Biography of Fred W. Brown, Miami, Dade County, FL

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Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. 
II, page 137, 1923.

BROWN, FRED W., builder and proprietor of the Fredora Apartments at Miami, one of the finest 
apartment houses in Florida, came to this state after a long and successful business career 
in Indiana.  His career has been a notable progress from the humblest position to ever increasing 
responsibilities and demonstrates what a virile and enterprising American can do in the absence 
of opportunities beyond those of his own contriving.

Mr. BROWN was born in 1862 at Clayton in Hendricks County, Indiana.  His father represented 
an old family of Rochester, New York, and was an early settler in Hendricks County.  FRED W. 
BROWN had only the advantages of the public schools for a few years during his youth, and 
at the age of fourteen he began working as a roustabout in the country store of Clark & Harrison 
at Clayton.  His wages were $2.00 a week.  During the seven years he remained with that firm 
he made himself useful in a succession of capacities, including bookkeeper, buyer and head 
salesman, and finally he bought a half interest, one of the partners, Mr. Clark, retiring.  
Thereafter the firm was Harrison & Brown until Mr. BROWN sold his interest to Mr. Harrison.  
He then bought out the business of a competitor, Johnson Brothers, on the opposite corner, 
and for a number of years was individual proprietor of a prosperous establishment conducted 
under the name of FRED W. BROWN.  Altogether his experience in the general merchandise business 
at Clayton covered a period of about a quarter of a century.

About 1901 Mr. BROWN transferred his home and interests to the City of Indianapolis.  For 
about twelve years he was in the hotel business in that city.  Then, in 1914, he removed 
to Miami, where he has used his capital and experience largely in the ownership and management 
of apartment houses of the highest class.  He at one time leased and operated the Biscayne 
Hotel, and until recently was owner of the Principia Apartments on Southeast First Street.  
In the spring of 1922 he began  the construction of the Fredora Apartments, the name of this 
beautiful building being a combination of his own and his wife's Christian names.  Fredora 
is located on the South Bay Shore in a locality of fine homes and apartments.  The architects 
are Hampton and Reimert and the building comprises twenty-five large furnished apartments, 
built with every convenience and facility required by the fastidious and wealthy patrons 
of this locality.

Mr. BROWN is a member of the Miami Chamber of Commerce, and is a York and Scottish Rite 
Mason and Shriner.  He married Miss DORA D. HUSSEY, of Hendricks County, Indiana.  Her 
father was a prominent and substantial farmer and stockman of that rich section of Indiana.  
The four children of Mr. and Mrs. BROWN are:  ARTHUR H., MAURICE, Mrs. FERN LOUISE FROST 
and WALTER.