George Brown, Esq.

GEORGE BROWN, ESQ.

George Brown, Esq., who was for so many years identified with the interests of Brownville, was a son of George Brown, one of he colonists, and followed his father to this county in 1802.

He was elected justice of the town soon after its organization, which office he held for nearly fifty years, with little interruption, being elected whenever nominated, whatever the strength of the political party to which be belonged. He was also postmaster for twenty-eight years; was a member of assembly in 1819; introduced and secured the passage of the bill organizing the town of Pamelia, and giving it it’s name after the wife of General Brown.

It is said Colonel Kirby never went out to town meeting, but when this friend’s name was on the ticket, he would always go four miles to vote for George Brown.

The following anecdote is related by his nephew, Hon. Lysander Brown, of Watertown:

“George Brown was one of the judges of the old court of common pleas of this county or many years, as long ago as when the late Jason Fairbanks for together his famous heavy jury. The court was composed of slender, light men, and Mr. Fairbank’s toast on the occasion of a dinner given by him was, ‘here is to a lean court and a fat jury.’ But they are all gone,--sheriff, court, and jury,--ripe sheaves gathered to the harvest.”

George Brown died July 8, 1870, at the age of eighty-eight, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. James G. Brown, of New Haven, Connecticut.

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Transcribed by Holice B. Young from Jefferson Co. History by L. H. Everts.