Browng

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     GEORGE W. BROWN, of the firm of Brown Brothers, proprietors of the Elberta Hotel, Wenatchee, Chelan county, now a successful business man, has led a most adventurous life, the story of which would comprise many interesting and sensational chapters.
     He was born at New Albany, Indiana, August 31, 1863, the son of Reuben W. N. and Melvina B. Brown. He has two brothers, Noah N., his partner, and Reuben A., a farmer at Brown's Flat, and a sister, Mrs. Julia A. Roe, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was reared in western Indiana until the age of fourteen, when his parents came to Vancouver, Washington, whence his brother, Noah, had preceded them. This was in 1877, and in 1880 he began working in the timber, continuing the same employment for two years. He then went to California and became foreman of a farm, thirty miles from Sacramento, and in 1885 he returned to Vancouver, going thence to The Dalles with his brother Noah, and thence to the Wenatchee valley. In 1886-7 he traveled extensively over the state of California on horseback, and returning to the Wenatchee valley engaged in the stock business until 1898. That year he enlisted in Company D, Second Washington Battery, and went into camp at Vancouver, remaining there until October 21, when he was mustered out. The following spring he went to Alaska, where he suffered untold hardships amid inhospitable tribes of Indians and the rigors of that frozen El Dorado. At one period he was compelled to subsist on horse, at another, on dog meat. The errand of the party with whom he was associated was to discover an all-American route to the Yukon, and in the search they traversed land where probably no white man had ever trod before. They discovered "Simpson Pass" and cut their way through the heavy brush along the route. At Fort Gibbons their Thanksgiving dinner consisted of one small ptarmigan for six people--with appetites.
     Our subject then left the government service and returned to Wenatchee, later going to Reardan, Lincoln county, where, with his brother Noah, he engaged in the hotel business. Fraternally, Mr. Brown is a member of the Odd Fellows, and the A. 0. U. W. His political affiliations are staunchly Republican, although he is by no means an active partisan. In the community in which he resides he is a most popular citizen and highly esteemed by all friends and acquaintances.
     Mr. Brown being of an energetic and adventurous disposition, finds it difficult to remain a resident in one locality, and so travels extensively. One reminiscence of his life, of which he carries the marks, was an attempted hold-up by a robber at one in the morning, while in a California hotel. Mr. Brown resisted the ruffian and received a wound in the arm. He adroitly escaped the would-be murderer, however, and later gave information which led to his capture and conviction to the penitentiary for a term.