"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1903. p. 476. AMOS BROWN Among the residents of Seattle once prominent in her public affairs who have now passed to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns," is numbered Amos Brown, one of the honored pioneers of the city, whose labors were of material benefit in the improvement and upbuilding of this beautiful metropolis. A feeling of the deepest regret spread through the city as the news of his demise was received by those who knew him, not so much because of the part which he took in business life, not so much for the aid which he gave to public enterprises, but because the sterling traits of his character had endeared him to those with whom he was associated and because his benevolent spirit and generosity were so often and yet so unostentatiously manifested. Mr. Brown was born in Bristol, Grafton county, New Hampshire, on the 29th of July, 1833, and died April 8, 1899. His parents were Joseph and Relief (Orduray) Brown. The father was also a native of New Hampshire and was of Scotch and English ancestry, the family, however, having been founded in America at a very early day in the history of the old Granite state. Joseph Brown was a prominent lumber manufacturer with extensive mills on the Merrimac river, where he dealt in masts and spars and conducted a general milling business, which he superintended until sixty years of age. He was then succeeded by his sons, who carried on the business for many years, the enterprise proving a very profitable one. Amos Brown was reared to habits of industry and as work was considered more important than study in those days, his opportunity for acquiring an education was extremely limited, although in the school of experience he gained much valuable knowledge. At the early age of ten years he began work in the lumber camp and later was employed at driving the logs on the river, becoming a hardy, fearless and daring youth. He soon excelled in this occupation, became an expert in this line of business and was thus enabled to command the highest price for labor of that character. Subsequently he worked in the mills and rose from one position to another until he was made superintendent and possessed a thorough and practical knowledge of the business in all its departments, both in principle and detail. Leaving home at the age of twenty-one years, he followed lumbering up to 1858, when the Fraser mines gold excitement broke out, and desirous of rapidly acquiring a fortune in the gold fields he left for the northwest, after selling his interests in the east. Going to New York he secured steerage passage; by way of the Isthmus of Panama, to Victoria, British Columbia, paying two hundred and twenty-five dollars for a continuous passage. The voyage was uneventful save for the discomfort of over-crowded vessels, but suffering no accident and little delay, he eventually reached Victoria, there to find that the gold bubble had exploded and that the hopes of thousands were doomed to bitter disappointment. The town was crowded with suffering, starving humanity. Disappointed but not disheartened, Mr. Brown began looking about for work, and believing that he might utilize his knowledge of lumbering, he at once sailed for Port Gamble, where he found ready employment at seventy-five dollars per month and expenses. During the first year he had charge of a logging camp, and then purchased an interest in logging teams and secured contracts with the milling companies to furnish them with logs. This business he carried on successfully for two years and then sold his interest and returned to the employ of the company with which he had previously worked on salary. He occupied various positions of trust until 1865, when he resigned in order to visit his old home in New Hampshire. In 1859, without visiting Seattle, Mr. Brown had been induced to purchase property on Spring street, between Second avenue and the water front, and in 1861 he made his first visit to the town. In 1863, in connection with M. R. Maddocks and John Condon, he built the old Occidental Hotel, on the present site of the Occidental block, and this hotel was conducted for two years by Messrs. Maddocks, Brown & Company, at the end of which time he sold his interests to John Collins. In September, 1867, following his visit to his old home in New Hampshire, Mr. Brown returned to Seattle and entered into partnership with I. C. Ellis, of Olympia. He conducted a lumber business in that city until 1882 and was very successful in the conduct of the enterprise, a large business bringing to him an excellent financial return. For ten years he was in partnership with Mr. Ellis and after that was alone. In 1882 he sold out and from that time until his death practically lived retired, merely giving his supervision to his invested interests, which, owing to increased values and extensive operations in real estate, had grown to considerable proportions. Up to the time of his death he retained large interests in Seattle property, in addition to having extensive tracts of timber land in several counties adjoining the sound. In his political views Mr. Brown was an enthusiastic Republican and in his early life was an active participant in political work, doing everything possible to promote the success of his party and secure the adoption of its principles, but in later years he left the party work to younger men. He was very public-spirited and co-operated in many movements and measures for the general good and for the improvement of Seattle. He served the community in various positions of responsibility and no trust reposed in him was ever betrayed to the slightest degree. He served as a member of the city council and for two years was a state official, acting as a director of the Steilacoom Insane Asylum. He was most generous and benevolent, his generosity amounting almost to a fault. Any tale of distress awakened his ready sympathy and was immediately followed by an impulse to assist in any way which he could. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Peebles, a native of New York, and the same fall they erected their cottage on the comer of Front and Spring streets, which district was then almost an unbroken wilderness. In the family were five children: Alson L., of the firm of Kinnear & Brown, real estate agents of Seattle; Brownie, the wife of R. M. Kinnear, her brother's partner; Ora, Anna and Helen, all at home. The children were provided with liberal educations and the success of the father enabled him to leave his family in independent financial circumstances. Mrs. Brown has erected a magnificent residence in one of the best districts of the city and this handsome abode is celebrated for its attractive social gatherings. When death claimed Mr. Brown, one Who knew him wrote of him, "In the passing away of Amos Brown the sound country, loses one of its best pioneer citizens. For over forty years a citizen and actively identified as he was with the growth of the country, his death cannot be considered in any other light than as a loss to the community. He was public-spirited and interested in any movement for the promotion or advancement of measures for the general good and he was scrupulously honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow men. The punctual liquidation of a debt or obligation was one of the cardinal principles of his character. Liberal and benevolent, he was well known for his generosity, yet his giving was always without ostentation or display. When but a boy he exhibited this same generous spirit and kindly solicitude for others, and often when wet, cold and hungry himself, he would carry wood and food to a poor widow, who lived neighbor to his parents, before providing for his own comfort. He always took a lively interest in young men and aided many in securing positions where they could advance their own interests through diligence and ability. In the early days of his residence in the northwest he was known as the friend of the Indians and as he never took advantage of them or betrayed their confidence he was loved and trusted by them. He always had a kindly feeling for the unfortunate and erring and often when men were arrested for vagrancy or trifling offences he secured their release, pledging himself to furnish them employment and become responsible for them. It is pleasing to know that his kindness was appreciated and seldom abused. Fraternally Mr. Brown was connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but he had few ties of that character. He found ample opportunity to do good through other channels, and many have reason to remember him with gratitude and love. He belonged to that band of strong, self-reliant, energetic and courageous men who laid the foundation for the wonderful development of the northwest, and Mr. Brown also lived to take an active part in building the superstructure of the great commonwealth through the advancement of one of the leading cities west of the Rockies. Transcriber's additional notes. Census Indexing: 1870 BROWN AMOS 35 M W NH WA KING SEATTLE 1880 BROWN AMOS 47 W NH WA THURSTON OLYMPIA 1880 BROWN AMOS 48 W NH WA THURSTON TUMWATER; 2-DIVN "Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days" Compiled and Edited by Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship Olympia, Washington; 1914 Marriage of Amos Brown to Annie M. Peebles in Thurston Co., Wa.; November 23, 1867. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in February 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.