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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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WILLIAM H. BROWN, for many years the leading and most successful coal-operator in Western Pennsylvania, was born in North Huntington township, Westmoreland county, Pa., Jan. 15, 1815. At an early age he started out in life for himself. He was first employed on the canal; worked for a time on a farm that is now in the corporate limits of Pittsburgh; dug coal in the winter; rose in a short time to the ownership of a horse and wagon, with which he delivered coal to his customers, and before long was employing a number of men and teams for the supplying of coal to Pittsburgh furnaces In 1845 or 1846, when the roads were in a bad condition between Pittsburgh and his source of supplies at Minersville, the thought came to him that coal might be floated down the Monongahela at less cost and toil than to carry it in wagons. Not having the funds necessary to buy a boat, he borrowed the money and purchased a flat on credit. In a short time he was able to make a still greater venture, and in company with other Pittsburgh parties purchased a mine in the second pool of the Monongahela river A subsequent disagreement with his more conservative partners as to the management of the business caused an early dissolution, Mr. Brown selling out his interest in the-enterprise. A local paper said of him:

In 1848 Mr. Brown formed a connection with Messrs. Lloyd & Black, owners of the Kensington Iron-works, located in Pittsburgh, on the Monongahela. They began mining and operating in coal at the Nine-Mile run on the Monongahela, and coking with four ovens. Mr. Brown had charge of the business, and managed it in accordance with his ideas as to when risks should be taken or not, and what lines of policy should be pursued. The main portion of his trade was still with Pittsburgh, but when he had a surplus he disposed of it on his own plan, sending it down the river to Louisville and Cincinnati, and reaping a large success in that line of trade. His business and reputation grew apace, and by steady progress in his chosen line of activity soon found himself in the very front rank thereof, and recognized as one of the master-spirits of the trade. In 1858 Mr. Brown ventured on still another experiment that the wisest of the coal-men were, in advance, moved to declare would be a failure. His new purpose was to send a tow of flats from Louisville to New Orleans. “Prior to that time,” says one account of the venture, “coal had been floated to New Orleans instead of towed by steamers, but it was done with barges, a class of large keelboats, and the expense of the trips did away with the profits. Towing was accordingly in no favor among shippers of coal to the lower ports, even with the most substantial boats; and when Mr. Brown was about to send a tow of flatboats, or rather boxes, of light and shallow construction, he was considered to be wild.”

His “wildness” was that of successful inventors and pioneers in new paths of usefulness since the world began. He made the venture, it proved a success, and others made haste to crowd into the new way he had opened. He sent twelve boats, carrying about 230,000 bushels of coal, with the steamer Grampus on one side and the General Larimer on the other. His son, Capt. Sam Brown, was in charge. The trip was a success beyond question. The coal was disposed of at remunerative rates, and there was no loss to the cargo. Capt. Brown disposed of the flats, loaded his steamers with sugar and molasses, and came home in triumph. The keen vision of William H. Brown had been justified by the results, and a new outlet to the growing coal trade of Pittsburgh was opened.

With the widening of his business, Mr. Brown was compelled to increase his facilities. At first he hired his towing, but afterward purchased the General Larimer, which was the first towboat he ever owned. The first steamer built by him was the W. H. B., and he afterward had the Bee constructed, and sent her on her journeyings up and down the river. At a later date he purchased the Collier and the Shark, which were added to his busy fleet. Every year that passed saw an increase in his operations. He soon became the acknowledged head of his department of the coal business, and his judgment was accepted without question on all matters connected with the trade. On the breaking out of the war he secured important contracts for the supplying of the government at Cairo and Memphis with coal for the Mississippi fleet. At about the same time he began to supply St. Louis with coal for her gas works. It was not only a time of the most intense business activity with him, but one of close watchfulness and severe responsibility.

While delivering a cargo of coal for the use of Gen. Grant at Vicksburg, he was captured by the Union forces while on his way back, and came near being executed as a confederate spy. A dispatch from Gen. Buell, then in command at Louisville, Ky., saved him. The exciting times of the war, the dangers of traffic in supplying fuel to the government forces within the lines of the enemy a considerable part of the time; supplying markets during a time and under conditions which rendered every cargo especially liable to capture, confiscation and destruction by armed forces, not only regular but guerrilla as well, to say nothing of the increased dangers to navigation itself, were a state of affairs entirely congenial to his spirit of enterprise. It was attended with risks that other men did not dare to venture, and he made it pay. The profits were proportionate to the risks. He was successful. “Lucky” was the verdict of some, but those who were closest to his confidence are not backward in their testimony that there was something more than mere luck in such success. He knew the dangers, he faced them with nerve, handled his affairs with skill and in accordance with the ever-varying phases of the times; originator of his own plans, a copyist of none.

So extensive did his business become during the war that the impression gained some foothold that all his wealth was made by supplying the government. That by reason of his excellent management, tireless exertion and executive ability he made money from his government contracts cannot be doubted—and these contracts were open to all persons in the business to bid for. Even if it were true, there would be nothing either disreputable or dishonorable in it. But it is not true. He was prosperous before the war. As an evidence of this it may be said that when Brown and Reis and Berger bought the rolling-mill at New Castle, Pa., a venture to which he paid no personal attention, he gave his check in payment for $100,000. Such an amount in one outside venture leaves no room to question that at this period, 1858 and 1859, he was justly accounted a wealthy man in the ordinary sense of that term, although of limited means compared with the accumulations he left at the time of his death, on October 12, 1875.

That William H. Brown was a remarkable man is well proven in the works he performed; and the great wealth of which he died possessed was the result of his own labor, sagacity and courage. He made the coal business a specialty, although in later years his capital was invested in worthy enterprises devoted to the development of the resources of Western Pennsylvania. Among the strong traits of his character were industry, untiring energy and a far-seeing business vision. That he had the nerve to take great risks is well demonstrated in what has gone before. His perseverance was a marvel, and his capacity for work seemed almost endless.

Mr. Brown was married in Pittsburgh to a daughter of Mr. Samuel Smith, of Minersville, a lady of high education, refinement and culture. She was a noble helper all through life, aiding him in many practical ways in his early struggles, and sharing with him in after years the fruits of their mutual toil. She passed away prior to her husband. Four sons and two daughters were the fruits of the marriage. Capt. James Brown died in July, 1882, and Samuel and Harry bought out the interest of Charles S., the other brother, and now carry on the business under firm name of W. H. Brown Sons. We quote:
As an indication that the business has suffered no decline in the hands of the present firm, it may be noted that the shipments of coal from 1869 to 1874, the later years of the life of W. H. Brown, were about 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 bushels per annum; whereas in 1879, or four years after his death, the shipments were nearly 9,000,000, and in 1880 were over 12,000,000 bushels. These figures are not as large as those of 1883, which were the largest in the history of the house.

The present firm has five tugs and fourteen steamboats to furnish the motive power for its fleet of over one thousand boats, barges and flats, instead of the small number owned and controlled by the founder of the house. Instead of the few rods of track running from a mine in the second pool, with which the late W. H. Brown began business, the present firm owns no less than five coal-roads, all thoroughly equipped.

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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.

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