Napoleon Bonaparte Brown
Encyclopedia
Napoleon Bonaparte Brown (1834 – March 18, 1910) was a soldier, businessman, philanthropist, politician, and resident of Kansas
and Missouri
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is most known as the namesake and builder of the Brown Grand Theatre
in Concordia, Kansas
, a majestic opera house completed in 1907 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The theatre has been called "the most elegant theater between Kansas City and Denver."
census
gives his age as 16 at that time. A later census (1900) in Concordia, KS gives his birthdate as Oct 1833. He appeared to have two siblings: a brother, Benjamin age 14; and a sister named May or Mary aged 11 listed in the census as well. Later military records list his hometown as Concord, Illinois
in neighboring Morgan County. until he resigned on January 17, 1865
on January 3, 1864 and given the rank of Major (United States)
. Major Brown served in "B" Company until he resigned on January 17, 1865--the very day the 101st crossed into South Carolina from Georgia under General William Tecumseh Sherman
. Cloud county records show that he was paid the pension ($25.00) of a major. After he retired from the military, he "promoted himself" to the rank of Colonel.
In a letter to the editor of the Kansas Blade (now the Concordia Blade-Empire
), Brown claimed that he enlisted as a private on April 22, 1862 and was subsequently promoted to Captain, Major, and Brevet-Lieutenant Colonel.
. N. B. Brown & Co., founded in 1878 with a rumored "suitcase full of money" that he had with him upon his arrival. Colonel Brown and is wife Katherine (Katie) then built Brownstone Hall, a 23-room Victorian-style 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) stone mansion built in Concordia in 1883. Colonel Brown served first in the Missouri House of Representatives
, and then in the Kansas State Senate.
In 1905, Colonel Brown commissioned the building of the Brown Grand Theatre
and entrusted its completion to his son, Earl Van Dom Brown. The theatre was completed in 1907.
as a state-run institution. The school was one of several Normal schools placed throughout the state in 1874 under governor Thomas A. Osborn
, but was consolidated by the state legislature in 1876. The state normal school would later become Emporia State University
.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is most known as the namesake and builder of the Brown Grand Theatre
Brown Grand Theatre
The Brown Grand Theatre is a community-based historical theatre dedicated to enhancing cultural life in North Central Kansas in the United States. The theatre is a majestic opera house located in Concordia, Kansas and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
in Concordia, Kansas
Concordia, Kansas
Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. Located on the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, Concordia was founded in 1871 and is an economic and cultural center in north-central Kansas...
, a majestic opera house completed in 1907 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The theatre has been called "the most elegant theater between Kansas City and Denver."
Early life
Brown was named after Napoleon Bonaparte by his parents James & Nancy Brown. The 1850 Pike County, IllinoisPike County, Illinois
Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,430, which is a decrease of 5.5% from 17,384 in 2000...
census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
gives his age as 16 at that time. A later census (1900) in Concordia, KS gives his birthdate as Oct 1833. He appeared to have two siblings: a brother, Benjamin age 14; and a sister named May or Mary aged 11 listed in the census as well. Later military records list his hometown as Concord, Illinois
Concord, Illinois
Concord is a village in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 176 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Concord is located at ....
in neighboring Morgan County. until he resigned on January 17, 1865
Military career
"Colonel" Brown enlisted in the 101st Illinois Infantry101st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 101st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
on January 3, 1864 and given the rank of Major (United States)
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
. Major Brown served in "B" Company until he resigned on January 17, 1865--the very day the 101st crossed into South Carolina from Georgia under General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
. Cloud county records show that he was paid the pension ($25.00) of a major. After he retired from the military, he "promoted himself" to the rank of Colonel.
In a letter to the editor of the Kansas Blade (now the Concordia Blade-Empire
Concordia Blade-Empire
The Concordia Blade-Empire is a local newspaper for Concordia, Kansas. It is the official newspaper for Cloud County, Kansas. The paper publishes five days a week, Monday through Friday.-History:...
), Brown claimed that he enlisted as a private on April 22, 1862 and was subsequently promoted to Captain, Major, and Brevet-Lieutenant Colonel.
Business & Philanthropy
Colonel Brown served in the state legislatures for both Kansas and Missouri and was a prominent banker in Kansas during its early years of development as the owner of the first bank in Cloud County, KansasCloud County, Kansas
Cloud County is a county located in North Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 9,533. Its county seat and most populous city is Concordia.-19th century:...
. N. B. Brown & Co., founded in 1878 with a rumored "suitcase full of money" that he had with him upon his arrival. Colonel Brown and is wife Katherine (Katie) then built Brownstone Hall, a 23-room Victorian-style 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) stone mansion built in Concordia in 1883. Colonel Brown served first in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
, and then in the Kansas State Senate.
In 1905, Colonel Brown commissioned the building of the Brown Grand Theatre
Brown Grand Theatre
The Brown Grand Theatre is a community-based historical theatre dedicated to enhancing cultural life in North Central Kansas in the United States. The theatre is a majestic opera house located in Concordia, Kansas and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
and entrusted its completion to his son, Earl Van Dom Brown. The theatre was completed in 1907.
Politics
As a state Senator in Kansas, Brown fought a losing battle to restore Concordia Normal SchoolConcordia Normal School
Concordia Normal School located in Concordia, Kansas was a state-funded normal school operated by the Kansas state government from 1874 until 1876....
as a state-run institution. The school was one of several Normal schools placed throughout the state in 1874 under governor Thomas A. Osborn
Thomas A. Osborn
Thomas Andrew Osborn was the sixth Governor of Kansas.-Early life:Osborn was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania. As a young man, he was apprenticed as a printer, from which he supported himself through Allegheny College. In 1856 he began to study law under a Meadville judge and was admitted to the...
, but was consolidated by the state legislature in 1876. The state normal school would later become Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
.