James Joseph Brown
Encyclopedia
James Joseph "J.J." Brown (September 27, 1854 – September 5, 1922), mining engineer, inventor, and self-made member of fashionable "society", was born in Waymart, Pennsylvania
. His wife was RMS Titanic survivor Molly Brown
.
J.J's father, James Brown, was an Irish immigrant. His mother, Cecilia Palmer, was a schoolteacher. J.J's family moved to Pittston, Pennsylvania
shortly after his birth. J.J's mother home-schooled him and later sent him to St. John's Academy. He left home at the age of 23 lured by the riches in the West. His first stop was a farm in Nebraska
. From Nebraska he moved to the placer mines in the Dakotas. He spent two years learning the mining trade before moving to Colorado where he tried his luck in Georgetown, Aspen, and Ashcroft. He spent another two years in the Aspen
and Ashcroft area before moving to Alma
, Fairplay
, Red Cliff
, and, finally, Leadville. He studied geology, ore deposits and mining techniques to become a better miner.
on September 1, 1886. Maggie was later known as The Unsinkable Molly Brown when a Broadway fictionalized movie about her life titled, The Unsinkable Molly Brown was released in 1964. That was how Maggie's moniker Molly was acquired. Maggie Brown was one of the survivors of the RMS Titanic sinking in 1912. At the time of their marriage, J.J. was 31 and Maggie was 19. They first settled in Leadville, Colorado
in a small, two-room log cabin. The Browns had two children. Their first child Lawrence Palmer Brown was born on August 30, 1887 in Hannibal, Missouri. Their second child, Catherine Ellen Brown, nicknamed Helen, was born on July 1, 1889 in Leadville, Colorado.
The Brown family came into great wealth when J.J's engineering efforts proved instrumental in the production of a substantial gold and copper seam at the Little Jonny mine of his employers, Ibex Mining Company.
buying a $30,000 mansion in Denver's wealthy Capitol Hill neighborhood.
s at a hospital in Nassau, New York
with his daughter, Helen (Mrs. George Benziger) by his side. Unfortunately, J.J. died without a will and it took 5 years of fighting between Maggie and her two children to finally settle the estate. Due to their lavish spending J.J. left an estate valued at only $238,000. Maggie was to receive $20,000 in cash and securities, and the interest on a $100,000 trust fund set up in her name. Her children, Lawrence and Helen received the rest. From that time through her death in 1932, Maggie had no contact with her children.
Waymart, Pennsylvania
Waymart is a borough in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,341 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Waymart is located at ....
. His wife was RMS Titanic survivor Molly Brown
Margaret Brown
Margaret Brown was an American socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous due to her involvement with the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, after exhorting the crew of lifeboat 6 to return to look for survivors. It is unclear whether any survivors were found after life boat 6...
.
J.J's father, James Brown, was an Irish immigrant. His mother, Cecilia Palmer, was a schoolteacher. J.J's family moved to Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was...
shortly after his birth. J.J's mother home-schooled him and later sent him to St. John's Academy. He left home at the age of 23 lured by the riches in the West. His first stop was a farm in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. From Nebraska he moved to the placer mines in the Dakotas. He spent two years learning the mining trade before moving to Colorado where he tried his luck in Georgetown, Aspen, and Ashcroft. He spent another two years in the Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
and Ashcroft area before moving to Alma
Alma, Colorado
The historic Town of Alma is a Statutory Town located in Park County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 179 at the U.S. Census 2000....
, Fairplay
Fairplay, Colorado
The Town of Fairplay is a statutory town that is the county seat and the most populous town of Park County, Colorado, United States. Fairplay is located in South Park at an elevation of . The town is the fifth-highest incorporated place in the State of Colorado. The population was 610 at the...
, Red Cliff
Red Cliff, Colorado
Red Cliff is a Statutory Town in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population was 289 at the 2000 census. The town is a former mining camp situated in the canyon of the upper Eagle River just off U.S. Highway 24 north of Tennessee Pass...
, and, finally, Leadville. He studied geology, ore deposits and mining techniques to become a better miner.
Marriage
J.J. married Margaret "Maggie" Tobin BrownMargaret Brown
Margaret Brown was an American socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous due to her involvement with the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, after exhorting the crew of lifeboat 6 to return to look for survivors. It is unclear whether any survivors were found after life boat 6...
on September 1, 1886. Maggie was later known as The Unsinkable Molly Brown when a Broadway fictionalized movie about her life titled, The Unsinkable Molly Brown was released in 1964. That was how Maggie's moniker Molly was acquired. Maggie Brown was one of the survivors of the RMS Titanic sinking in 1912. At the time of their marriage, J.J. was 31 and Maggie was 19. They first settled in Leadville, Colorado
Leadville, Colorado
Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. Situated at an elevation of , Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States...
in a small, two-room log cabin. The Browns had two children. Their first child Lawrence Palmer Brown was born on August 30, 1887 in Hannibal, Missouri. Their second child, Catherine Ellen Brown, nicknamed Helen, was born on July 1, 1889 in Leadville, Colorado.
Separation
In 1909, after 23 years of marriage, J.J. and Molly signed a separation agreement and went their separate ways. The agreement gave Margaret a cash settlement and maintained possession of the house on Pennsylvania Street in Denver. She also received $700 a month allowance to continue her travels and philanthropic activities. Although they never reconciled, they remained connected and cared for each other throughout their lives. At the time of J.J.'s death in 1922, Margaret told newspapers, "I've never met a finer, bigger, more worthwhile man than J.J. Brown."'Career
Although J.J. was not rich, he was ambitious, smart and charismatic. He quickly rose through the mining ranks to shift-boss and timberman. He was foreman of the Louisville Mine by the time he and Maggie met. By 1887 he was superintendent of the Louisville Mine, and in 1888 he was superintendent of the Henriette & Maid Consolidated Mining Company, at the time one of the most productive mines in the area.The Brown family came into great wealth when J.J's engineering efforts proved instrumental in the production of a substantial gold and copper seam at the Little Jonny mine of his employers, Ibex Mining Company.
Little Jonny mine
J.J. who was the superintendent of all the Ibex properties, devised a method of using baled hay and timbers to stop the cave-ins. His invention paid off. When the Little Jonny mine opened, vast quantities of high-grade copper and gold were found. The grade of gold was so pure and the vein so wide that it was heralded as the then world's richest gold strike. By October 29, 1893, the Little Jonny was shipping 135 tons of gold ore per day. J.J. was awarded 12,500 shares or 12.5% of stock and a seat on the board. The Ibex Company and its owners, including the Browns became extraordinarily wealthy. In 1894, the Browns moved to DenverDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
buying a $30,000 mansion in Denver's wealthy Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Death
On September 5, 1922 J.J. died after suffering a series of heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
s at a hospital in Nassau, New York
Nassau, New York
Nassau, the name of several places in New York State, may refer to:*Nassau , New York*Nassau , New York*Nassau County, New York...
with his daughter, Helen (Mrs. George Benziger) by his side. Unfortunately, J.J. died without a will and it took 5 years of fighting between Maggie and her two children to finally settle the estate. Due to their lavish spending J.J. left an estate valued at only $238,000. Maggie was to receive $20,000 in cash and securities, and the interest on a $100,000 trust fund set up in her name. Her children, Lawrence and Helen received the rest. From that time through her death in 1932, Maggie had no contact with her children.