The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 521

IRA LOUIS BROWN.

Ira Louis Brown, conducting one of the leading shoe stores in Yakima and
actuated in all that he does by business enterprise, progressiveness and
initiative, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, January 17, 1888, a son of Edward
and Emma Brown. The father was a shoe merchant and both he and his wife are now
deceased. The family removed to El Paso, Texas, in 1902 and there Ira L. Brown
supplemented his public school training by a business college education. He made
his initial step in commercial circles as clerk in a shoe store owned by his
uncle, J. L. Brown, who was a general merchant of EI Paso, Texas. He afterwards
spent two years in Douglas, Arizona, and a similar period in Cleveland, Ohio,
and in both places was connected with the shoe trade. In 1909 he came to Yakima
and for two years was employed by the Barnes-Woodin Company. He then embarked in
business on his own account on Front street and in November, 1915, bought out
the firm of Allen & Mackey, proprietors of a shoe store in the Miller building.
At a subsequent period he removed to the Yakima Hotel building and in November,
1917, established his business at No. 216 East Yakima avenue, where he occupies
the first floor and basement of a building twenty-five by one hundred and
thirty feet. His trade has steadily grown, necessitating the employment of six
clerks. He handles the Nettleton, Douglas, Packard, Utz & Dunn, Hervey E.
Guptill and other lines of shoes, carrying an extensive stock of men's, women's
and children's footwear. He demands the most courteous and obliging treatment on
the part of all of his employees, and his earnest efforts to please his patrons,
combined with his honorable business dealings, have made him one of the
prosperous merchants of the city.

On the Pith of July, 1913, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Rebecca Lippman, of
Seattle, and they had one child, Emily, who is now four years of age. Mrs. Brown
passed away on December 17, 1918, her death being a great blow to her husband
and causing sincere sorrow among her many devoted friends, as she was a woman of
the highest character and accomplishments. Her memory will remain as a
benediction to all who knew her, Mr. Brown belongs to the Benevolent Protective
Order of Elks, also to the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. His
political allegiance is given to the republican party and his interest in
community affairs is indicated by his connection with the Commercial Club. He
belongs also to the Young Men's Christian Association and is a member of the
Washington State Guard -- connections that indicate his support of state and
national interests. He has ever manifested the utmost loyalty to his country and
her cause and has done everything in his power to promote national and
community progress.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.