JUDGE ROBERT T. 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

Robert Taylor Brown was born on a farm a few miles north of Henderson, February 1, 1873, to Taylor Brown, Jr. and Malvina Smith Brown. After completing high school in Henderson, he attended Rock Hill Institute in Minden and then studied law in the offices of J. A. Arnold and W. C. Buford.

Admitted to the bar in 1894, R. T. Brown began the practice of law in Henderson, where he was County Attorney 1900-1902, and County Judge 1916-1920. He was elected Judge of the Fourth Judicial District in 1924, and he was successively re-elected the rest of his life. It is estimated that he tried over 25,000 cases. During the 1930’s after the discovery of the great East Texas Field, he became noted for his oil field decisions.

Judge Brown took a special interest in young people and always sought to be helpful to those who became involved with the law. In Henderson all children, regardless of race, creed, or color, knew him as the "Big Man" with the candy or gum".

He was a member of the Texas and American Bar Associations. He was a fifty-year member of the Clinton Lodge No. 23, A.F. & A.M., and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

In 1902, R. T. Brown married Sarah Norvell, and five children were born to that union: Ross T. Brown, Margaret Brown Tedder, Mack N. Brown, Robert S. Brown, and Betsy Brown Harris. Judge Brown died October 24, 1952 and is buried in Lakewood Memorial Park, Henderson, Texas.

Submitted by Mack Brown