Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Brown, William J. October 10, 1856 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net July 31, 2006, 5:40 pm

Author: Colonel William Parsons 

Page 359, 360

WILLIAM J. BROWN
	One of the best known stockmen in the county, and who has also 
operated in various other portions of the state, a man of energy and marked 
ability, whose enterprises, as far as human wisdom and skill and careful 
attention could make them, have been signally successful, we accord to the 
subject of our sketch a representation in these chronicles of Umatilla county 
with a pleasure commensurate to his deserving prominence.
	New York city is the place of his birth, and October 10, 1856, the 
date.  When but three years of age he was brought by his parents, James and 
Mary Ann Brown, to California, making the trip by steamer.  After a short stay 
in that state they came overland to Umatilla county, settling in that portion 
now known as Grant county.  Afterward, in Morrow county, he received the 
meager allowance of three months in the district school, but was enabled, by 
application in spare moments, to supplement this with a good education, 
securing it all by his own unaided efforts.  At the early age of ten years he 
commenced to work for his board, and by the time that he was fifteen years old 
he had saved enough money to buy a bunch of cattle, which he did and started 
as a stock raiser.  He continued at this for one year and then commenced to 
herd sheep until the Bannock war, when he enlisted in Company H, Captain Judd 
Baker.  Serving throughout the entire war, he husbanded his wages and made a 
little more by some careful investments, which enabled him to purchase a band 
of sheep, obtaining some credit from one of the business men of the county.  
By careful management and close attention he was enabled to increase his stock 
to a fine holding, but just as the time when his notes became due a depression 
came over the country, and though he held ten thousand dollars worth of stock 
he was unable to get the money to meet his notes.  True to his Shylock 
instinct, the money lender began to force him to the wall, when the well-known 
and generous Uncle Jake Frazer stepped in and took up the paper.  After a few 
months it was all redeemed without the loss of a penny to any one, and our 
subject was saved from ruin.  Later he bought horses and cattle and drove them 
to Harney county, where, in the winter of 1886 and 1887, through uncommon 
severity, they were frozen to death.  After this calamity he turned his 
attention to operating for the large ranches as foreman, being at the present 
time in charge of J. E. Smith’s large interests.  He has a bunch of horses in 
Morrow county, numbering one hundred head.  In fraternal relations he 
affiliates with the F. & A. M., Lodge No. 69; I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 66; K. of 
P., Lodge No. 20; W. of W., Lodge No. 60; I. O. R. M., Columbia Tribe, No. 10, 
all of Heppner.  He is very popular in all these relations, as he also is 
among the citizens of the county in general, enjoying the esteem and 
confidence of his fellows.


Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.


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