Biography of 	Brownell, C. R. Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller December 1997

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    The Berwick Lumber company (limited), New Orleans, Louisiana.  Of
the various enterprises that have made New Orleans one of the chief
commercial centers of the country, the lumber trade has always held an
important place, employing large capital in its conduct, and giving to
cognate industries a decided impetus by the energy and ability displayed
in its development.  In every department the enterprise characteristic
of its leading exponent has been abundantly shown, and the flourishing
character of their  establishments amply demonstrate the vigorous grasp
with which they have seized and held the trade in this gigantic national
industry.  Among the most active, enterprizing [sic] firms engaged in
this line is the Berwick Lumber company, whose office and factory is
located at Clio and Dreret streets.  This business was organized by C.
R. Brownell and R. M. Moore in 1887. and in 1889 it was formed into a
stock company with the following officers:  C. R. Brownell, president;
C. W. Moore, secretary and treasurer, and the following stockholders: C.
R. Brownell, C. W. Moore, H. B. Peck and R. M. Moore, all old Michigan
lumbermen.  The business in New Orleans was started by J. E. Billington
and succeeded by Horace Brownell in 1890.  C. R. Brownell, president of
his company, was originally from Michigan, born about 1840, and was
reared in the lumber district of that state.  When a young man he
embarked in the lumber business and this has followed ever since.  He is
now located at Berwick city, where he has charge of the mill, lumber and
shingles.  He is a man of good. business acumen, and is active and
enterprising.  He has been married and is the father of one son, Horace,
who is manager of the New Orleans business.  The mill in Berwick city
employs about 150 men.  The capacity of the lumber mill is about 40,000
feet per day, and that of the shingle mill about :300,000 per day.  Most
of the proceeds of the mill are shipped to the north and west, and
largely to Texas.  The company in New Orleans employs about sixty men,
and is doing a general line of sash, door and blind work, also a
contracting business for interior finish work, and a fine line of store
and office fittings.  Horace Brownell, general manager, was born in
Allegan county, Mich., 1865, in the lumber district, and received a
university education in that state.  He commenced his business career in
New Orleans in 1890, and is a young man of high social standing and
excellent business acumen.  He was married in Michigan in l888 to Miss
Frances Pierson. daughter of a prominent grain dealer of Michigan.  The
firm owns a large tract of timber land in Louisiana, cypress timber,
which will last about fifteen years.  Charles W. Moore was born in
Michigan about thirty years ago, and has been connected with the lumber
business with his father for years.  He came south in 1889, and became
connected with the firm as secretary and treasurer, with headquarters at
Berwick city.  He is deeply interested in such enterprises as mining and
milling, and is a man of wealth.  He was educated at the Michigan
Military academy.
 
 From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, p.
291. 
Submitted by Mike Miller