Biography: Lewis Brown, Columbia Co., Wisconsin ******************************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Candy Grubb. candyg@theofficenet.com Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************************** Brown, Lewis--Columbia From "History of North Washington" Published 1904 LEWIS H. BROWN Lewis H. Brown. On May 23, 1885, Mr. Brown threaded his way across the mountains from where Valley, Washington, now stands to his present place three miles east from Daisy. He had a cayuse, a cow, and twenty-seven dollars in cash. The country was wild. Marcus was the nearest post office and Spokane the nearest railroad town. When he reached the Colville valley, he chose a place in the wilderness, erected a little log cabin in the brush and called it his home. Now Mr. Brown owns over two hundred acres of land, the whole fenced and cross fenced and in a high state of cultivation. He has a beautiful residence with barns, plenty of outbuildings and everything to make the place comfortable and valuable, and in contrast with going seventy-five miles for his mail he now has rural delivery at his door, school privelages one hundred rods away and telephone communications with the outside world in his house. In addition to doing general farming and making this desert place blossom as the rose, Mr. Brown has shown commendable knowledge and ability in raising fine stock. He has some excellent thoroughbred Shorthorns, good horse, and raises Yorkshire and O.I.C. thoroughbred hogs. He is one of the prosperous and substantial men of Stevens county and is respected and honored by all who know him. Lewis H. Brown was born on April 30, 1862 in Columbia county, Wisconsin, the son of David and Julia (McCormick) Brown. The father came from the rugged hills of Scotland to the city of London, where he lived twenty years, being in the coffee and spice business. Later he crossed the Atlantic to New York, the trip consuming fifty-six days, whence he made his way to Wisconsin and there died in 1894, aged seventy-eight, having suffered much from cancer in his stomach. The mother was born in Maine and is now living in Salem, Oregon. Mr. Brown has the following sisters. Mrs. May Ehr, Mrs. Victoria Wisdom, Mrs. Flora Walker, and Mrs. Maggie Swanson. The two latter were graduates of Valaparaiso normal and spent many years in teaching. In 1880 Mr. Brown moved from Wisconsin to Carlton county, Minnesota and bought a farm which he afterwards lost. In 1883 he came to Spokane and the next spring took up land where Valley now stands, when in 1885 as stated above he came to his present place. On March 20, 1891, Mr. Brown married Miss Lenora Lewis, who was born on June 1, 1872 in Missouri. When seven years of age, she came with her parents, William H. and Lucy A. (Waugh) Lewis from Arkansas across the plains to the vicinity of Latah, Washington. Thomas A. Waugh, the father of Mrs. Lewis, was a native of the south and at one time owned about thirty Negroes. He died at Kettle Falls in the spring of 1903, aged eighty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are now operating a hotel at Meyers Falls, Washington. Mrs. Brown has the following brothers and sisters, Albert, William, Mrs. Bertha Halford, Edith, Ellen, Katie, and Edna. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown six children have been born, William O., aged eleven; Lawrence L., aged nine; Victoria L., aged six; Ralph, died when two years old; Clyde H., aged two; and Lester, the baby. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have always been actively engaged in both church and educational work and have done a great deal for the upbuilding of the community.