Samuel Brown (Oregon politician) facts for kids
Samuel Brown (born 1821, died 1886) was an important early settler and a politician in America. He helped make laws in the Oregon State Senate for six years, from 1866 to 1872.
Contents
Samuel's Early Life
Growing Up
Samuel Brown was born in Pennsylvania. As a young man, he moved around a lot. He lived in Indiana and then Missouri, where he got married. He had jobs working with wood, building things as a carpenter and making furniture as a cabinet maker.
Journey to the West
Moving to Oregon
In 1846, Samuel Brown and his family took a long trip. They traveled by wagon train all the way to the American West Coast. They went with another pioneer named Jesse Applegate. Their journey helped create a path known as the Applegate Trail.
Finding Gold in California
While on the West Coast, Samuel Brown spent some time in California. He built a mill on the Feather River. He also searched for gold, which is called prospecting. He was very successful and found a lot of gold, earning about $20,000. That was a huge amount of money back then!
Settling in Oregon
After his time in California, Samuel and his family moved to Oregon. In 1857, they had a special house built near a town now called Gervais. This house, known as the Sam Brown House, is believed to be the first house in Oregon designed by an architect. An architect is someone who plans and designs buildings.
A Family of Public Servants
Samuel Brown's son, named Sam H. Brown, also became a politician. He followed in his father's footsteps and served in the Oregon Senate too. Later, he even tried to become the governor of Oregon in 1934 and 1938.
