George H. Brown

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

George H. Brown

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

A newsboy on the streets of New York, a leading business man of the city of Morristown, is the summary of the life record of this gentleman. By selling newspapers and matches on the streets of the metropolis Mr. BROWN earned his livelihood in the days of his early youth; to-day he is the efficient superintendent of the Morristown Gas Light Company. The history of the intervening years shows a continuous struggle to overcome the difficulties in his path, and a continuous advancement in life, owing to his energy, his firm determination and his honorable methods. He is possessed of a resolute purpose and enterprising spirit that has enabled him to turn defeat into victory and promised failures into brilliant successes, and thus has he won a place foremost among the business men of Morristown, in the business life of which city he is now regarded as a valued factor.

Mr. BROWN was born in the city of New York, February 16, 1860, a son of William and Mary J. (HULL) BROWN. His maternal grandfather was a master ship-builder in the Brooklyn navy yard for thirty years. In his father's family were ten children, but only two are now living, George H. and his sister, Mrs. Frederick EGNER, of Norfolk, Virginia.

George H. BROWN was denied the advantages of a good common-school education and was forced, by lack of means within his home, to sell matches and papers on the streets of New York to supply himself with the necessities of life. At the early age of twelve years he went into the United States Navy, aboard the school ship St. Mary's, then stationed in New York city and maintained by both the New York board of education and the federal government. After leaving that vessel he was engaged with the Sutton & Company packet line to San Francisco, California, for eight years, closing his services as first officer of the clipper ship Samuel Watts, plying between the United States and Europe in the grain and general merchandising trade.

When twenty years of age Mr. BROWN left the water and began learning the gas business at Norfolk, Virginia, but soon returned to the sea, joining, at New York, the crew of the Guyandotte, a vessel belonging to the Old Dominion Steamship Company. Circumstances, however, forced him to return to the land in a short time, and he entered the service of the Metropolitan Gas Company, in New York city. Later he was employed by A. O. Granger & Company, builders of water-gas apparatus, and was stationed at Coney Island, as superintendent of the Coney Island Gas Light Company. He next went to Chicago, where for five years he was employed as bookkeeper by the Illinois Light, Heat & Power Company. On the expiration of that period he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and became superintendent of the Laclede Gas Company. Upon his return to New York he engaged for a short time with the Standard Gas Company, and then went to the Central Gas Company, acting in the capacity of superintendent of the construction of the foundations for their oil tanks on the docks. In January, 1892, he came to Morristown, and has since acceptably and efficiently served as superintendent of the Morristown Gas Light Company.

While residing in Chicago Mr. BROWN was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. YOUNG, on the 1st of June, 1888, and their union has been blessed with four children: Frederick V., George H., Louis J., and Marietta, who died, aged one year.

Mr. and Mrs. BROWN have made many friends in Morristown, and have the high regard of those with whom they have been brought in contact. They are both members of the First Presbyterian church of Morristown.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.