Brown - George R.
GEORGE R. BROWN
Source: Waveland Independent, Nov 9, 1917
Capt. George R. Brown of Crawfordsville, the only surviving brother of Mrs. F.N. Johnson died at his home in Crawfordsville on Monday night following a stroke of appoplexy on the preceding Friday. He was born in Crawfordsville in 1835. His first business experience was clerking in a store in Annapolis, in which position he was succeeded by "Uncle Joe Cannon." He served thru the Civil War in 9th Battery, Light Artillery in which he was first Lt. and afterwards Capt. M.O. Sullivan was a Sgt in the same battery. After the war he engaged in the lumber business in Crawfordsville and Arkansas.
Source: Crawfordsville Journal, Tuesday, November 6, 1917
After lying unconscious since last Friday when he suffered a stroke of apoplexy. Capt. George R. Brown passed away at 11:30 o'clock Monday night at his home on east Wabash avenue. Captain George Reeder Brown, one of the best known citizens of Crawfordsville and Montgomery county was one of the creditable representatives of the better class of retired businessmen in this locality. He made his influence felt here for a long succession of decades, having been a resident of this section for practically three-quarters of a century. He was a link between the early pioneer period and the present, being the son of a pioneer. He was for the most part a lumberman, operating extensively during his active business life, which continued up to a recent date. His record as an officer for the Union is most creditable and enviable one and was deserving in every way of the high esteem in which he was universally held, earning a name for enterprise, integrity and honor. He comes of distinguished ancestry. Captain Brown was born at Connersville, Ind. July 11, 1835, and was a son of Ryland T. and Mary (Reeder) Brown. The father was a Kentuckian, but spent most of his life in Indiana, being one of the best known and most useful men of the state during this time. He was equally known as a minister, physician and chemist, attaining nation wide fame in the latter, as chief chemist of the department of agriculture, under President Garfield. Captain Brown received the usual education to be obtained by the pioneer children in Indiana three-quarters of a century ago, attending a school where all studied aloud. Later he attended the county seminary. He began his business career by clerking in a dry goods store in Parke county, holding his position for two years, giving his employer satisfaction in every way. He was succeeded in this position by Joe Cannon, who became famous as the speaker of the house of representatives, and for many years congressman from Illinois. Accepting another position of a similar nature he continued clerking until 1855, when he went into business for himself continuing three years. In 1858 he went to Parke county, where he remained until the breaking out of the civil war, when he proved his patriotism by offering his services to the federal government, and he was an active factor in raising the Ninth Indiana artillery, of which he became first lieutenant, and subsequently, for meritorious conduct, was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and he served fro over four years, in a manner that reflected much credit upon his bravery, gallantry, natural ability as a soldier and to the eminent satisfaction of his superior officers. He took part in many important campaigns and great battles, the first of which was that of Shiloh, after which he accompanied General Lew Wallace to Bolivar, Tennessee. In the summer of 1862 he was detailed as "ordnance officer of Tennessee, with headquarters and depot at Memphis." He also held the same office under General Sherman. He had charge of all the arms and ammunition, etc., that supplied the national troops, south of St. Louis and was required to report twice every day to the commander. This gave him a very intimate acquaintance with both Generals Grant and Sherman, both of whom reposed implicit confidence in his ability and trust in his honor. He joined his battery at Bolivar, Tennessee, in October, 1862, then went with Grant towards Vicksburg, and arrived at Memphis, in January, 1863, and then to Missouri, then to Columbus, Kentucky, for the purpose of joining General Warring, participating in his campaign. We next find him at Union City, Tennessee, in December, 1863, in pursuit of General Forest, the Confederate cavalry leader, later returning to Union City and Columbus, and then west to Vicksburg and on the Meridian expedition, on which campaign his battery was almost continuously engaged. After this they returned to Vicksburg, then up Red River. On March 11, 1864, they reached the mouth of that stream, Captain Brown and his men taking an important part in this campaign. At the battle of Pleasant Hill this battery formed the rear guard of the retreating army and was engaged day and night with the enemy. They went to Marksville and Mansura, Louisiana, also Yellow Bayou, then back to Vicksburg, then helped raise the blockade at Columbia, Arkansas, after which they returned to Vicksburg, then were sent to Tupelo, Mississippi. About this time General Price, one of the leaders of the Confederate army in the west, was operating in Missouri, and Captain Brown and his men were sent with troops that went to Jefferson City, that state, and drove the enemy out of Missouri, after which they were ordered to Nashville in time to participate in the two days battle there, and followed Hood's army in its retreat south as far as Eastport, Mississippi, Captain Brown then returned to Indianapolis, making the trip down the river on the steamer Eclipse, which exploded at Johnsonville, Tennessee, when thirty men were killed and fifty-eight scalded, only ten men escaping, among whom was Captain Brown. He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged on March 5, 1865. He then served in the United States Quartermaster's department as a cashier for one year. After his military career, which was a brilliant and most commendable one, according to his comrades, Captain Brown returned to his Indiana home and launched in the lumber business near Indianapolis, which business he continued there and near Crawfordsville, with ever increasing success until 1875, when he became Deputy clerk of Montgomery county, which office he held until 1883, to the satisfaction of all concerned. Then for one year he was secretary of the Indiana Live Stock Insurance Company, after which he returned to the timber business, operating on an extensive scale in Louisiana and Arkansas, and remained in the same until 1910, when having accumulated a competency through his close application and able management, he retired from the active duties of life, and spent his declining years in quiet in his commodious and cozy home in this city. Politically Captain Brown was a Republican and was ever loyal to its principles. He was a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, being a charter member of the Indiana commandery. Captain Brown was married on October 7, 1858, to Sarah E. Wilson, who was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on October 27, 1836, of an excellent old family, and there she grew to womanhood and received a good education. Captain Brown is survived by his wife, his daughter, Mrs. B.E. Hayes, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and a sister, Mrs. Fount Johnson of this city. Private funeral services will be held from the late home here some time Thursday. The exact time has not been set yet.
File Created: 2 July 2011 - kz -- thanks sooooo much to Kim for the lengthy one above :)