JAMES A. BROWN, an honored
citizen of Norwich, Conn., residing on Laurel Hill, was born in Middletown,
near Newport, R.I., February 19, 1828. His parents were George and Elizabeth
(Peckham) Brown; and his paternal grandfather was William Brown, a prosperous
Rhode Island farmer, who was the father of four sons and two daughters,
all of whom attained to years of discretion.
George Brown was born in Middletown about
the year 1788, and died February 23, 1853. Elizabeth Peckham Brown, his
wife, who survived him a number of years, was a daughter of Peleg and Elizabeth
Peckham, of Middletown, R.I. She was the mother of ten children, six sons
and four daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living, James
A. Brown, now about seventy years of age, being next to the youngest. The
other survivors are: Elizabeth, aged eighty-four, who is living in Lebanon,
Conn., widow of Ira B. Tucker, and has no children; George, aged eighty,
a farmer in Lebanon, who has one daughter living; Almira L., who is the
wife of John C. Palmer, a ranchman and banker at Paxton, Neb., and has
one daughter; Peleg P., a liveryman in Jamestown, R.I., who has five sons
and one daughter; and Charles H., a real estate dealer in Ogallala, Keith
County, Neb., who has five children. Mrs. Brown died in Lebanon, July 10,
1874, at eighty-six years of age, and was buried beside her husband at
Middletown.
James A. Brown passed his boyhood on his
father's farm; and up to sixteen years of age he was a pupil of the district
school, where he gained a fair knowledge of the rudimentary branches of
learning. At eighteen he took up the trade of a carpenter, but a year later
he returned to farm labor. After his marriage he removed to Lebanon, Conn.,
whither his father-in-law had gone, and purchased a farm. From Lebanon
Mr. Brown subsequently went to Colchester, and engaged in the meat business,
which he had followed for two years prior to leaving Lebanon. In April,
1869, he embarked in the wholesale grocery business here in Norwich, having
as a partner John C. Palmer, and doing business under the style of Palmer
& Brown. When they had been together seventeen years, Mr. Brown purchased
his partner's interest, and continued the business alone for ten years,
selling out in April, 1896. During the war he was Captain of the Wide-awakes,
and but for the interposition of his friends would have enlisted for active
service at the front, they persuading him that he could ill be spared from
the town, where he was untiring in his efforts to relieve the needs of
the families of the soldiers in the field.
On December 1, 1850, Mr. Brown was united
in marriage with Miss Susan Weaver, a native of Middletown and daughter
of Abner and Susan (Peckham) Weaver. Her mother died June 23, 1867, aged
sixty-six, and her father, May 17, 1875, aged seventy-six. They had seven
children; namely, six daughters and a son, George Abner Weaver, of Lebanon,
Conn. The three daughters now living are: Mrs. Brown; Ruth M., wife of
William Brown, of Willimantic, Conn., a brother of James A.; and Emma B.
Peckham, of Lebanon. Mr. and Mrs. James A. Brown have a son and daughter:
Francis H., of Norwich, who is married, and has one daughter; and Ella
J., wife of Charles M. Cole, a druggist of Newport, who has one son.
In political affiliation Mr. Brown is a Republican.
In Colchester he served as Con stable. He has here served on the Common
Council five years, on the Board of Water Commissioners two years, also
as Second Selectman, and since 1895 as First Selectman. For ten years he
was a member of the Compensation Committee, having in charge the adjustment
of damages, holding the office under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
He is also trustee and director of the Dime Savings Bank. Mr. Brown is
a member of the Central Baptist Church, in which he has been a very active
worker, and was a member of the Building Committee in the erection of their
fine church edifice. Mr. and Mrs. Brown reside at 124 Laurel Hill
Avenue.
(Photo attached)
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 154 - 157
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