Bio of BROWN, Dan C. (b.1861), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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DAN C. BROWN - Vol II, pg 662-665
Since 1905 Dan C. Brown has been comptroller of Minneapolis and he is one of
this city's most popular public officials. He was born at St. Anthony, on the
12th of March, 1861, a son of Charles D. and Henrietta S. (Murphie) Brown,
natives of Maine. The father was born in Edgecomb, Lincoln county, and the
mother in Aroostook county. They both came to St. Anthony in 1857, Mrs. Brown
being accompanied by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. W. Murphie. Mr. Murphie
was an expert timber sealer. Charles D. Brown and Henrietta S. Murphie were
married in St. Anthony in 1860. He was a fine mechanic and conducted a carriage
factory, blacksmith and paint shops, on Main street, Southeast. He employed some
twenty-five to thirty-five men and enjoyed well-merited success. Mr. Brown was a
veteran of the Civil war. Me responded to the first call of the Union for
volunteers and served nine months, par­ticipating in the battle of Shiloh and
various other important engagements. He was an active member of Downs Post,
Grand Army of the Republic, and was an uncom­promising republican of the old
school, adhering to the Taft wing of the party with unyielding tenacity. He was
always prominent in the public life of the city and was one of its most highly
respected and esteemed citizens. He passed away on December 16, 1916, and his
wife died August 22, 1920. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown four children were
born: Sidney Herbert, whose demise occurred in 1880, at the age of seventeen
years; Dan C., whose name introduces this review; Alice, who is the wife of
Walter L. Scott of Minneapolis; and M. Irwin, who is engaged in farming.
In the acquirement of his early education Dan C. Brown attended the public
schools of St. Anthony, and was one of the first students to enter the Central
high school here, from which institution he was graduated with the class of
1881. After putting his textbooks aside he began to learn the woodworking part
of carriage-making in his father's factory, but after a few months, in March,
1882, he entered the employ of the city as a clerk in the water department. He
was cashier of that department for some fourteen years and then for two and
one-half years was active as deputy county auditor, under Hugh R. Scott. In 1903
he was appointed by City Comptroller Joshua Rogers to a clerkship in his office,
and in 1905 he became comptroller, Mr. Rogers declining to be his own successor.
When Mr. Brown became a clerk in the comp­troller's office, a new system of
accounts, checks and balances was being adopted by the city. During his one year
as assistant comptroller he worked under the experts who were installing this
system and as Mr. Rogers said, was really the only man in the city capable of
conducting the new system in its inchoate stage. He therefore became a candidate
for the office of comptroller, to which he was elected in 1905 and in which he
has since served to the complete satisfaction of all concerned. Before the new
plan was fully understood some friction between the different branches of the
city government necessarily arose, but it was finally adhered to, and now all
see its ad­vantages. The business is carried on systematically, the records of
each department being kept in strict conformity and tallying exactly with those
of the comptroller. There are over twenty employes in the office and its
accounts cover millions of dollars annually.
On the 1st of August, 1889, occurred the marriage of Mr. Brown to Miss Grace N.
Newland of New York. To their union one child was born: Gladys N., who graduated
from the East high schcol in 1909, and died forty days after graduation from an
attack of pneumonia. She was one of the most popular young women in the city.
Her talent and education in music were of a high order. She was pianist during
the graduation exercises of her class from high school, and she was selected as
organist of St. Matthew's Episcopal church.
The political allegiance of Mr. Brown is given to the republican party and the
prin­ciples for which it stands. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal
church and for years he has been one of the vestrymen at St. Matthew's.
Fraternally he is identified with the Masons. In 1888 he was made a Master Mason
in Cataract Lodge. He is past worshipful master of Arcana Lodge, is past eminent
commander of Darius Commandery, a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a
Noble of the Mystic Shrine. Socially he is identified with the Minneapolis
Athletic Club. Mr. and Mrs. Brown stand high socially and their home offers
unlimited hospitality to their many friends. He is held in high esteem for the
uprightness, progressiveness and serviceable character of his citizenship and
well merits the success he has achieved in life.