Biographical Sketch of Thomas M. Brown, Dallas County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
 Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, Published 1889, Goodspeed
 Publishing Company.

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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Thomas M. Brown, attorney at law, Buffalo, MO.  Prominent among the
many wide-a-wake and enterprising citizens of Dallas County stands
the name of the gentleman whose brief biography follows.  Schooled
and reared in the cradle of necessity, Mr. Brown has shown by his
very successful life here, during the past eight or nine years, the
sterling worth of his manhood, and has drawn around him many friends,
the result of his close application to public and private matters,
and a masterful completion of his work.  He is a native of Illinois,
was born in La Salle, Ill., February 4, 1854, and is the son of John
M. and Mary (Mulholland) Brown, natives of the Emerald Isle, who
sought for themselves in their early life a home on the American
Continent.  John M. Brown was a merchant by occupation, and followed
this occupation to Illinois for some time.  He then removed from 
there to Missouri, and subsequently (projecting a journey to Pike's
Peak), he located in Johnson County, Kas., where he passed the re-
mainder of his life.  Mrs. Brown afterward returned to the Missouri
home, where she subsequently became the wife of John M. Guthridge,
and bore him six children.  Our subject grew to manhood on the farm
of his foster-father, and obtained a fair common school education.
Upon attaining his majority, he sought the Lone Star State, where
he spent nearly a year.  He had been reared to hard manual labor, and
used it as his stock in trade, but the State of Texas did not furnish
him, as he thought, renumeration sufficient for his labors, and he
returned to old Missouri.  He here completed a good schooling, and
afterward taught school.  His early inclinations were for the study
of law, and to this end the young man bent his energies.  As soon as
he could afford it, he entered a law office, his preceptor being the
Hon. Daniel P. Stratton, of Stockton, MO., from whose office he was
admitted to the bar in 1880.  Mr. Brown immediately cast about for a
location, and for awhile he was at Hartville, in Wright County, MO., 
where he made many strong and true friends, but did not stay there
long, and located here.  He came here in the spring of 1880, and in
the fall of that year he was nominated and elected to the office of
prosecuting attorney of Dallas County, a position he filled most 
acceptably during his term.  To his credit it may be said that upon
his retirement the citizens of Dallas County testified to their
appreciation of his services by re-electing him to that office, and
continuing him as their prosecuting attorney for another term.  Upon
his retirement from public life, Mr. Brown gave close attention to his
practice, and has placed himself in the front rank of his profession.
He is a versatile speaker, a deep reasoner, a logician of the old 
school on financial matters, and in this respect, which is certainly
a cardinal principle in his character, we question very much whether
he has any superiors, and few equals, in this judicial district.  He
has "hewed to the line", and made a success of his efforts.  He owns
over 1,000 acres of farm land, a very considerable city property here,
a half interest in the Dallas County Bank.  He has a lucrative prac-
tice, and is today blessed with a realization of his early hopes when
coming here, nominally a penniless attorney.  Mr. Brown was happily
married in Cedar County, MO., January 20, 1881, to Miss Josie M. Beck,
daughter of Isaac F. and Martha (Fielder) Beck, worthy citizens of
Cedar County, MO.  Mrs. Brown is a lady of estimable attainments, and
has, with her husband, the universal respect of all acquaintances.
They are members of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Brown is a worthy
and active member of the Ladies' Aid Society.  Mr. Brown is a Master
Mason, a member of Reddick Lodge No. 361.  He is a genial gentleman,
affable and courteous to everyone he meets; has a sound head, well
set on a strong and healthy body.  He enjoys his successful life here,
however, very unostentatiously.  We present portrait.
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