The subject of this sketch was born in June 1843, at Van Buren, Arkansas, the eldest son of S. W. Williams, a lieutenant in the United States army. His mother was a grand-daughter of Cussine Barnett, of Euchee fame, one of the most prominent men of his day among that tribe, and part Scotch by blood. The subject of this sketch obtained his name from the trustee of the school which he attended, S. C. Brown, a prominent Indian, who took a great interest in Sam. After attending the neighborhood school for a short time, Sam went to the Tallahassee Mission, Creek Nation. Here he remained six or seven years, and left, owing to ill health, taking a trip to New Mexico with a cattleman named Warfield. In 1862 he returned, to find the country in a state of excitement, induced by the outbreak of the Civil War. He accordingly joined the Confederate army for self-protection, his relatives having all gone North. He remained in the service until 1863, when he went north and joined the Federal service, remaining with it until the end. In 1866 he returned to the Creek Nation, and in September married Miss Neosho Porter, daughter of a Mr. Porter from New York, who married a Miss McKelop, of Scotch and Indian descent. By this marriage he had five children, Madison H., born January 9, 1869; Rachel S., December 30, 1871; Celestia Annie, September 24, 1874; Samuel W., June 9, 1879, and Neosho, December 3, 1882. IN 1867 Mr. Brown was elected a member of the House of Kings, which office he held for eight years, during which time he was appointed district judge, holding the position for three years, after which he was obliged to resign, owing to ill health. In 1875 he was re-elected to the House of Kings, and served until 1881. In 1882 he became treasurer, and held the office for four years. In 1881 he embarked in the mercantile business at Wealaka, and continued until 1891, when he sold out to Esparhecher, one of the late candidates for principal chief. From 1887 to 1891 he was a member of the House of Warriors, and from that went to the House of Kings. Mr. Brown has 700 head of stock cattle, 60 head of stock horses and mules, and about 200 acres of land under fence and chiefly in good cultivation. He has also a comfortable home, containing garden and orchard. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and his children are receiving a good education at the principal schools of the nation. Mr. Brown is about five feet six inches, of gentlemanly appearance, and a man of considerable prominence in the Creek Nation. He is looked upon as chief of the Euchee band, a tribe remarkable for its distinctiveness, a history of which will be found in the historical pages of this volume.
