Virginia Polytechnic Institute - Bugle Yearbook (Blacksburg, VA)

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John Thompson Drown. KN OHN THGMPSON BROWN, the subject of this sketch, is if ,Q descended long from every side. The sterling worth of his Y ancestors has been a stimulus to him for patriotic effort on behalf of ' his people and State, which has made his citizenship of the most useful character. He was born February 19th, 1861, near Old Church, Hanover County, Virginia, at Stanley, the residence of his grandmother, Mrs. St. George Tucker Coalter, and is the only son of Anne Frances Bland CCoalterQ and Henry Peronneau Brown. His parents lived in Bedford County, Virginia, although they spent the winters from 1868 to 1877 in Petersburg. His maternal great-grandfather was john Coalter, of Augusta County, Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, and, through him, he is related to many of the Scotch-Irish families of America. His maternal great-grand- mother was Anne Frances Bland Tucker, the half-sister of john Randolph of Roanoke, and his maternal grandparents were Judy Harrison QTomlinj and St. George Tucker Coalter. His great-grandfather, on the paternal side, was Henry Brofwn, of Bedford County, Virginia, whose brother, Samuel, was a distin- guished Presbyterian minister in Rockbridge County and married Mary Moore tof Abb's Valley famej, daughter of James Moore. His grandfather, Io-hn Thomp- son Brown, was born in 18o2, at '5 Ivy Clifff' Bedford County, Virginia, the old homestead, which has been continuously in the family since 1755. His abilities were of such a high order as to entitle him to more than a passing notice. After graduating with highest honors at Princeton, he commenced the practice of law at Clarksburg, Harrison County, at that time in this State, which county he represented in the General Assembly, and, while aimember, married Mary Fdloe Vfillcox, daughter of John Vaughan VVillcoX, of Petersburg, and, moving there, was immediately elected to represent that city in the General Assembly. He was especially prominent in the great slavery debate of 1832, and was a man of the highest culture and brilliant prospects, but died of typho-id fever in 1836. Those who had the pleasure of visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Peron- neau Brown at lvy Cliff, will bear willing testimony to their cultivation and hospitality. There, at their beautiful home, grew up the present john Thompson Brown. He was educated at the school of Captain W. Gordon McCabe, in Peters- burg, Virginia, and afterwards at the University of Virginia and was a favorite at both institutions. As a student he was noted, not only for his good sense and judgment, but was likewise distinguished for his prowess in all athletic games, 3 ,.lum..-.iQi:-.::l. .... ...-

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To ilye popular reclor of our Woara' of 'U1'silors, p JOHN THOMPSON CBR O WN, genzal ana' large-lzeariea' zrz privafe life, a publle-splriled and proaressioe cifzken, an able legislalor ana' wise coun- selor, ilze sfeadfasl and devo led friend of our Inslilzzllolvg llyis publicallon is a'ea'z2:aied as an evzklence A of our affeclzorzafe N regard. ' love mania 759:31 PNY 3

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Mr. Brown t Phvsicallv as well as intellectually, - . - . f ' el interes . , . 1 , . In which he took 3 IW y d ' one of those who prefers directness to circumlocu- -. - ' - us an is , . , 15 Strong and Vlgoro ' tions ,i ir: it He lives on his beautiful old estate, ac tion in all of his trans , li - 1 . ,p H. nt Stud and the Cumva, and devotes his time to ag1'1CU1tll1a1 Pursuits' to uitellge esscilr by inheritance . ' ' ss tion of his mind. He has a splendid library, Hind 15 tJi.?O 7 Vallle among thmi of many letters and manuscripts of rare historical an 1 erary , T1 fs being the letters and speeches of his distinguished grandfather, John igrnfrqsoii . 5 Tucker and Od Cf. - f l l l f Roanoke of the JLlClgCS Broun, and john Rancopi ' , I , t dems at the l thers He has a charming family, two of his boys being s L1 ant o . . . - , . . , with him Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Mis. Brown who, before her marriage 1 C . ' 10' was Miss Cassie Dallas Tucker, is one of the most beautiful and charmn g hostesses in all Virginia, and, together, they dispense a delightful hospitality to the many who visit them. ' t M J Mr. Brown took an active part in the deliberations of the Fafllwfb Assembly, a voluntary association of representative farmers from all parts State, which preceded the Alliance, and met annually for several years. was a member of the executive committee, and with the late H. M. Magruder, or Albemarle County, and others, urged especially the necessity of putting the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, now the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in the hands of practical farmers and mechanics. He was appointed by Governor McKinney to the bo-ard of visitors of this College, in March, 1890, to fill an unexpired term, and in january, 1892, was appointed to the full term on the board, by Governor McKinney. At the end of the term, january, 1896, he was not reappointed by Governor 0'Ferrall, although his appointment was earnestly urged by his colleagues on the bo-ard and the friends and patrons of the College, but he was appointed to the full term by Governor Tyler, in January. 1898, and, on' the resignation of Captain Charles E. Vawter, was unanimously elected rector of the board-a deserved recognition of the success of his efforts for the advancement of the institution. As a Democrat, he represented Bedford of the County in the Legislature in the session of 1891-92, and served the party as Democratic elector on the Cleveland ticket for the Sixth Congressional District in 1892. Recently he and the Horn. john Goode, in a Democratic priinary for Bedford Comfy, WeYC.ChOiSC11 The 11Omi11eeS of the party for the Constitutional Convention it hi ' - . N - - - -- - - 2 I Ch 15 to 111661111116 121311, to fiame a new Lonstitution lot' X irgnna. 'lhe public life of Mr. Brown speaks for itself. As a member of the l.ei--tisla ture his services were ' e . D . ' 1, I i valuable to his people and State. A Democrat troni prin Clp e and conviction, but neve tri - - ' - nes and governmental policies which tend most to promote the welfare of the Pe0Ple. His greatest work has been d 1 f 1' a partisan, he earnestly contends for those doc- Affricultural and Mechai' l C ll one O1-the imlniovemelll nf ills' Yl1'QlUl11 ' 6 1 -Nea 'O Gffe now the V'-0-' W - 5 The 0-ood of tl. . . . 6 1 ngnna le olyteehnie lnstitntee C. ns institution has been his 1 . . 1 iobb it . , - , - 'mon of its affairs is il 1 Q 1 1 Yi Emil the pitstitt spltnthd tonth- 1 a ai . e 80 Clegiee a monument to his 'ibihtv 'tnl nin I ' work. Agreat believer in the beneit f. I. . . . t go ps oi S O t ,.. education, in lns ty ts that Ur,,k.Mu,,, ,S , 4 I