Joshua Brown (Texas pioneer) facts for kids
Joshua David Brown (1816–1876) was an important Texas pioneer. He was the very first settler of Kerrville. Kerrville is the main town in Kerr County. It's located in the Texas Hill Country, west of San Antonio. Brown generously gave 4 acres (about 16,000 square meters) of land for the town. He named the community after his good friend, James Kerr. Joshua Brown made his living by cutting shingles. He got the wood from cypress trees growing along the Guadalupe River.
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Early Life and Texas Journey
Joshua Brown was born in Madison County, Kentucky in 1816. His parents moved to Sabine County, Texas in the 1830s. Joshua followed them in 1837. After arriving in Texas, Brown joined the military. After his service, he received a certificate for 640 acres of land.
Brown was living in Gonzales when he became interested in making shingles. During this time, he became friends with James Kerr. Kerr was a fellow soldier and later a land surveyor. Brown then moved to a small settlement called Curry's Creek. This was in Kendall County. There, he learned how to make shingles from cypress trees.
In 1846, Brown and ten other shingle-makers traveled up the Guadalupe River. They were looking for more cypress trees. They chose a spot that would later become Kerrville. Brown and his group worked there for a few months. However, the Apache people drove them away from the area. Brown and his men returned in 1848 and stayed. They named their settlement Brownsborough. Other settlers soon joined them. They built sawmills and farms along the river.
Naming Kerrville and Kerr County
Postal officials first planned to name the new settlement "Brownsburg." But there were many nearby towns with "Brown" in their names. So, Brown suggested "Kerrsville" instead. He wanted to honor his friend, Major James Kerr. Sadly, James Kerr never saw the area named for him. The letter "s" was later dropped from "Kerrsville," making it "Kerrville."
In 1855, Brown asked the Texas government to create a new county. He wanted it to be called Kerr County. This new county would be formed from a large part of Bexar County. The law was passed in 1856. Brown then bought more land. From this land, he donated four acres. This land was used to build a courthouse, a public school, and a jail for the new county. At this time, Brown also asked for Kerrville to become the main town, or county seat, of Kerr County.
Brown's Family Life
In 1846, Joshua Brown married Eleanor Smith. They had one daughter named Mary Louisa. Eleanor Smith died in 1848. A year later, Brown married Sarah Jane Goss (1834-1892). They had seven children together.
The couple bought 2,000 acres of land southeast of Kerrville. They built their home there and lived in it for the rest of their lives. A part of that land is now the Kerrville Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Joshua Brown and his second wife are both buried in the Brown-Goss cemetery. This cemetery is near the Veteran's Hospital, on land that the Browns donated.
Military Service
Joshua Brown served in several important military events in Texas. In 1839, he was part of the Cherokee Expedition. This expedition aimed to remove the Cherokee people from East Texas. He also took part in The Texas Revolution.
Brown served under Captain Zumwalt in the Wall's Campaign of 1842. He fought against the Mexican Army at Salado Creek in Bexar County. He was also present at the Dawson Massacre. Brown was a veteran of the Summerville Campaign, also known as the Mier Expedition. He finished his military service with the Texas Volunteers Mounted Regiment and Benjamin McCulloch's spy command.
Kerrville Today
In 1923, a part of the Brown-Goss Cemetery was given to a local American Legion group. They used it as a burial ground for veterans. This area later became the Kerrville National Cemetery.
In 1986, a historical marker was placed to honor Joshua Brown. It notes that he had the first business in Kerrville. This was a shingle and lumber mill. It provided building materials for Kerrville's first buildings. This marker was the first official dedication of the 1986 Sesquicentennial by the Kerr County Historical Commission. A special Memorial Medallion was also placed on Brown's headstone. This was done by members of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. In 1998, a CSA Bronze Marker was dedicated to further honor Brown's contributions to the town.
In 2012, the population of Kerrville was 22,455 people. Today, Kerrville is known for its beautiful landscapes. It has scenic roads, rivers, streams, lakes, and caves. It is also known for its diverse wildlife, ranches, architecture, and popular culture. The city hosts Texas' Official State Arts and Crafts Fair. It is also home to the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Museum of Western Art, and Schreiner University. The Kerrville Independent School District serves Kerrville. It has four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. There are also two Catholic schools and the Grace Academy of Kerrville, which offer other schooling options.
