Biography of Charles H. Brown, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL

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Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. 
II, page 176, 1923.

BROWN, CHARLES H.  The city officials of Tampa are men of ability, character and experience 
who represents all of the elements which go to make up the city and county, who are familiar 
with the daily life, needs and experiences of the people, and who have the desire as well 
as the qualifications and zeal, to serve the people in the offices which they are filling.  
Notable among these representative men is CHARLES H. BROWN, mayor of the city, and a man 
who has rendered conspicuous public service in protecting and administering the affairs of 
the municipality.  He has fought to eliminate spoils, greed and mismanagement from the 
affairs of the city, and his untiring efforts have resulted in an administration of efficiency 
and economy.

CHARLES H. BROWN was born at Abbeville, Georgia, March 12, 1868, and was brought to Florida 
by his parents when he was only two years old.  He was reared in this state, and began his 
business career as a merchant, but later became a railroad contractor, and carried on extensive 
operations as such.  In this connection he also became interested in real estate, and was 
active in promoting the naval stores development in Florida during the early years of the 
present century.  As one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Live Oak, he invested 
heavily in its stock, was its first president, and had so developed the resources of that 
institution that when he retired he was succeeded in the presidency by CARY A. HARDEE, now 
governor of Florida.

Coming to Tampa in 1908 he at once began to take a compelling part in its activities.  He 
built the Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad, from Tampa to St. Petersburg and the West Coast, 
and is still president of the company, and he is vice president of the National City Bank, 
and is the only man who is a member of both the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs of Tampa.  Having 
great faith in Tampa he has acquired, through purchase, the ownership of the Sparkman Building 
on Franklin Street.  Ever since coming to the city he has given of his time and money to 
advance its best interests, and belongs to numerous organizations and fraternities, not only 
those of local repute, but many throughout the state.  Soon after his arrival at Tampa he 
was made one of the governors of the Tampa Board of Trade, and still retains that important 
office, and for one year he served that body as president.  For several years he was a member 
of the Board of Public Works of Tampa, and as such made an enviable record.  Mr. BROWN was 
elected a member of the Charter Commission which drew up the new city charter, and was nominated 
by the Commission Government League for mayor, and was elected the first mayor under the commission 
form of government.

Mr. BROWN was married to Miss MAGGIE GARDNER, and they have five children, namely:  ISLA, 
KARL, NELL, MARGARET and BROWNIA, and three of them are married, and all have reached maturity.  
Mr. BROWN belongs to the new school of public officials, and is earnestly endeavoring to 
give to the affairs of the city the same wise and effective management which has brought 
about such desirable results in his business operations.