Collection, Multimedia, Mixed Materials.

The Resource Austin H. Brown papers, 1830-1901

Language

Summary: This collection contains Brown's personal and business correspondence, as well as documents of political appointments, indentures, checks, receipts, clippings, and compositions, programs and other ephemera from social and political activities such as membership to the Democratic Party and Masons organizations. The correspondence includes letters from his father, William J. Brown, his brother, George, and cousin, John Ferguson.Other correspondents include Thomas A. Hendricks, James Whitcomb, Richard Wigginton Thompson, and Jesse Bright. There are also letters to President Grover Cleveland recommending Brown for a federal appointment, a report on fraudulent claims in the Horse Claims division, and a scrapbook of theatrical programs and announcements for the Metropolitan Theater

Biographical or historical data: Austin H. Brown was born at Milroy, Rush County, Indiana on March 19, 1828. He was the son of Susan Tompkins Brown and William J. Brown, who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He moved to Indianapolis in 1837 and worked for a printer and was a carrier for the Indiana Democrat. In 1844, he entered Asbury University but left the following year to go to Washington, D.C. and work as a clerk in the office of the sixth auditor. He rose to become the assistant chief clerk and distributing officer and was the United States post office inspector.Brown married Margaret E. Russell in 1855 and together they had two children. He returned to Indianapolis and took over proprietorship of the State Sentinel. In 1855, he was elected auditor of Marion County. He was assistant adjutant general of Indiana during the Civil War. He became collector of internal revenue for Indianapolis in 1866. In 1874, he became clerk of Marion County and served as city councilman and on the school commission. He was a Member of the National Democratic Committee. Austin H. Brown died January 1, 1903. Sources: Items in the collection.Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Indiana and Indianans. Chicago: The America Historical Society, 1919.

Location of other archival material: Materials relating to this collection may be found in the following collections in Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN: V443: Austin H. Brown scrapbook, 1844-1901

Context

Context of Austin H. Brown papers, 1830-1901