His capital consisted of a suit of homespun cloth, a Spanish milled dollar, still in his possession, now 104 years old, good principles, willing hands, and a stout heart. His salary was $75 per year and board, with an addition of twenty-five dollars a year for four years. Soon after he came to St. Johnsbury his employers sent him to Boston to buy goods for loading a six-horse team, which made a semi-annual trip, consuming about four weeks. The regular stage to Boston, via Concord and Nashua, was four days. 

      Moses KITTRIDGE was then postmaster at the Plains, where a tri-weekly mail was received by a two-horse stage running from Danville to Littleton. The postage was from six to twenty-five cents, according to distance sent. 

      In 1845 Mr. BROWN went into company with Ephraim JEWETT for five years, but remained fifteen years. Meanwhile, in 1849, JEWETT & BROWN built their large store on the site now occupied by BROOKS, TYLER and company. At that time the site of the courthouse was occupied by the old village burying ground, but the county buildings were moved here from Danville soon after the advent of the Passumpsic railroad in 1850. Danville bank was then the only one in Caledonia county. The same year Mr. BROWN built his house, corner of Summer and Central streets, buying the lot, twelve rods by six, for $100 of Thaddeus FAIRBANKS.

      Mr. BROWN continued in trade successfully almost fifty years on Main street, during the last ten years with his son, F. N. BROWN as a partner. The latter is a popular and successful general merchant located in Brown's block. E. F. BROWN's half century of mercantile life and that of his son and successor covers the entire period of the active growth of St. Johnsbury. E. F. BROWN sold goods to Joseph FAIRBANKS, grandfather of Rev. E. T. FAIRBANKS and Professor Henry FAIRBANKS. 

      His benevolence and high integrity won the confidence and esteem of all, while his industry and good judgment have been rewarded with financial success, and he is a large real estate owner in St. Johnsbury. Mr. BROWN has been actively interested in local affairs, was foreman of Engine company, Deluge No. 2 and later for several years chief engineer of the fire department. He has been a director of the Passumpsic Savings bank for more than thirty years. In politics a Republican since the formation of the party, and in religious belief and support an ardent Universalist, his moral influence has ever been true and helpful. He was one of the village trustees for ten years. 

      In 1846 Mr. BROWN married Abbey, youngest daughter of Captain Nathaniel PROCTOR of Montpelier, and five children were born to them, Katie R., Florence P., Gracie, Frank Newton, and Abbey Proctor BROWN (now Mrs. A. R. BROOKS). He married for his second wife Mrs. Lizzie ROBINSON CLARK, widow of Captain John CLARK, of Lunenburg, at West Newton, Massachusetts, in 1871. E. F. BROWN has not outgrown the enthusiasms of youth, speaks ably and fluently in public when occasion calls, and carries his eighty-four years bravely. He still is a director of the Passumpsic Savings bank and attends promptly and well to his business affairs. He is the earliest and oldest of St. Johnsbury's pioneer businessmen. 
 
 
 

Source:  Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company, 1904, page 34-35. 

Prepared by Tom Dunn January 2003