Thomas Brown
Westmoreland County

Thomas Brown, merchant, farmer and educator, was born December 1, 1846, in Hague, Westmoreland county, Virginia.  His father, Col. Thomas Brown, farmer, member of the state legislature, and superintendent of schools for Westmoreland county, was a man of high character and rigid integrity, and was noted for good sense and sound judgment .  His mother, was Sarah S. Cox, a woman of earnest piety, strong intellect and high character, who had a powerful and lasting influence upon his life.  His ancestry is English; one of the founders of the American branch of the family, Richard Lee, colonial secretary of Virginia under the governship of Sir William Berkeley, came from England in 1641 and settled in Northumberland county.

His boyhood was passed in the country.  He was strong, active, and fond of the vigorous, health-giving outdoor sports of country boys.  He was educated entirely by private tutors and study at home. Before he was eighteen, his love of his state and section was thoroughly aroused by the stirring events of the Civil war, so much of which was fought on the soil of the Old Dominion; and he put aside his books and took up a sabre and carbine, to do his share of fighting for home and fireside.  On March 1, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 9th regiment Virginia cavalry.  He participated in most of the cavalry movements of that last memorable year, serving until the surrender of General Lee, and making a gallant record.

In May, 1865, he started a general mercantile business in Hague, and successfully conducted it for years, earning a wide reputation for business sagacity and fair dealing.  He served most acceptably as justice of the peace from 1872 to 1883; he was deputy collector of United States Internal Revenue from 1893 to 1897.  For most of his adult life he has been a successful farmer. In 1900 he was appointed superintendent of schools for Westmoreland county—a position long held by his father; and his administration gave such general satisfaction that in 1901 he was elected for a four year term; and he was reelected for another term in 1905.

He is a good citizen who can be depended upon to do his full duty conscientiously in any position he may assume. He enjoys the esteem and respect of all his fellow-citizens; and his many good qualities have made him many friends.

In politics he is and has always been a Democrat.  He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church.  His favorite recreation is hunting.  He married Charlotte E. Claybrook, daughter of Richard A. and Charlotte T. Claybrook on December 7, 1875, in Westmoreland county.