BROWN, FAYETTE

BROWN, FAYETTE (17 Dec. 1823-20 Jan. 1910), was a Cleveland businessman who served as a U.S. Army paymaster during the CIVIL WAR. Born in N. Bloomfield, Ohio (Trumbull County) to Ephraim and Mary (Buckingham Huntington) Brown, he worked for his brother at a wholesale dry-goods store in Pittsburgh, PA after completing his schooling and became a member of the firm in 1845. He moved to Cleveland in 1851, formed a banking partnership with Geo. Mygatt under the name of Mygatt & Brown, and took over the business in 1857, when Mygatt retired. Brown closed his business at the outbreak of the Civil War, serving as paymaster, U.S. Army, 1861-62, before resigning his commission to return to private life. He returned to Cleveland to become general agent of the Jackson Iron Co. In the following years he became a powerful force in the iron industry, serving as president of the Union Steel Screw Co.; general manager of the Stewart Iron Co.; president of the Brown Hoisting & Conveying Machine Co.; and receiver of the Brown, Bonnell Co. of Youngstown, Ohio. Brown married Cornelia C. Curtiss of Allegheny City, Pa., on 15 July 1847 and had 3 sons, Alexander E., William F., and Harvey H., and 2 daughters, Florence C. and Mary L. Because of Brown's military service, he was frequently referred to as "Major" or "Colonel." Brown was buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.


Finding aid for the Fayette Brown Family Papers. WRHS.


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