Alameda County Biographies

ALBERT J. BROWN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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	Albert J. Brown, president of the Albert Brown Undertaking Company, is a well known 
and representative business man of Oakland, and he also has a wide acquaintance in San 
Francisco, where club and social relations have brought him into prominent connection. He was 
born in Denver, Colorado, February 17, 1875, and is a son of Albert and Mary A. Brown. The 
father was a native of the northern part of New Jersey, born July 21, 1842. There his education 
was acquired and later he removed westward to Denver, Colorado, where he engaged in the building 
and contracting business until 1874. He then embarked in the undertaking business, which he 
conducted at that place until 1881, when he sold out and made his way to Los Angeles, 
California, where he conducted an undertaking establishment until 1886. He then disposed of his 
interests in that city and came to Oakland, where he purchased the undertaking establishment of 
W. T. Hamilton, which had been founded in 1874. He conducted the business under his own name 
until 1905, when it was incorporated under the firm style of Albert Brown Undertaking Company, 
of which he became president, serving in that capacity until his death, which occurred in January, 
1909. He was prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, 
and he was also a member of the Mystic Shrine. His fraternal relations were with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to their teachings he was ever 
loyal. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, but he preferred that other 
should hold office, while he concentrated his energies upon his business affairs.
	In 1870, in Denver, Colorado, Albert Brown, Sr., was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. 
Downey, and unto them were born four children, including Albert J. Brown, whose name introduces 
this review. He was a lad of about six years when the family came to California, and he pursued 
his education in the public schools of Los Angeles and of Oakland, passing through consecutive 
grades until graduated from the high school in the latter city with the class of June, 1894. He 
next attended the University of California and was graduated in 1899. Since then he has been 
identified with the Albert Brown Undertaking Company and in January, 1909, following the death of 
his father, he was elected its president. The company controls a large and growing business and 
its success is well established.
	In San Francisco Mr. Brown was united in marriage, in February, 1906, to Miss Lois Rice, 
and they have one child, Barbara. Mr. Brown holds membership in the University of California Club 
of San Francisco and is well known in that city and in Oakland, having an extensive circle of 
warm friends. In fact, he is widely known throughout California because of his residence in Los 
Angeles, his attendance at the State University and his identification with the two Bay cities.

Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914, p. 476