Husband Hon. William M. Brown 1 2 3
Born: 20 Sep 1850 - Greenville, Mercer Co, PA 2 3
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Died: 31 Jan 1915 3
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Father: Van Swearingen Brown ( - ) 2 3
Mother: Lydia J. [Unk] ( - ) 2
Marriage: - New Castle, Lawrence Co, PA
• Additional Image: Hon. William M. Brown.
• Residence: : New Castle, Lawrence Co, PA.
Wife Margaret Stewart Foltz 1 3
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Father: Samuel Foltz (1826/1830-1878) 4 5
Mother: Amanda G. Stewart ( - ) 1
Children
1 F Emma Brown 3
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2 M Arthur Brown 3
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General Notes: Husband - Hon. William M. Brown
He attended several of the leading institutions of learning at New Castle, Pennsylvania, where he completed both a literary and commercial course, and then entered upon the study of law under Judge John McMichael, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He continued in the active practice of his profession for a number of years. He early became interested in public affairs, became a leading factor in the Republican party and closely identified with its interests. Prior to 1896, when he was elected to the State Senate, he had efficiently filled many important civic positions, and his name was long connected with enterprises in which his experience and judgment were of the greatest service. His election and subsequent re-election to the Senate but made him a more popular candidate for the position of Lieutenant-Governor and to this high office he was promoted in 1902. After his retirement from public life he gave his time largely to electrical railroad contracting. He was a director of the Lawrence Savings and Trust Company of New Castle.
The death of his father when the son was a boy threw him early on his own resources, and the educational advantages which he secured represented the fruit of his diligent efforts. New Castle, Pennsylvania, became his home in his youth and after attending public schools he studied law under the preceptorship of Judge McMichael. An apt student, he gained admission to the bar in 1876, and for a number of years followed professional practice, although in later life his legal training was chiefly valuable in his work as a legislator and in the grasp it gave him upon the broad principles of the world of large affairs. Street railway construction and operation was a field in which he was active with conspicuous success and he was the moving spirit in the New Castle Street Railway Company, the Street Railway Company of Syracuse, New York, of which he was president, and in traction affairs in Birmingham, Alabama. His holding and operations in real estate in Cleveland, Ohio; and New York City, were likewise large and important, and he was a leading stockholder and director in several steamship lines, including European, South
American and Oriental lines. His business policies were progressive and forward looking, yet thoroughly characterized by the wise conservatism that is the foundation of confidence. His death took him from extensive plans and interests that would have benefited his fellows with himself, as had all of his accomplishments in the world of affairs. Among his official connections was directorship in the Lawrence Savings and Trust Company.
It was in public life that Mr. Brown was most widely known in the Commonwealth, for he was long a prominent figure in the State government. Numerous local offices preceded his election to the State Senate in 1896, and his record of efficiency and wholehearted concern for the public welfare brought him re-election. In 1902 he was chosen by his party, the Republican, to run upon the ticket with Samuel W. Pennypacker, as a candidate for Lieutenant-Governor, and their success in the election made him the second officer of the State from January 20, 1903, to January 15, 1907. Upon his retirement from this high office he devoted himself without interruption to private connections until 1914, when a host of friends of his political faith prevailed upon him to stand as a candidate for Congress. Once more he received election and made his plans for service at the National capital. But this was not to be, for a few weeks before he would have taken his seat in Congress, he was called from the earth.
He was a member of the Masonic Order, and active in the Masonic work.