TAYLOR BROWN

The following bio was taken from page 130 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Taylor Brown, Sr. came to Texas in 1839 searching for a piece of property that could be made into a self-sustaining plantation. The Republic of Texas was making generous offers to people who were willing to move their families and settle here. He found what he was looking for about three miles northeast of a settlement called Shawnee Town in Nacogdoches County. He purchased this tract of land and returned to Talladega, Alabama to get his family. In 1840 he moved his family, together with several neighbor families, to East Texas, coming over land in a wagon train. Brown’s property was located on the old Henderson and Tyler highway.

Taylor Brown, Sr., was born in Jackson County, Georgia, February 7, 1800, the son of David Brown, who fought in the American Revolution and also in the Texas Revolution against Mexico (Battle of Gonzales). While living in Georgia, he married Annie Melton, who was born May 2, 1807. They moved to Talladega, Alabama, and three children were born to them there: Elizabeth Brown McMurray, Flora Brown Bagley, and Taylor Brown, Jr. Taylor, Jr. was one year old when they moved to Texas. Three other children were born after the Browns’ coming to Texas: John F. Brown, Thomas Brown, and Charles Brown. A nephew, James Henry Brown, lived with them as another child in the family, moving here from Alabama with them. With the help of his slaves, Taylor Brown, Sr. built Brown’s Lake and installed an overshot water wheel which powered a pottery plant, grist, and wheat mill, cotton gin, and cabinet factory. The millrace is still clearly visible on the property, and the clay pit is used today by Henderson Clay Products Company.

When Rusk County was carved out of old Nacogdoches County in 1843 and Henderson was designated as the county seat, Taylor Brown was one of the first commissioners. He was a surveyor as well as a farmer and a potter. The tract of land on which he lived and operated his businesses bears the name of Taylor Brown Survey. He also became a member of Clinton Masonic Lodge No. 23 the first year it organized. He died October 9, 1883 and was buried on his land beside his wife, Annie Brown, his father, David Brown, and several other family members.

Taylor Brown, Jr. was the only one of the sons who had a family of children. He commanded Company B, Third Texas Calvary, Ross’s Brigade during the Civil War. His brother, John F. Brown, also served in the Civil War.

In 1866 Taylor Brown, Jr. married Malvina Kemp Smith, a daughter of Captain Robert Washington Smith, and raised his family on this same tract of land. One child died in infancy, but nine others lived to maturity. They were as follows: Minnie Brown (Joe Coates, Jim Landers, Jim Redding); Flora Elizabeth Brown (D.K. Beasley); Robert Taylor Brown (Sarah Norvell); Mary Jeanette Brown (John Franklin Culp); Champ Watkins Brown (Lucretia Ross); Bagley McMurray Brown; Lucy Eskridge Brown (Dr. James Bennett Crane); Joe Smith Brown (Mary Peters Young); and Madison Clinton Brown (Mittie Pace).

The Taylor Brown, Sr. land has been held under seven flags: the Spanish, French, Mexican, Republic of Texas, United States of America from 1845 to 1860, Confederate, then back to the United States of America. It has been held by the Brown family under the last five named flags. A portion of this land is still held by the heirs of the late Judge R. T. Brown & Mrs. Lucy Brown Crane.

Submitted by Nannette Crane Wickham