Thomas F. Browne, manager and resident vice president of the United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company of Baltimore, Maryland, which corporation he has represented in St. Louis since the 6th of May, 1911, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, a son of the late Peter Randolph Bland Browne, who was likewise born in Tennessee and became a successful merchant of that state, where he resided to the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1878, when he had reached the age of forty-eight years. His wife, Willie Etta (Feild) Browne, was also born in Tennessee and was a daughter of Dr. Charles and Catherine (Hess) Feild, who lived in western Tennessee. Her father originally came from Scotland and settled in Virginia, while later he removed to Tennessee, where he engaged in the practice of medicine, becoming a widely known physician and surgeon of that part of the state. The grandparents of Thomas F. Browne in the paternal line were the Hon. Jesse and Sally (Bland) Browne, the latter a daughter of Richard Bland and a sister of the Rev. Peter Randolph Bland of West Tennessee. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Randolph Bland Browne there were five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are yet living, these being: Ella, now the wife of Charles Tucker, a resident of West Tennessee; Richard Bland, also living in West Tennessee; and Thomas F. The mother departed this life in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years.
Thomas F. Browne was educated in public and private schools of western Tennessee and started out to provide for his own living when a youth of eighteen years. His first position was a clerical one with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, and he continued in railroad work until 1911, advancing steadily step by step from a clerical position until he had charge of the railroad office at Stanton, Tennessee. At length he resigned this position of responsibility and on the 6th of May, 1911, entered the service of the United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company as assistant to the manager at St. Louis, Missouri. He was promoted to the office of associate manager in 1914 and was advanced to the position of manager and resident vice president in February, 1918. In this dual capacity he has since served. He is a man of integrity, indefatigable energy and of keen sagacity and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. His labors therefore have been a potent element in the upbuilding of the business for the corporation which he is now representing in St. Louis.
At Stanton, Tennessee, on the 27th of December, 1888, Mr. Browne was married to Miss Grace Stanton Gibson, a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Jennie (Ware) Gibson. The Ware family trace their ancestry back to Hugh, Henry and Arthur Middleton, the last named being one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. and Mrs. Browne have become parents of a son, Thomas Gibson, who was born in Stanton, West Tennessee. Mrs. Browne is a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and also belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is likewise very active in church and philanthropic work and is a recognized leader in social circles. Mr. Browne during the World war was active in support of all projects and interests that maintained the home lines as the support of the firing lines in France. He contributed generously to every cause and his son, Thomas Gibson, served as a first sergeant in the motor transportation corps, being located at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, until honorably discharged.
In politics Mr. Browne is a stanch democrat, always supporting the party. He belongs to the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, also to the St. Louis Kiwanis Club, the Tennessee Society of St. Louis and to the Royal Arcanum, while of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce he is chairman of the surety bond committee. He is likewise a member of the public affairs committee of the St. Louis Kiwanis Club. His religious faith Is that of the Westminster Presbyterian church, and his connection therewith has been a dominating force in his life, making him a man worthy the trust and confidence everywhere entertained for him.