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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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COL. JOSEPH BROWN (deceased), a native of Ireland, was brought to Pittsburgh when a child, and there received the benefits of the public schools. At the age of fourteen he was clerk in a hardware-store, attending night schools, and later Duff’s Business College. At the age of twenty years (in 1850) he went to Australia, where he won the esteem and confidence of distinguished people, serving on the queen’s bench, and in the employ of the government, carrying gold from Bendigo to Melbourne. In 1852 he returned to Pittsburgh, via South America, in which country he traveled extensively. In Pittsburgh he engaged in the transportation business, and later on in the oil trade in Lawrence county. At the breaking out of the war he recruited Co. C, of the old 13th regiment, as first lieutenant Co. E, now 102d; was promoted to adjutant, then to major; was wounded at Fair Oaks; resigned, but rejoined Ind. Artillery as captain of Battery B, which was for three months’ service, and after, as lieutenant-colonel of the 5th, serving till the close of the war, when he was breveted brigadier-general. On his return to Allegheny county the people honored him by electing him clerk of the court, which office he filled with ability three years. He was also commander of a brigade of National Guards for three years. Col. Brown was at one time a popular druggist, and later was in the hardware business. He died July 25, 1886, aged fifty-seven years, at the home of his devoted sister, Mrs. W. C. Gray. Col. Brown’s military career was a brilliant one, and Gen. J. L. Peck makes special and honorable mention of him in his official report. Col. Brown was a man of sterling soldierly qualities. He would never push himself forward, hence did not receive the reward and promotions due him. He was a lover of humanity and justice.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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