Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 17

One of the substantial and prominent men of Fresno is Daniel Brown, Jr., formerly the president of the old Fresno National Bank. A native son of the state, he was born in Petaluma, Sonoma County, in 1863, a son of Daniel Brown, who was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and who came to the United States in an early day and eventually came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in 1851, when the excitement over the discovery of gold was at its height. He engaged in the mercantile business in San Francisco and in 1856 he started in the banking business in Petaluma, whither he had moved a short time before, becoming vice-president of the Wickersham Banking Company, and later president of the same and also vice-president of the Savings Bank of Santa Rosa. He was well and favorably known as one of the pioneers of Sonoma County and for the fifty years that he made it his home, he was identified with almost every project that had for its aim the development of the county. He died in 1902, active up to the last, in the business that had been guided by his masterful mind for so many years. He was one of the prominent Democrats of the county and served on the state and county central committees at various times. His wife, formerly Annie Ferguson, survived him. She had seven children, of whom Daniel Jr., is the second in order of birth.

Daniel Brown, Jr., was reared in Petaluma and received his preliminary education in the public schools of that city, after which he entered the University of California, then the Hastings Law College, from which he was graduated in 1884 with the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the bar of the state and practiced his profession about a year. He then secured a position in the cashier's office in the United States Mint at San Francisco, where he remained until coming to Fresno in 1890. He was here engaged in the livery business for six years, having a stable on I Street. In 1900 he accepted a position as assistant cashier of the Fresno National Bank, in which he had been a director for several years. In 1902 he became cashier and held that position until the death of the president. Mr. Patterson, when Mr. Brown was made president of the institution, a position he occupied until the bank was purchased by the Bank of Italy. He devoted many years to the upbuilding of this bank, which was one of the most substantial organizations in the San Joaquin Valley. When the bank was re-organized as the Fresno Branch of the Bank of Italy, Mr. Brown became a director and chairman of the advisory board, the position he now occupies. He is also a director of the Fresno Building and Investment Company and the Central Land and Trust Company, besides being interested in several other financial affairs, all of which have the hearty cooperation of Mr. Brown, whose whole time is given over to the management of the interests in which so many others have become interested, and that have done much towards the development of the varied interests of both city and county. Mr. Brown is a charter member of the Sequoia Club, University Club, Sunnyside Country Club of Fresno, and the Bohemian Club of San Francisco. Politically he supports the policies of the Democratic party and has served on the county central committee for years. He is public-spirited, successful, and among the most enterprising citizens of Fresno, in which city he wields a strong influence for the good of the community.