Biographical Sketch of John K. BROWN (1832-1890); Philadelphia Co., PA

Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith 
[christillavalley@comcast.net] 

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"Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years"
Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer
Publisher:  S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912.     
Vol. 4, Page 77
 
JOHN K. BROWN

     In the latter part of the nineteenth century John K Brown was a well 
known representative of mercantile interests in Philadelphia, conducting 
a successful business as a shoe dealer. His salient traits of character 
were such as to commend him to the confidence and good-will of all and to 
win him classification with those men whose lives have helped to uphold 
the political and legal status of the community and advance its material 
and moral progress.
     He was born at Hawick, Scotland, October 14, 1832, and died October 
14, 1890. His parents, Walter and Hanna (Knox) Brown, were also natives 
of Hawick, and the father was a leading shoe manufacturer and merchant of 
that place. The maternal grandfather, John Knox, was prominent in the 
British army, in which he held high rank. When their son John was a lad 
of seven summers the father sold his interests in Scotland and with his 
family crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Philadelphia, where 
he spent his remaining days in honorable retirement from business.
     John K. Brown was reared in this city and attended the public 
schools until eighteen years of age, when he started in business life and 
was thereafter connected with commercial interests of this city. He first 
entered a hat store to learn the hatter's trade but remained there for 
only a brief period. He next entered into the shoe business with his 
brother Thomas G. under the firm style of Thomas G. & John K. Brown. They 
began business on Market street and later opened two branch stores for 
the growth of their trade justified the expansion of their commercial 
interests. In 1877 the senior partner died, but John K. Brown continued 
the business until his death, and it was owned by his widow for ten years 
after his demise, or until 1900, when she sold out.
     It was on the 29th of July, 1872, that Mr. Brown wedded Miss Harriet 
B. Markley, a daughter of John and Hettie Lucretia (Howard) Markley of 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The former was engaged in general 
merchandising. Mr. and Mrs. Brown became parents of a son and two 
daughters, but the former, Walter T., is now deceased. The daughters, 
Jessie Grace and Josephine K., are at home.
     Mr. Brown was very devoted to his family and was fond of music, art 
and travel.  He possessed a social, genial disposition and delighted in 
the comradeship of his friends. His political allegiance was given to the 
republican party, his fraternal associations were with the Masons, and his 
religious faith was evidenced in his membership in the Presbyterian church 
at the corner of Broad and Sansom streets. His many good qualities and 
social nature made him popular, his business integrity gained him high 
regard and his enterprise won him a substantial measure of success. He was 
progressive in business, loyal in citizenship and faithful in friendship, 
but his best traits of character were reserved for his own home and 
fireside.



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