Hall County
DANIEL C. BROWN, a popular man engaged in the cigar and tobacco business in Grand Island and owner of a billiard hall, who enjoys the best of the city's patronage, has resided here for sixteen years. He came to Grand Island from a wider field, in which he had been a busy worker for many years. Like many another youth, he began early to be self supporting, and his steady habits, industry and fidelity to interests intrusted to him, led him to very important and responsible positions.
Daniel C. Brown was born in the city of Philadelphia, January 18, 1859, the son of David F. and Hannah E. (Anderson) Brown, natives of Pennsylvania. Of their four children, Daniel alone survives. During the Civil War the father of Mr. Brown was commissioned to buy horses for the United States government, at Baltimore. In January, 1869, he removed to Galesburg, Illinois and during the five years spent there, he worked in the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad shops. In 1874 he removed to Omaha, where he engaged in sign painting and in lettering the Union Pacific coaches in the Union Pacific yards, having cnsidrable talent in his sign work. Both he and his wife were membrs of the Methodist Episcopal church. They died at Omaha.
Daniel C. Brown attended school in Galesburg, and two years afterward had further advantages in Omaha. His first independent and responsible office was that of deputy postmaster at Missouri Valley, Iowa, where he remained five years. On August 16, 1879 he became connected with the Pacific Express Company, and on January 12, 1883, he began service as a United States Mail carrier in Omaha. He continued to hold this position under the government for ten years. Mr. Brown carried the first special delivery letter ever transmitted through the mails in Omaha, and as interesting in the light of present mail facility extension, he shows that first envelope on occasions. He was made the first president of the Letter Carrier's Association at Omaha. Mr. Brown returned then to the express service, in which he spent eighteen years and four months as messenger on express trains. He retired from the railroad and on July 9, 1903, he came to Grand Island, not with any idea of retiring, but of engaging in a quiet business that would not isolate him from friendly companionship, for he had led too active and busy a life to feel that he could be contented in idleness. At first he was associated with a partner in the management of a billiard room but established his own billiard, cigar and tobacco business on January 14, 1910.
Mr. Brown was united in marriage in 1902, with Miss Lucy Irvin, who was born at Sidney, Iowa. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a zealous Republican. He belongs to the order of Elks, and for many years has been active in Masonic Blue Lodges. Mr. Brown has been more of a traveler than many of his fellow citizens, having visited thirty-eight of the states of the Union.
Transcribed by Kaylynn