Napoleon Bonaparte Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Napoleon Bonaparte Brown
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Napoleon Bonaparte Brown
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| Born | 1834 |
| Died | March 18, 1910 St Joseph, Missouri, United States
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| Occupation | Businessman |
Napoleon Bonaparte Brown (1834 – March 18, 1910) was an important businessman, soldier, and politician. He lived in Kansas and Missouri during the late 1800s and early 1900s. He is best known for building the amazing Brown Grand Theatre in Concordia, Kansas. This beautiful opera house was finished in 1907. It is so special that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. People have even called it "the most elegant theater between Kansas City and Denver."
Contents
Early Life and His Unique Name
Napoleon Bonaparte Brown was born in 1834. His parents, James and Nancy Brown, named him after the famous French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. Records from 1850 show he was 16 years old then. Later, in 1900, a census said he was born in October 1833. He had two siblings: a brother named Benjamin and a sister named May or Mary. His hometown was listed as Concord, Illinois.
Military Adventures
"Colonel" Brown joined the 101st Illinois Infantry on January 3, 1864. He was given the rank of major. Major Brown served in "B" Company. He left the military on January 17, 1865. This was the same day his regiment entered South Carolina with General William Tecumseh Sherman.
After leaving the army, he started calling himself "Colonel." This was a nickname he gave himself! He once wrote a letter saying he first joined the army as a private in 1862. He claimed he was then promoted to captain, major, and even lieutenant colonel.
Building a Legacy: Business and Giving Back
"Colonel" Brown was a very successful businessman. He owned the first bank in Cloud County, Kansas. He started his company, N. B. Brown & Co., in 1878. People said he arrived with a "suitcase full of money" to start his business!
In 1883, Colonel Brown and his wife, Katherine (Katie), built a grand home called Brownstone Hall. It was a huge, 23-room Victorian-style stone mansion in Concordia. It was about 5,000 square feet!
His most famous project was the Brown Grand Theatre. In 1905, he decided to build this amazing theater. He trusted his son, Earl Van Dom Brown, to make sure it was finished. The theater opened its doors in 1907.
A Career in Politics
Napoleon Bonaparte Brown also served as a politician. He was a member of the state legislatures in both Kansas and Missouri. He first served in the Missouri House of Representatives. Later, he became a Kansas State Senator.
As a state Senator in Kansas, he tried to help the Concordia Normal School. This school was meant to train teachers. It was one of several schools started in 1874. However, the state government closed it down in 1876. Brown fought to reopen it as a state-run school, but he was not successful. That state normal school later became Emporia State University.
Images for kids
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Brown Grand Theatre in Concordia
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Brownstone Manor, home of Napoleon Bonaparte Brown in Concordia
