Madera County, California GenWeb - Madera Biographies: BROWN

GEORGE BROWN, among the active and thriving farmers of Madera County who are aiding in every possible way its agricultural growth and development is George Brown, who with his brother and partner, William A. Brown, is prosperously engaged in farming and stock raising near Borden. Both of these brothers are well known as men of sterling character and ability throughout the community in which they reside, and both are highly esteemed for their integrity and general worth. They are natives of the province of Quebec, Canada. William A. having been born in June 1854, and George in August 1858. Their father, James Brown was born in the north of Ireland about 1819. In 1832

He immigrated to America, locating in Canada as a farmer and is still living there, being now eighty-five years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Annie E. Armstrong, has spent her entire life in Canada.

Leaving Canada in 1875 George Brown went to New Hampshire, and in 1878, came to California with a view of making this state his permanent home, and until 1881 lived in Stockton. The ensuing three years he worked in Amador and Calaveras Counties, going from the later place to Stanislaus County in the spring of 1884, and remaining there three years. During all of these years he had worked as a wage-earner, and by prudent thrift had accumulated a goodly sum of money. In 1887 he came to Madera county, and the following year, forming a partnership with his brother, William A. Brown, was engaged in wheat raising until 1900, when the brothers bought a ranch near Borden, and have since been profitably engaged in farming pursuits. The ranch contains three hundred and twenty acres of good land, which these brothers have devoted to the raising of alfalfa, cattle and hogs, and dairying, keeping forty cow of a fine grade. Energetic and willing to labor, they also rent sixteen hundred acres, which they sew to wheat, raising excellent crops of this of this staple grain. The Brown brothers are typical representatives of the self-made men of Madera County, and by their own efforts have climbed the ladder of success, acquiring prominence and wealth. Both are Republicans in politics, and both are members of the Masonic fraternity and past masters of the lodge to which they belong.

George Brown, the particular subject of this sketch, married Maud H. Cunningham, a native of California, and they have three children; Marie, Gertrude and William.

Guinn, J. M., History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California, (Chicago: Chapman Publishing, 1905), page 646.