DR. E. B. BROWN. The gentleman, the salient points of whose history we shall endeavor to give below, is one of the most prominent physicians of Christian County, and his experience in civil life has been supplemented by the crucial one of witnessing death and the most terrible wounds with their attendant surgical operations. Dr. E. B. Brown commends himself most pleasantly to those with whom he comes in contact. He is a man of great force of character and one whose very presence would soothe a nervous and weakened patient. He is well read and informed, not only as regards his profession, but in the current topics of the day. One of the pioneer physicians of the Ozark country, he was born in Arkansas, December 5, 1845.
The son of John D. and Jane (Bray) Brown, natives of the Old North State, the former born in 1800 and the latter in 1804. The father was perhaps a native of Randolph County, and was of English origin. At an early date he removed to Arkansas, and soon after to Greene County, Missouri, locating on a tract of wild prairie land near Henderson, which he converted into a fine farm and on which he died in 1863 of smallpox. He was a lawyer by profession and a man of tact and much natural intelligence. He was in public life a great deal, both in North Carolina and Missouri, and was district attorney in North Carolina for a number of years. The office of school commissioner he held in Greene County, Missouri, for a number of years, and in politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, being an active worker for the same and for the public good. When the Civil War broke out he was quite wealthy, but lost considerable during that time. His widow is still living, and is about ninety years of age. The children born to this worthy couple were named as follows: Joseph Addison, a prominent physician, graduated from the McDonald Medical College of St. Louis, after which he entered upon the practice of his profession at Springfield, making his home there for some time prior to the war (he is one of the oldest and best known physicians of Greene County, and is a man whom to know is to respect); Emeline, wife of William Jessup, of Jamestown, Arkansas; Lydia (deceased), was the wife of Anderson Pendleton, of Christian County; John D., of Lead Hill, Arkansas, was all through the war in the Confederate Army with Gen. Price, and was once wounded; William T., was in the Federal Army about a year, at the end of which time he was honorably discharged for disability caused by measles; and Dr. G. P. S., a practicing physician and surgeon of Christian County, and a graduate of the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons. The paternal grandfather of these children, John Smith Brown, was born in North Carolina.
The early days of our subject were spent in Greene and Christian Counties, and when but a boy he evinced a strong liking for the medical profession. Graduating at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, he began practicing his profession in 1869, at Ozark, and has practiced in this county ever since. He is president of the Medical Association of Christian County, and a member of the Southwest District and State Medical Societies. In politics he is a Democrat, has held the office of county coroner, and was United States examining surgeon for a number of years. The Doctor is public spirited and enterprising, and as a physician the county can boast of no better. He selected his wife in the person of Miss S. A. Clapp, to whom eight children were given: Mary L., a teacher in the high school of Billings; John A., who graduated as valedictorian of his class at Billings’ public schools; Fred H., who is attending St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons; Ross, Frank, Minnie V., Ned and Joseph. The Doctor resides at Billings, and he and family attend the Christian Church. In connection with his practice Dr. Brown has a drug store at Billings. He is a Mason, a member of Billings Lodge, and is also an Odd Fellow. The Doctor has grown up in Christian County, and his practice extends into Greene, Lawrence and Stone Counties. He and family are prominent in all public enterprises of worth, and are among the leading citizens.