Windham

BROWN, George Addison

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, part III, 
pp 4-5 of 20 unpaginated leaves (portrait p 4)

George Addison BROWN, of Everett [Middlesex County], Massachusetts, was born 
24 November 1854 in Plymouth [Plymouth County, Massachusetts], son of James 
Smith and Polly M. (TAYLOR) BROWN, being the fourth of a family of eight 
children, seven of whom are still living. Mr. BROWN'S father has been 
conspicuous in town affairs for many years, having been town clerk, 
selectman, justice of the peace, and he has also represented the town of 
Plymouth in the Legislature. His two brothers are well-known merchants in 
Ludlow [Windsor County, Vermont], and a sister, Mrs. Albert J. HOLLEY, of 
Bellows Falls [Windham County, Vermont], has achieved quite a local 
reputation as an artist.

Mr. BROWN was educated in the common schools of Plymouth, the State Normal 
School at Randolph [Orange County, Vermont], Black River Academy at Ludlow, 
completing preparations for college at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden 
[Sullivan County], New Hampshire, graduating in 1873. He then entered 
Dartmouth College and graduated with the class of 1877, ranking the last year 
second in scholarship in a class of fifty-two. He received the general 
improvement prize of sixty dollars, which is awarded to that member of the 
graduating class making the most improvement during the college course, and 
was twice the first choice of his class for prize speaking.

He [George Addison BROWN] was at Harvard Law School in 1877 and 1878, and in 
1878 became principal of the high school at Bellows Falls, which he taught 
three years, at the same time continuing his legal studies. In 1881 he was 
admitted to the Windham County bar, and opened a law office at Bellows Falls, 
continuing in the practice there until 1891, when he removed to Everett, 
Massachusetts, opening an office in he Ames Building, Boston. While a 
resident of Bellows Falls, he was three years chairman of the board of 
village trustees, two years chairman of the school board, and was Grand 
Worthy Patriarch of the Sons of Temperance of Vermont, and a delegate of that 
state in 1885 to the Republican anti-saloon convention at Chicago.

Mr. BROWN early exhibited marked ability as a public speaker; at the age of 
sixteen delivered the Fourth of July oration in his native town, which 
attracted considerable attention and was printed in local papers; and has 
been in great demand as a public speaker, having given addresses before the 
Vermont State Teachers' Association; a memorial on General Grant and 
President Garfield; also Memorial Day addresses at Brattleboro, Bellows 
Falls, and many other places. Since removing to Massachusetts he has built 
up a large and lucrative law business, with offices in Boston and Everett, 
and has become well known as a successful lawyer and campaign speaker. When 
Everett became a city, although having then been a resident of Massachusetts 
but one year, he was appointed city solicitor by the Mayor, but owing to 
political considerations, failed of confirmation by the board of alderman.

In July 1877 he [George Addison BROWN] married [Miss] Flora E. PIERCE, 
daughter of Edson Pierce and Mary (BARRETT) PIERCE, of Springfield [Windsor 
County], Vermont. He has three children: Nelson P. BROWN, Ruth BROWN, and 
James R. BROWN. Although often urged to become a candidate for important 
public offices, Mr. [George Addison] BROWN has uniformly declined, preferring 
to devote his time to his profession.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly