his death, he put what few thousands
he had into an expedition to search for
gold in the mineral lands north of Lake
Superior. But no gold was found, and
Brown returned here broken in health
as well as fortune.
In his prospecting days Brown fell in
with a man named Philborn, who is now
said to be a steel millionaire. Philborn
was stricken with TYPHOID. and Brown
nursed him back to life. Philborn in his
gratitude, said fervently: Brown, if you
ever want anything in years to come,
call on me-
1t was not until Brown was helpless
in the hospital dependent on charity,
that he finally made an appeal to Phil
born. The latter, it is alleged, replied.
declaring that all his money was tied
up in investments and that he had none
to spare
Brown is survived by his aged wife,
who is left without a cent for her de-
Ginning years.