Person:George Brown (208)

The Saginaw Evening News, Friday March 9, 1900, page 6

Mr. Brown Resigns. Leaves His Position as Chief Engineer Pere Marquette Saginaw Division.

It was rumored on the street last night that George M. Brown, chief engineer of the Saginaw district of the Pere Marquette railroad, had presented his resignation, to devote his time to his private business. A representative of the News saw General Manager M. T. Crapo this morning and asked him concerning the matter. "There has been nothing official about the matter," said Mr. Crapo, "I can't tell you anything about it. If Mr. Brown has resigned he is the man chiefly concerned and you would better talk to him. Yes, his resignation has been received, but nothing has been done about it, and it is all just talk."

The reporter called upon Mr. Brown in his office, and in reply to his question, the chief engineer stated that his resignation went into the hands of the officials of the road about the middle of February and that it was to have taken effect March 1, but that he had received no reply as yet. "I am leaving because other business requires my attention" he added, "and I shall give all my attention to my lumbering interests. No I do not know who will be my successor, nor who will be the chief engineer of the system, though it is a matter of course that a single chief will be appointed. No, I shall not remove from the city."

Mr. Brown entered the service of the F. & P.M thirty three years ago, February, 1867, and he stands very high in the regard of the officials, and is thoroughly liked and respected by all who have occasion to come in contact with him.

Transfered membership from the Congregational Church of Reed City.

Saginaw Lodge # 77 A. & F. M.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Brown, Clayton Family Bible. This bible was formerlly in the possession of George M. Brown, the eldest son. Am.
2. ↑ Wayne County, Michigan, Death Records
   Certificat 58279106, for George M. Brown.
3. ↑ Wayne County, Michigan, Death Records
   Certificate 58279106, Register 1925.
4. ↑ Detroit Free Press
   February 13, 1927, Obituary of G. M. Brown.
5. ↑ Tombstone Reading
   Reed City, Michigan, by H.B.W, May 5, 1994.
6. ↑ The Timbertown Log. (Saginaw Genealogical Society)
   Vol. VII, p. 41, citing original land records of Saginaw Coun. Zorn.
7. ↑ Genesee County Atlas (verify correct title).
8. ↑ Saginaw Directory 1897. (R. J. Polk & Co., 1897)
   p. 201.
9. ↑ 1910 Federal Census Wayne County Michigan, State: Michigan, County: Wayne, Film: T624 679. (1910)
   1st Ward, Detroit, p. 8B (written), 244B (stamped series), ED 18, SD 1, dwg. 165, fam. 193, George H. Brown Household.
10. ↑ Standard Atlas of Saginaw County, Mich.. (George A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1916).
11.   News article, "Mr. Brown Resigns". (The Saginaw Evening Post, March 6, 1900)
    p. 6.
12.   The Timbertown Log. (Saginaw Genealogical Society)
    Vol 5, p. 13, citing records of transfers of membership of the First Congregational Church of East Saginaw, extracted from the original records by Elsie B. Kempton and Arlene Feller Cook.
13.   The Timbertown Log. (Saginaw Genealogical Society)
    v. 19, p. 85, citing Masons of Saginaw County 1855-1899, abstracted by Scottie Baxter.
14. ↑ probably at the farm of his grandparents, Daniel and Sarah Hildreth. Birth date confirmed by death certificate, although name of informant is not indicated.
15. ↑ of senile ateriosclerosis. Undertaker A. E. Crosby. Occupation Consulting Engineer, PMRR. Birthplace shown as Shenago (sic) Co. Pa. Birth date 1 March 1843.
16. ↑ Geo M Brown, Mar 1 1843-Feb 11 1927, Co A 5th Regt. Pa. Vol., Corp. Wounded in action, Richmond Va June 26, 1862. Engr. Dept. P.M.R.R., 1867-1927, Saginaw Mich.
17. ↑ From The Detroit Free Press, February 13, 1927.
    G.M. Brown, P.M. Official Dies
    Detroiter, Nationally Known Sportsman, was 60 Years with Railroad
    
    Funeral services for George M. Brown, nationally known sportsman and a Detroit railroad esecuttive for more than 60 years, will be held from the home of J. C. Brown in Saginaw, Monday. Burial wil be in Reed City. Mr. Brown, who was 83 years old, died in his home, 640 West Philadelphia Avenue, Friday night.
    Mr. Brown joined the staff of the Pere Marquette railroad in 1865, as assistant to the chief engineer, just after he had returned from the Civil War, in which he was an officer in Company A. Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He had been wounded early in the seven day battle before Richmond, on June 26, 1862, and came directly from a government hospital to take the Pere Marqukette position. He had been connected with that railroad to the time of his death, several years as chief engineer and in later years consulting engineer.
    He was well known nationally among sportsmen because of his efforts to establish state and federal fish hatcheries and a great deal of the responsibility for the large number now operating is said to be due largely to his efforts. He was president of the Michigan Fish commission for four terms, being appointed by Governor A. T. Bliss, and reappointed by his three successors. He also was instrumental in foming the Kinnie Creek Fish Club, one of the best known and exclusive fishing associations in the country.
    Mr. Brown was the fourth president elected by the Saginaw club. He had been a Mason since 1868. He was a member of Saginaw lodge No. 77, F. and A. M., and St. Bernard commandery, Knights Templar.
    When he joined the Pere Marquette it was known as the Flint and Pere Marquette railroad. A comparatively few miles of track was owned by the railroad at that time and only one other railroad of importance had lines in this state.
    A great deal of surveying of the original roadbeds, as well as laying out their course was done by Mr. Brown. Often it was necessary to lay tracks through virgin forest miles from a dwelling of white men and there was the constant danger of a surprise by hostile Indians.
    He leaves a son, Elmer W. Brown, of Chicago, and four sisters, Mrs Amanda Whitmore, Detroit; Mrs Elmira Whitmore, Elgin, Neb; Mrs. Minnie Thorpe, Washington, Kas., and Mrs. Nettie Coquigne, Flint.
18. ↑ Civil Engineer
19. ↑ Owned 90 acre farm in Section 22, plus 20 acres in Section 15. The 1870 census suggests that his father, Clayton Brown, occupied and farmed the land.
20. ↑ Supt of Bridges, F & PMRR. Uncle George appears off and on in the Saginaw directory from the 1868/69 directory (where he is called "Civil Engineer") through the directory of 1897. The next directory available was the 1910, and he did not appear in this one. Titles and residence for those I looked at were:
    1868/69Civil Engineerno residence shown
    1871Resident Engineer F&PMRRoff Franklin near Astor
    1876Roadmaster F&PMRROffice Depot, boards 424 N Washington
    1877/78 Roadmaster F&PMRRRes NW Corner of Miller & 2nd
    1881/82 Roadmaster F&PMRRBoards Mrs. C. M. Curtis
    1883Roadmaster F&PMRRRes 431 N. Washington
    1895/96 Supt Roadway & StructureRes 403 N. Washington
21. ↑ George M. Brown || He was 67 years old and had been married for 28 years. He was born in Pennsylvania and both his parents in New York. He was a civil engineer for a railroad.
22. ↑ Land shown was 40 acres in the north east quarter of the south east quarter of Section 6. (NB: The 1896 Atlas shows this land as owned by W. G. Gage, and the 1877 atlas shows it as "non resident." Is this the same land purchased in this section in 1870? I suspect that it is, and that Mr. Gage was simply farming this plot for Uncle George.)