Biography of Lew B. Brown, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL

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Transcribed from:  The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. 
III, page 361, 1923.

BROWN, LEW B.  Saint Petersburg resort is in possession of a splendid newspaper, and that 
newspaper is the direct product and expression of the public spirited genius of its proprietor, 
LEW B. BROWN, who during the past dozen years has never failed to take some active part, 
either under the leadership of others or as the leader himself, in every program for making 
Saint Petersburg one of the best cities in the South.

Mr. BROWN was born in Madison, Arkansas, June 13, 1861, son of GEORGE L. and AMELIA L. 
(YOUNG) BROWN, the former a native of Harris, Tennessee, and the later of Bardstown, Kentucky.  
His mother is still living in Saint Petersburg.  LEW BROWN is the oldest and only son of 
three children.  He lived in Arkansas until he was fourteen, when, following the death of 
his father, his mother returned with her family to Louisville, Kentucky.  At Louisville LEW 
BROWN served his apprenticeship as a printer in the office of the Courier Journal, and the 
late HENRY WATTERSON, considered him as "one of his boys".  He remained in Louisville until 
1895, when he bought a newspaper plant at Taylorsville, Kentucky, and while there studied 
law and was granted a license to practice by the Supreme Court and served as police judge 
and county attorney.  Selling out his business in Taylorsville in 1905 and definitely abandoning 
the practice of law, he bought the Harrodsburg Democrat, and continued this influential 
Kentucky newspaper for a number of years.

In 1911 Mr. BROWN came to Saint Petersburg and bought the Saint Petersburg Independent, but 
he continued the operations of his Harrodsburg paper for two years more.  The Independent 
when he bought it was a paper of small circulation and influence, and it was left to Mr. 
BROWN to bring it up to a standing among the best newspapers of the state.  In 1913 he erected 
the Independent Building, a two-story structure 50 X 120 feet, now entirely occupied by the 
newspaper offices and printing plant.  Some years ago Mr. BROWN denominated Saint Petersburg 
as the "Sunshine City", and to prove his faith in the title he made a standing offer that 
he would give his paper away every day in the year that the sun did not shine.  In the 11 ½ 
years since he took over the Independent he has had to donate its issue on account of clouds 
and lack of sunshine only sixty-four days.  The circulation of the Independent is now 5,400 
and it is published daily.

In 1885 Mr. BROWN married EMMA STRUBY.  She died, the mother of three children, and the only 
one now living is the son, L. C. BROWN, his father's business associate and partner.  In 1898 
Mr. BROWN married ANNA STRUBY, and they have one daughter, LOUISE.

In fraternal matters Mr. BROWN is affiliated with the Masonic Order, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Red Men and Elks, is a member of the Baptist Church, has 
served as president of the Board of Trade, president of the Echo Club, as commodore of the 
Yacht Club, president of the Art Club, and is a former chairman of the City Library Board.  
During the World war he organized, financed and equipped four companies of the Florida Guard, 
and commanded them with the rank of major, bestowed by the Governor of the state an act of 
the Legislature.  Mr. BROWN is financially interested in the Telephone Company, in the Avery 
and Robertson Marine Ways, the H. and A. Wood Products Manufacturing Company.

He originated the plan for establishing a state home in Florida for widows and orphans, and 
was chairman of the committee and trustee of the fund procured for the establishment of such 
a home at Saint Petersburg.  He was also instrumental in establishing the First City Hospital 
at Saint Petersburg.

His son, L. C. BROWN, was born at Louisville in 1886, and was liberally educated, attending 
Kentucky College at Lexington.  For two years he was in business at Chicago and another two 
years in New York City, and became associated with his father in the newspaper business in 
1912.  He has held the post of president of the Chamber of Commerce at Saint Petersburg and 
is a member of the Elks Lodge.