Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/426

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BROWN
BROWN

ten by him in 1825, the Christian religion was generally adopted by the tribe, and an advanced standard of prosperous civilization had been attained by them. He died before the Cherokees were dispossessed by the United States in defiance of treaty obligations. — His sister, Catharine, teacher, b. near Wills Valley, Ala., about 1800; d. 18 July, 1823, was a Cherokee Indian, but not full-blooded, her parents being half-breeds. They were prosperous and influential members of the then wealthy and largely civilized Cherokee nation of Alabama and Tennessee. Through the agency of the Moravians, a school was established in Tennessee, a hundred miles from Wills Valley, and to this Catharine went with her brother David when she was seventeen years old. She had some slight acquaintance with English, and could read words of one syllable. In three months she had learned to read and write. She united with the church 29 March, 1818, and in June, 1820, began to teach at Creek Path, near her home. She was one of the most promising of the early Indian converts to Protestantism, and her death terminated a career that bade fair to be exceedingly useful to her tribe. Her amiable disposition, bright intellect, and remarkable personal beauty gave her unusual power and influence among her people. A history of her life, prepared by Rufus Anderson, was published in New York in 1825.


BROWN, David Paul, lawyer, b. in Philadelphia, 28 Sept., 1795; d. there, 11 July, 1872. He was the only son of Paul Brown, a Quaker descended from one of the first settlers of New Jersey. He pursued classical studies for two years in Massachusetts, and began the study of medicine, but turned to the law, and was admitted to the bar at tlie age of twenty-one. His first case was a suit against a prominent citizen for severely beating a child—a bound "redemptioner"—and his vehement pleading won the case. He was soon busy in the courts, where he had abundant opportunity for his masterly examination of witnesses and appeals to juries. In 1824 he successfully defended Judge Robert Porter, who was impeached before the senate of Pennsylvania. Within fifteen years his professional income amounted to $100,000, but his generous living had absorbed it all. His powers and gifts as an orator were frequently called forth by societies of various kinds, and on public occasions. On the hundredth anniversary of the birthday of Washington he delivered the address at the laying of the corner-stone of a monument to be erected in Washington square, Philadelphia. Mr. Brown had excellent physical qualifications for an orator, was of medium height, with full chest and a voice of remarkable compass and sweetness. He carefully cultivated his style and manner. He was a lover of the drama, and aspired to be a dramatist. His tragedy "Sertorius, or the Roman Patriot," was written in 1880, during his evening horseback rides from Philadelphia to Yellow Springs, in Chester co. Though the elder Booth took the title role, the play was acted but nine times. Another tragedy, "The Trial," had even less success. A melodrama, "The Prophet of St. Paul's," and a farce, "Love and Honor," complete the list of his dramatic attempts. Mr. Brown was courteous to his opponents, and expert in questioning witnesses. He resolutely declined office, and rarely practised in other states than Pennsylvania. Though less prominent in the courts during his latter days, he continued the practice of his profession till the closing year of his life. In 1856 he published "The Forum, or Forty Years' Full Practice at the Philadelphia Bar" (2 vols.). This work contains sketches not only of the judges and eminent practitioners of his own time, but also of their predecessors. It has also chapters on forensic eloquence, legal ethics, and professional etiquette, and "Golden Rules for Examination of Witnesses" and "Capital Hints in Capital Cases." In 1859 Mr. Brown published in pamphlet form several of his early speeches (each separately), and in 1869 a pamphlet on "The Press, the Politician, the People, and the Judiciary." His son. Robert Eden, edited and published "The Forensic Speeches of David Paul Brown" (Philadelphia, 1873).


BROWN, Egbert Benson, soldier, b. in Brownsville, Jefferson co., N. Y., 24 Oct.. 1816. He obtained the rudiments of education in a log school-house in Tecumseh, Mich. ; but when he was thirteen years old he began work with such diligence and success that in twenty years (1849) he was chosen mayor of Toledo, Ohio. In the meanwhile he had been half round the world on a whaling voyage, spending nearly four years in the Pacific ocean. From 1852 till 1861 he was a railway manager, but resigned his place when civil war was imminent, and organized a regiment of infantry at St. Louis in May, 1861. He was instrumental in saving that city from falling into the hands of the secessionists, and was appointed brigadier of Missouri volunteers in May, 1862. After the battle of Springfield, 8 Jan., 1868, where he was severely wounded, he was appointed brigadier-general of U. S. volunteers. He served through the civil war, mainly in Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, and left the army with one shoulder almost wholly disabled and a bullet in his hip. The legislature of Missouri officially complimented the troops of his command for their conduct at the battle of Springfield. From 1866 till 1868 he was U. S. pension-agent at St. Louis. He retired to a farm at Hastings, Calhoun co.. Ill., in 1869, and has since resided there, serving, however, on the state board of equalization from 1881 till 1884.


BROWN, Ethan Allen, jurist and statesman, b. in Darien, Conn., 4 July, 1776; d. in Indianapolis, Ind., 24 Feb., 1852. He was educated by an Irish scholar, and acquired a critical knowledge of languages. He read law in the office of Alexander Hamilton, was admitted to the bar in 1802, and removed to the west with his cousin, Capt. John Brown, in 1804. He settled at Cincinnati, and soon acquired an extensive practice. He was a judge of the supreme court of Ohio from 10 Feb., 1810, till 1818; governor of the state from that time until 1822. Resigning the governorship to accept a seat in the U.S. senate, he was a member of that body until 1825, acting with the democrats. From 1825 till 1830 he was canal commissioner for the state of Ohio. President Jackson appointed him minister to Brazil in 1830, and he served until 1834. He was commissioner of the land-office from 24 July, 1835, till 31 Oct., 1836, when he removed to Rising Sun, Ind. In 1842 he was a member of the Indiana state assembly.


BROWN, Francis, president of Dartmouth college, b. in Chester, N. H., 11 Jan., 1784; d. 27 July, 1820. In 1805 he was graduated at Dartmouth, and from 1806 till 1809 held a tutorship there. He became pastor of the Congregational church in North Yarmouth, Me., in January, 1810, and married the daughter of Tristram Oilman, his predecessor in the pastorate. In 1815 Dr. Wheelock was removed from the presidency of Dartmouth by the board of trustees, and Mr. Brown was elected to the place. This action was the result of a local religious controversy of long stand-