Richard F. Brown, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on page 1235 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	RICHARD F. BROWN, M. D., is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, where 
he was born on the 9th of March, 1858, being a son of Abram G. and 
Lucretia (Gray) Brown, both of whom were born in the state of New York. 
The Doctor received his early educational discipline in the public 
schools of the old Buckeye state, and in 1879 was matriculated in 
Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, where he completed the 
prescribed technical course and was graduated as a member of the class 
of 1882, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine and coming forth 
well equipped for the active work of his chosen profession. In February, 
1882, he located in Plankinton, South Dakota, where he was successfully 
engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery until the spring 
of 1891, having gained a high reputation in his chosen field of endeavor 
and having been one of the leading practitioners of that locality. Upon 
retiring from practice, at the time just noted, he came to Sioux Falls, 
where he established himself in the retail drug business, while in 
November, 1901, he established a wholesale department, in which the 
business increased in scope and importance to such an extent that in 
1901, he withdrew from active part in the retail trade, still owning his 
fine retail store, to devote his entire attention to the wholesale 
business. December 1, 1903, the Brown Drug Company was reorganized, with 
increased capital and facilities, with B. F. Brown as president; Thomas 
H. Brown, vice-president; O. A. Brown, secretary, and F. H. Hollister, 
treasurer. Their building is three stories high, one hundred and twenty 
feet long and forty-four feet wide and will make one of the best 
equipped wholesale houses in the county. Their trade territory now 
comprises nearly all sections of the state and the business is a large 
and constantly increasing one, while he is known as a straightforward, 
reliable and progressive business man, commanding the confidence of all 
with whom he has dealings or comes in contact. In politics the Doctor 
gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is 
identified with the lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order, 
as well as with the allied organizations, the Ancient Arabic Order of 
the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. 

	In November, 1884, Dr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss 
Minnesota Cook, of Minnesota, who died December 8, 1893, in Sioux Falls. 
To this union were born two children, Mary R. and Rush A., both of whom 
remain at the parental home at the time of this writing.