- Edwin O. BROWN who has been a resident of Scottsdale, Maricopa
county, for the past twenty-
- five years, has been one of the principal factors in the
commercial prosperity of that locality, where he is interested
in mercantile, banking and farming affairs. He was born at Janesville,
Wisconsin, on the 6th day of November, 1869, and is the son of
J. H. and Janette (THORBURN) BROWN, the former of whom was a
contractor and builder. He was educated in the public schools
of his native state and then took up farming, also doing some
selling. In 1904 he came to Scottsdale, Arizona, the move being
made mainly because of his wife's health. His first business
ventures here were the cattle business and merchandising. In
the course of time, in addition to the running of a prosperous
store, he engaged in banking, becoming a director of the Farmers
State Bank. He still has large cattle interests, having fed many
head annually for the past seventeen years, and has also butchered
many of his cattle for the market. During the years he has given
considerable attention to raising of cotton and in 1920 organized
the Scottsdale Ginning Company, which he operated alone a number
of years, and in 1924 helped to organize the Western Cotton Oil
Company, which he sold to Anderson Clayton Company in 1927. His
career here has been various operations and success which is
crowing his efforts has been well merited. Mr. BROWN has been
married twice, first, in 1896, to Miss Mary Jane CALDWELL, of
Rockford, Illinois, to which union were born four children, A
J. BROWN, who died at age 16 years of age; E. E., B. R. and Ruth
E. ZIMMERMAN, of Scottsdale. For his second wife, whom he married
in 1928, Mr. BROWN chose Mary E. GRAVES, of Scottsdale. Aside
from his various business interests, Mr. BROWN has been active
in matters concerning the general welfare, and in 1908 became
a member of the board of governors of the Water Users' Association.
He belongs to Tempe Lodge No. 15, F. & A. M. and is a life
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at that place.
Though a very busy man, he occasionally finds time to indulge
in his favorite diversions, fishing and hunting. He has been
a good citizen and an accommodating neighbor and friend, and
throughout the community where he lives he is held in high esteem
because of his substantial qualities of character and his splendid
personality. He was one of the founding fathers of Scottsdale,
owned the general store, ice plant, and DC ranch north of Scottsdale.
Edwin came to Scottsdale 1904 because of wife's health.
-
- Taken from "History of Arizona - Biographical - Volume
II" (c)1930.
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