Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  p. 209.  Jefferson County.

JOHN MASON BROWN, son of Mason Brown, was born at Frankfort, April 26,
1837, and, coming of a race of cultured men who had devoted their lives
to the profession of law, naturally followed in their footsteps.  He was
graduated at Yale College, in 1856, studied law under the guidance of
Thomas N. Lindsey, of Frankfort, and commenced the practice at St. Louis,
Missouri.  He spent some time in travel in the far west and in 1862
returning to Kentucky, entered the army as major of the Tenth Kentucky
Cavalry, United States Volunteers, serving throughout the war.  He was
colonel of the Forty-fifth Mounted Infantry and was in Command of the
Second Brigade, Fifth Division of the Twenty-third Army Corps.
     He returned to the law on the close of hostilities and entered into
partnership with M. C. Johnson, at Lexington, Kentucky, which connection
continued until he removed to Louisville, in 1873.  In 1882 he became
associated with George M. Davie and later with A. P. Humphrey, forming
the well-known firm of Brown, Humphrey & Davie.  Mr. Brown was known
and valued as a lawyer of great erudition and probity; was a brilliant
orator and delivered numerous public addresses.  The one in August, 1882,
on the anniversary of the battle of the Blue Licks, and one at the
centennial celebration of the founding of Frankfort, were specially
remarkable for their historical research and forensic finish.  He wrote
a "History of the Political Beginnings of Kentucky," a valuable epitome
for the students of early events.
     Mr. Brown was married in 1869 to Miss Mary O. Preston, daughter of
General William Preston, of Lexington, a direct descendant of the same
family which came his great-grandmother, Margaret Preston, the wife of Rev.
John Brown, thus in the fourth generation again uniting two great families
that have been active factors in the history of the state.  A son, John
Mason Brown, bearing his father's name, is now the representative of the
fourth generation at the Kentucky bar and is assistant city counselor for
the city of Louisville.

Brown Lindsey Johnson Davie Humphrey Preston
=
Fayette-KY Franklin-KY MO

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/brown.jm.txt