Fresno County Biographies

JOHN BROWN

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

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      Prominent among the developers of Fresno County, and foremost in the 
rank of development about Madera, stands the subject of this sketch, who was 
born in Warren County, Illinois, in 1860.  His education was acquired at 
Abingdon (Illinois) College, and at the Oskaloosa College in Iowa.  In 1883 Mr. 
Brown was married at Oskaloosa, to Miss Emma Edwards, an estimable lady of that 
city.  Mr. Brown then began teaching, which he followed for two years in Iowa, 
Illinois and Nebraska, and in 1885 came to California and settled at Elsinore, 
San Diego County, where he followed teaching for three years.  During the last 
year Mr. Brown’s mind was greatly occupied with a colonization scheme, through 
the working of which he could develop a given acreage, sell it out on small 
holdings, and thus bring into the State agricultural communities, which are 
recognized as the life blood of every prosperous locality.  The better to carry 
out his scheme, Mr. Brown came to the great San Joaquin valley in the fall of 
1889, and settled at Madera.  Mr. Brown was one of the incorporators of the Bank 
of Madera, which opened its doors for business November 25, 1889, and was 
elected cashier; but the duties of the office are mainly conducted by W. F. 
Baird, the vice-president, as Mr. Brown’s time was given to the location and 
colonization of adjoining lands, under the name of John Brown Colony, which was 
incorporated at about that time, with Mr. Brown president and manager, J. E. 
Newman, secretary, and W. F. Baird, treasurer.  The working system is that the 
company shall manage and care for the land at one ranch – lands to be subdivided 
into blocks of five acres and upwards, and sold to purchasers who pay a small 
price per acre for planting and care of land for a term of three years, and the 
fruits off the land to pay the price of purchase.  Under this plan, the company 
have bought and are improving 4,980 acres, a large portion of which is already 
sold to colonists, and through the workings of this colossal scheme, Madera has 
felt a great impetus in her growth, and a large increase in her population. The 
John Brown Colony have also placed upon the market 10,000 acres in the Antelope 
valley, situated in the northern part of Los Angeles County.  This valley, being 
at an elevation of 2,300 feet, is better adapted to deciduous fruits, but the 
colonization is being carried out on a similar plan.  To the successful carrying 
out of this stupendous enterprise Mr. Brown is devoting all his attention, and 
to his is justly due the credit for much of Madera’s present growth and 
prosperity.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892  p798