The Chattanooga News, October 26, 1922
Col. John Bell Brownlow Dead
One of the Most Noted Figures of His Day Passed Away Thursday Morning
Son of W.G. Brownlow
Staunch friend of Gov. Isham G. Harris and Aided His Return
Knoxville, Oct. 26 - Col. John Bell Brownlow died at 9:30 o'clock this morning at his residence. 608 West Cumberland avenue, at the age of 84 years. He was taken with a chill last night about 10 o'clock and gradually grew worse until the end came. Col. Brownlow had been ill since the night of August 3 when he became suddenly indisposed while in attendance at the final rally and speaking in Congressman J.W. Taylor's campaign for renomination. He had to leave the speaking that night. Two weeks ago, Col. Brownlow, after his recovery had been despaired of, suddenly began to improve. This continued until he reached a level from which it seemed he could not gain further strength and vitality. He held his own, however, until he was suddenly stricken for the worse last night.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but the services will be held at the residence tomorrow afternoon in accordance with tentative plans. Rev. Walter Whiteaker, rector of St. Johns Episcopal church here, will officiate. Interment will occur in old Gray cemetery.
Col. Brownlow was the son of the late William G. (Parson) and Eliza (O'Brien) Brownlow. He was born Oct. 19, 1839, at Elizabethton, Tenn., where his father in those early days had established the Elizabethan Whig, the first newspaper to be printed there. Maternally he was a direct descendant of Capt. James Gaines, a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a member of the convention of North Carolina from Chatham county which ratified the constitution of the United States, and from Judge Edmund Pendleton, who was a member of the Continental congress from Virginia, 1874-75.
His paternal grandparents were Joseph A. and Catherine (Gannaway) Brownlow and his maternal grandparents were James S. and Susan Dabney (Everett) O'Brien. Col. Brownlow was educated in private schools of Knoxville and at Emory and Henry college.
In Col. Brownlow's early childhood his father moved the family to Jonesboro and re-established the paper there. It became known as the Jonesboro Whig. In the year 1849 his father moved to Knoxville and established the paper in this city. It was at first a weekly publication, but was later issued daily. Just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war the Knoxville Whig had the largest circulation of any paper south of the Ohio river. At this time Col. Brownlow was associating himself with his father in publishing the paper. During the first two years of the war it was the only paper advocating the Union cause which did not suspend publication.
In Journalistic Atmosphere
Col. Brownlow there grew up in an atmosphere where knowledge of the day was first received and commented on, and he imbibed in those days a craving for such knowledge that in later years made him a most interesting narrator of those stories and events which surrounded the lives and affairs of presidents, cabinet members, senators and congressmen, and which are not generally recorded in the brief histories to which the average man has access and many of which no history contains. In no other place than a newspaper office where he spent his young manhood could he have gained that keen appreciation of peculiar and featurable facts and information that make a newspaper feature story of first class even today. Col. Brownlow has probably inspired more interesting newspaper stories in regard to official life in Washington than any other man in Tennessee. Not only newspaper men have made a beaten path to him, but historians have acknowledged their gratitude for his assistance.
In the early part of 1862 Col. Brownlow, having entered the war, was made lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Tennessee Union cavalry regiment which he helped to recruit and put on a war basis. He commanded this regiment in all the engagements in which it participated, the colonel of the regiment not being with that unit during the war.
Became an Editor
Upon the war being terminated Col. Brownlow became editor of the Knoxville Whig, his father having been elected governor of Tennessee. Upon the election of "Parson" Brownlow to the United State senate, Col. Brownlow went with him to Washington as his private secretary. Here began that career in Washington which lasted many years in which Col. Brownlow served in various positions. Here he had unexcelled opportunity also to absorb knowledge, facts and information, such as only the trained journalistic eye can appreciate. Col. Brownlow subsequently occupied the position of special representative of the internal revenue department. He was engaged in the business of investigating frauds that may have been committed against the internal revenue laws by government employees and others.
Col. Brownlow was next an employee of the United States postoffice department, representing the government on the boards of managers at the Nashville, Omaha, Charleston, Buffalo and St. Louis expositions. At the Buffalo and St. Louis expositions, Col. Brownlow was Leon Czolgosz attempting to surge through the great crowd to get near President McKinley to fire the assassin's bullet. He saw the wrapped hand as the anarchist carried it in a sling, but thought the man merely had an injured hand and was anxious, like all others, to see and shake the hand of President McKinley.
Enters Realty Business
In the year 1904 Col. Brownlow ended his Washington career and came to Knoxville and founded the real estate firm, taking his son into partnership. This firm has been the medium through which vast properties in Knoxville have been developed and sold.
In 1872 Col. Brownlow was married to Miss Fannie Fouche, daughters of Dr. John Fouche of Knoxville. He is survived by his widow and three children, W.G. and John F. Brownlow, and Mrs. Edward Ashe, all of Knoxville. He is survived by two sisters also, Mrs. Henry M. Aiken and Mrs. Fannie D. Latta of Knoxville, and Hot Springs, Ark, respectively.
Although a republican, Col. Brownlow had a host of warm friends in the democratic party as well. Presidents U.S. Grant and Andrew Johnson were his warm personal friends, and while Col. Brownlow was in Washington the families exchanged visits. Col. Brownlow and the late Champ Clark were also warm personal friends and arrangements had been made for ex-Speaker Clark to visit the Brownlow home here as the guest of his friend, Col. Brownlow, but the death of the great Missourian occurred in the meantime.
Col. Brownlow was a close friend of Senator Isham G. Harris. Col. Brownlow's father, when governor of Tennessee, used his authority to make safe the return of Harris from England wither he had fled to escape prosecution as a result of the Union victory in the Civil War.
Senator Harris wrote to Gov. Brownlow in regard to his return to Tennessee, in reply to a letter Gov. Brownlow had written to him asking that he return.
Saw Things Right
"But what about your attorney general?" Harris wrote to the governor. The reply was that Gov. Brownlow would see that the state's attorney saw things just as the governor was seeing them, and relying on this promise Senator Harris returned, and later served the state as its governor and also as United States senator.
Col. Brownlow was the source of perhaps more unpublished history than any other man in the whole state. Few men in the south knew of events of peculiar interest to the extent that Col. Brownlow did. He had information that would make the events of United States history following the Civil war much easier to understand if the students of history in the schools had access to such information. Many have expressed great regret that Col. Brownlow did not see fit to write memoirs covering the whole period of his connection with the paper he and his father edited, and his official life in Washington.
A marvelous characteristic about Col. Brownlow was his retentive memory. Born in 1839 during the presidential administration of Martin Van Buren, he had not only a clear knowledge of the large events of American history, but he possessed unlimited information of intimate facts connected with the long train of public men that have lived contemporaneous with his own long life.
For instance, Col. Brownlow once said that Washington county in Tennessee is the first county in America to be named for George Washington, although the "father of his county" was born in Virginia and that state had ample opportunity to name a county for him. There is now a Washington county in Virginia, however.
First Public Service
Col. Brownlow's first public service came while he was secretary to his father, Senator W.G. Brownlow, having been appointed an agent for the southern claims commission which adjusted claims of many southerners damaged by invasion of Federal armies during the Civil war.
He was appointed to the postoffice department by President Rutherford B. Hayes and this service extended over a period of twenty-four years. During the administration of President Hayes the latter made a southern tour which included Tennessee. Col. Brownlow at no distant date in the past recalled this trip and said that W.B. Dickman, who opposed Hayes for the presidency, accompanied him and that he was invited to join the party in Tennessee.
It was he who informed President Hayes as to the Tennessee heroes for whom various counties were named. He told the president of Gen. Nash, for whom Nashville was named. He told him also of Gen. Davidson, a Revolutionary war leader, for whom Davidson county was named. When they got to Rutherford county, the same name as the first part of the Christian name of the president, the chief executive asked as to the politics of the county. Rutherford being a rock-ribbed democratic county, the presidential party was amused when Col. Brownlow said, "Mr. President, I don't think you got many votes in this county."
Col. Brownlow once said that not a lump of coal was burned in Knoxville until after the Civil war, although the city was sitting in one of the richest coal fields of the world. The first coal burners hauled a few lumps from Anderson county in wagons to burn in their parlors because it made a quick fire. He predicted that within a quarter of a century the population of East TEnnessee would be greater than the combined population of West and Middle Tennessee on account of the mineral wealth of the eastern division.
The most interesting event of United States history that Col. Brownlow related was that Andrew Jackson had to appoint successors to every member of the United States supreme court on account of the death of the justices during his two terms. No other president ever did this except Washington who under the constitution appointed the first United States supreme court.
Col. Brownlow was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution by direct descent, one of the oldest Masons in East Tennessee and a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was also a member of the Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the Republic and was president of Old Gray Cemetery association.
Col. John Bell Brownlow Dead
One of the Most Noted Figures of His Day Passed Away Thursday Morning
Son of W.G. Brownlow
Staunch friend of Gov. Isham G. Harris and Aided His Return
Knoxville, Oct. 26 - Col. John Bell Brownlow died at 9:30 o'clock this morning at his residence. 608 West Cumberland avenue, at the age of 84 years. He was taken with a chill last night about 10 o'clock and gradually grew worse until the end came. Col. Brownlow had been ill since the night of August 3 when he became suddenly indisposed while in attendance at the final rally and speaking in Congressman J.W. Taylor's campaign for renomination. He had to leave the speaking that night. Two weeks ago, Col. Brownlow, after his recovery had been despaired of, suddenly began to improve. This continued until he reached a level from which it seemed he could not gain further strength and vitality. He held his own, however, until he was suddenly stricken for the worse last night.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but the services will be held at the residence tomorrow afternoon in accordance with tentative plans. Rev. Walter Whiteaker, rector of St. Johns Episcopal church here, will officiate. Interment will occur in old Gray cemetery.
Col. Brownlow was the son of the late William G. (Parson) and Eliza (O'Brien) Brownlow. He was born Oct. 19, 1839, at Elizabethton, Tenn., where his father in those early days had established the Elizabethan Whig, the first newspaper to be printed there. Maternally he was a direct descendant of Capt. James Gaines, a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a member of the convention of North Carolina from Chatham county which ratified the constitution of the United States, and from Judge Edmund Pendleton, who was a member of the Continental congress from Virginia, 1874-75.
His paternal grandparents were Joseph A. and Catherine (Gannaway) Brownlow and his maternal grandparents were James S. and Susan Dabney (Everett) O'Brien. Col. Brownlow was educated in private schools of Knoxville and at Emory and Henry college.
In Col. Brownlow's early childhood his father moved the family to Jonesboro and re-established the paper there. It became known as the Jonesboro Whig. In the year 1849 his father moved to Knoxville and established the paper in this city. It was at first a weekly publication, but was later issued daily. Just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war the Knoxville Whig had the largest circulation of any paper south of the Ohio river. At this time Col. Brownlow was associating himself with his father in publishing the paper. During the first two years of the war it was the only paper advocating the Union cause which did not suspend publication.
In Journalistic Atmosphere
Col. Brownlow there grew up in an atmosphere where knowledge of the day was first received and commented on, and he imbibed in those days a craving for such knowledge that in later years made him a most interesting narrator of those stories and events which surrounded the lives and affairs of presidents, cabinet members, senators and congressmen, and which are not generally recorded in the brief histories to which the average man has access and many of which no history contains. In no other place than a newspaper office where he spent his young manhood could he have gained that keen appreciation of peculiar and featurable facts and information that make a newspaper feature story of first class even today. Col. Brownlow has probably inspired more interesting newspaper stories in regard to official life in Washington than any other man in Tennessee. Not only newspaper men have made a beaten path to him, but historians have acknowledged their gratitude for his assistance.
In the early part of 1862 Col. Brownlow, having entered the war, was made lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Tennessee Union cavalry regiment which he helped to recruit and put on a war basis. He commanded this regiment in all the engagements in which it participated, the colonel of the regiment not being with that unit during the war.
Became an Editor
Upon the war being terminated Col. Brownlow became editor of the Knoxville Whig, his father having been elected governor of Tennessee. Upon the election of "Parson" Brownlow to the United State senate, Col. Brownlow went with him to Washington as his private secretary. Here began that career in Washington which lasted many years in which Col. Brownlow served in various positions. Here he had unexcelled opportunity also to absorb knowledge, facts and information, such as only the trained journalistic eye can appreciate. Col. Brownlow subsequently occupied the position of special representative of the internal revenue department. He was engaged in the business of investigating frauds that may have been committed against the internal revenue laws by government employees and others.
Col. Brownlow was next an employee of the United States postoffice department, representing the government on the boards of managers at the Nashville, Omaha, Charleston, Buffalo and St. Louis expositions. At the Buffalo and St. Louis expositions, Col. Brownlow was Leon Czolgosz attempting to surge through the great crowd to get near President McKinley to fire the assassin's bullet. He saw the wrapped hand as the anarchist carried it in a sling, but thought the man merely had an injured hand and was anxious, like all others, to see and shake the hand of President McKinley.
Enters Realty Business
In the year 1904 Col. Brownlow ended his Washington career and came to Knoxville and founded the real estate firm, taking his son into partnership. This firm has been the medium through which vast properties in Knoxville have been developed and sold.
In 1872 Col. Brownlow was married to Miss Fannie Fouche, daughters of Dr. John Fouche of Knoxville. He is survived by his widow and three children, W.G. and John F. Brownlow, and Mrs. Edward Ashe, all of Knoxville. He is survived by two sisters also, Mrs. Henry M. Aiken and Mrs. Fannie D. Latta of Knoxville, and Hot Springs, Ark, respectively.
Although a republican, Col. Brownlow had a host of warm friends in the democratic party as well. Presidents U.S. Grant and Andrew Johnson were his warm personal friends, and while Col. Brownlow was in Washington the families exchanged visits. Col. Brownlow and the late Champ Clark were also warm personal friends and arrangements had been made for ex-Speaker Clark to visit the Brownlow home here as the guest of his friend, Col. Brownlow, but the death of the great Missourian occurred in the meantime.
Col. Brownlow was a close friend of Senator Isham G. Harris. Col. Brownlow's father, when governor of Tennessee, used his authority to make safe the return of Harris from England wither he had fled to escape prosecution as a result of the Union victory in the Civil War.
Senator Harris wrote to Gov. Brownlow in regard to his return to Tennessee, in reply to a letter Gov. Brownlow had written to him asking that he return.
Saw Things Right
"But what about your attorney general?" Harris wrote to the governor. The reply was that Gov. Brownlow would see that the state's attorney saw things just as the governor was seeing them, and relying on this promise Senator Harris returned, and later served the state as its governor and also as United States senator.
Col. Brownlow was the source of perhaps more unpublished history than any other man in the whole state. Few men in the south knew of events of peculiar interest to the extent that Col. Brownlow did. He had information that would make the events of United States history following the Civil war much easier to understand if the students of history in the schools had access to such information. Many have expressed great regret that Col. Brownlow did not see fit to write memoirs covering the whole period of his connection with the paper he and his father edited, and his official life in Washington.
A marvelous characteristic about Col. Brownlow was his retentive memory. Born in 1839 during the presidential administration of Martin Van Buren, he had not only a clear knowledge of the large events of American history, but he possessed unlimited information of intimate facts connected with the long train of public men that have lived contemporaneous with his own long life.
For instance, Col. Brownlow once said that Washington county in Tennessee is the first county in America to be named for George Washington, although the "father of his county" was born in Virginia and that state had ample opportunity to name a county for him. There is now a Washington county in Virginia, however.
First Public Service
Col. Brownlow's first public service came while he was secretary to his father, Senator W.G. Brownlow, having been appointed an agent for the southern claims commission which adjusted claims of many southerners damaged by invasion of Federal armies during the Civil war.
He was appointed to the postoffice department by President Rutherford B. Hayes and this service extended over a period of twenty-four years. During the administration of President Hayes the latter made a southern tour which included Tennessee. Col. Brownlow at no distant date in the past recalled this trip and said that W.B. Dickman, who opposed Hayes for the presidency, accompanied him and that he was invited to join the party in Tennessee.
It was he who informed President Hayes as to the Tennessee heroes for whom various counties were named. He told the president of Gen. Nash, for whom Nashville was named. He told him also of Gen. Davidson, a Revolutionary war leader, for whom Davidson county was named. When they got to Rutherford county, the same name as the first part of the Christian name of the president, the chief executive asked as to the politics of the county. Rutherford being a rock-ribbed democratic county, the presidential party was amused when Col. Brownlow said, "Mr. President, I don't think you got many votes in this county."
Col. Brownlow once said that not a lump of coal was burned in Knoxville until after the Civil war, although the city was sitting in one of the richest coal fields of the world. The first coal burners hauled a few lumps from Anderson county in wagons to burn in their parlors because it made a quick fire. He predicted that within a quarter of a century the population of East TEnnessee would be greater than the combined population of West and Middle Tennessee on account of the mineral wealth of the eastern division.
The most interesting event of United States history that Col. Brownlow related was that Andrew Jackson had to appoint successors to every member of the United States supreme court on account of the death of the justices during his two terms. No other president ever did this except Washington who under the constitution appointed the first United States supreme court.
Col. Brownlow was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution by direct descent, one of the oldest Masons in East Tennessee and a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was also a member of the Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the Republic and was president of Old Gray Cemetery association.
The Chattanooga News, October 26, 1922
Col. John Bell Brownlow Dead
One of the Most Noted Figures of His Day Passed Away Thursday Morning
Son of W.G. Brownlow
Staunch friend of Gov. Isham G. Harris and Aided His Return
Knoxville, Oct. 26 - Col. John Bell Brownlow died at 9:30 o'clock this morning at his residence. 608 West Cumberland avenue, at the age of 84 years. He was taken with a chill last night about 10 o'clock and gradually grew worse until the end came. Col. Brownlow had been ill since the night of August 3 when he became suddenly indisposed while in attendance at the final rally and speaking in Congressman J.W. Taylor's campaign for renomination. He had to leave the speaking that night. Two weeks ago, Col. Brownlow, after his recovery had been despaired of, suddenly began to improve. This continued until he reached a level from which it seemed he could not gain further strength and vitality. He held his own, however, until he was suddenly stricken for the worse last night.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but the services will be held at the residence tomorrow afternoon in accordance with tentative plans. Rev. Walter Whiteaker, rector of St. Johns Episcopal church here, will officiate. Interment will occur in old Gray cemetery.
Col. Brownlow was the son of the late William G. (Parson) and Eliza (O'Brien) Brownlow. He was born Oct. 19, 1839, at Elizabethton, Tenn., where his father in those early days had established the Elizabethan Whig, the first newspaper to be printed there. Maternally he was a direct descendant of Capt. James Gaines, a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a member of the convention of North Carolina from Chatham county which ratified the constitution of the United States, and from Judge Edmund Pendleton, who was a member of the Continental congress from Virginia, 1874-75.
His paternal grandparents were Joseph A. and Catherine (Gannaway) Brownlow and his maternal grandparents were James S. and Susan Dabney (Everett) O'Brien. Col. Brownlow was educated in private schools of Knoxville and at Emory and Henry college.
In Col. Brownlow's early childhood his father moved the family to Jonesboro and re-established the paper there. It became known as the Jonesboro Whig. In the year 1849 his father moved to Knoxville and established the paper in this city. It was at first a weekly publication, but was later issued daily. Just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war the Knoxville Whig had the largest circulation of any paper south of the Ohio river. At this time Col. Brownlow was associating himself with his father in publishing the paper. During the first two years of the war it was the only paper advocating the Union cause which did not suspend publication.
In Journalistic Atmosphere
Col. Brownlow there grew up in an atmosphere where knowledge of the day was first received and commented on, and he imbibed in those days a craving for such knowledge that in later years made him a most interesting narrator of those stories and events which surrounded the lives and affairs of presidents, cabinet members, senators and congressmen, and which are not generally recorded in the brief histories to which the average man has access and many of which no history contains. In no other place than a newspaper office where he spent his young manhood could he have gained that keen appreciation of peculiar and featurable facts and information that make a newspaper feature story of first class even today. Col. Brownlow has probably inspired more interesting newspaper stories in regard to official life in Washington than any other man in Tennessee. Not only newspaper men have made a beaten path to him, but historians have acknowledged their gratitude for his assistance.
In the early part of 1862 Col. Brownlow, having entered the war, was made lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Tennessee Union cavalry regiment which he helped to recruit and put on a war basis. He commanded this regiment in all the engagements in which it participated, the colonel of the regiment not being with that unit during the war.
Became an Editor
Upon the war being terminated Col. Brownlow became editor of the Knoxville Whig, his father having been elected governor of Tennessee. Upon the election of "Parson" Brownlow to the United State senate, Col. Brownlow went with him to Washington as his private secretary. Here began that career in Washington which lasted many years in which Col. Brownlow served in various positions. Here he had unexcelled opportunity also to absorb knowledge, facts and information, such as only the trained journalistic eye can appreciate. Col. Brownlow subsequently occupied the position of special representative of the internal revenue department. He was engaged in the business of investigating frauds that may have been committed against the internal revenue laws by government employees and others.
Col. Brownlow was next an employee of the United States postoffice department, representing the government on the boards of managers at the Nashville, Omaha, Charleston, Buffalo and St. Louis expositions. At the Buffalo and St. Louis expositions, Col. Brownlow was Leon Czolgosz attempting to surge through the great crowd to get near President McKinley to fire the assassin's bullet. He saw the wrapped hand as the anarchist carried it in a sling, but thought the man merely had an injured hand and was anxious, like all others, to see and shake the hand of President McKinley.
Enters Realty Business
In the year 1904 Col. Brownlow ended his Washington career and came to Knoxville and founded the real estate firm, taking his son into partnership. This firm has been the medium through which vast properties in Knoxville have been developed and sold.
In 1872 Col. Brownlow was married to Miss Fannie Fouche, daughters of Dr. John Fouche of Knoxville. He is survived by his widow and three children, W.G. and John F. Brownlow, and Mrs. Edward Ashe, all of Knoxville. He is survived by two sisters also, Mrs. Henry M. Aiken and Mrs. Fannie D. Latta of Knoxville, and Hot Springs, Ark, respectively.
Although a republican, Col. Brownlow had a host of warm friends in the democratic party as well. Presidents U.S. Grant and Andrew Johnson were his warm personal friends, and while Col. Brownlow was in Washington the families exchanged visits. Col. Brownlow and the late Champ Clark were also warm personal friends and arrangements had been made for ex-Speaker Clark to visit the Brownlow home here as the guest of his friend, Col. Brownlow, but the death of the great Missourian occurred in the meantime.
Col. Brownlow was a close friend of Senator Isham G. Harris. Col. Brownlow's father, when governor of Tennessee, used his authority to make safe the return of Harris from England wither he had fled to escape prosecution as a result of the Union victory in the Civil War.
Senator Harris wrote to Gov. Brownlow in regard to his return to Tennessee, in reply to a letter Gov. Brownlow had written to him asking that he return.
Saw Things Right
"But what about your attorney general?" Harris wrote to the governor. The reply was that Gov. Brownlow would see that the state's attorney saw things just as the governor was seeing them, and relying on this promise Senator Harris returned, and later served the state as its governor and also as United States senator.
Col. Brownlow was the source of perhaps more unpublished history than any other man in the whole state. Few men in the south knew of events of peculiar interest to the extent that Col. Brownlow did. He had information that would make the events of United States history following the Civil war much easier to understand if the students of history in the schools had access to such information. Many have expressed great regret that Col. Brownlow did not see fit to write memoirs covering the whole period of his connection with the paper he and his father edited, and his official life in Washington.
A marvelous characteristic about Col. Brownlow was his retentive memory. Born in 1839 during the presidential administration of Martin Van Buren, he had not only a clear knowledge of the large events of American history, but he possessed unlimited information of intimate facts connected with the long train of public men that have lived contemporaneous with his own long life.
For instance, Col. Brownlow once said that Washington county in Tennessee is the first county in America to be named for George Washington, although the "father of his county" was born in Virginia and that state had ample opportunity to name a county for him. There is now a Washington county in Virginia, however.
First Public Service
Col. Brownlow's first public service came while he was secretary to his father, Senator W.G. Brownlow, having been appointed an agent for the southern claims commission which adjusted claims of many southerners damaged by invasion of Federal armies during the Civil war.
He was appointed to the postoffice department by President Rutherford B. Hayes and this service extended over a period of twenty-four years. During the administration of President Hayes the latter made a southern tour which included Tennessee. Col. Brownlow at no distant date in the past recalled this trip and said that W.B. Dickman, who opposed Hayes for the presidency, accompanied him and that he was invited to join the party in Tennessee.
It was he who informed President Hayes as to the Tennessee heroes for whom various counties were named. He told the president of Gen. Nash, for whom Nashville was named. He told him also of Gen. Davidson, a Revolutionary war leader, for whom Davidson county was named. When they got to Rutherford county, the same name as the first part of the Christian name of the president, the chief executive asked as to the politics of the county. Rutherford being a rock-ribbed democratic county, the presidential party was amused when Col. Brownlow said, "Mr. President, I don't think you got many votes in this county."
Col. Brownlow once said that not a lump of coal was burned in Knoxville until after the Civil war, although the city was sitting in one of the richest coal fields of the world. The first coal burners hauled a few lumps from Anderson county in wagons to burn in their parlors because it made a quick fire. He predicted that within a quarter of a century the population of East TEnnessee would be greater than the combined population of West and Middle Tennessee on account of the mineral wealth of the eastern division.
The most interesting event of United States history that Col. Brownlow related was that Andrew Jackson had to appoint successors to every member of the United States supreme court on account of the death of the justices during his two terms. No other president ever did this except Washington who under the constitution appointed the first United States supreme court.
Col. Brownlow was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution by direct descent, one of the oldest Masons in East Tennessee and a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was also a member of the Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the Republic and was president of Old Gray Cemetery association.
Col. John Bell Brownlow Dead
One of the Most Noted Figures of His Day Passed Away Thursday Morning
Son of W.G. Brownlow
Staunch friend of Gov. Isham G. Harris and Aided His Return
Knoxville, Oct. 26 - Col. John Bell Brownlow died at 9:30 o'clock this morning at his residence. 608 West Cumberland avenue, at the age of 84 years. He was taken with a chill last night about 10 o'clock and gradually grew worse until the end came. Col. Brownlow had been ill since the night of August 3 when he became suddenly indisposed while in attendance at the final rally and speaking in Congressman J.W. Taylor's campaign for renomination. He had to leave the speaking that night. Two weeks ago, Col. Brownlow, after his recovery had been despaired of, suddenly began to improve. This continued until he reached a level from which it seemed he could not gain further strength and vitality. He held his own, however, until he was suddenly stricken for the worse last night.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but the services will be held at the residence tomorrow afternoon in accordance with tentative plans. Rev. Walter Whiteaker, rector of St. Johns Episcopal church here, will officiate. Interment will occur in old Gray cemetery.
Col. Brownlow was the son of the late William G. (Parson) and Eliza (O'Brien) Brownlow. He was born Oct. 19, 1839, at Elizabethton, Tenn., where his father in those early days had established the Elizabethan Whig, the first newspaper to be printed there. Maternally he was a direct descendant of Capt. James Gaines, a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a member of the convention of North Carolina from Chatham county which ratified the constitution of the United States, and from Judge Edmund Pendleton, who was a member of the Continental congress from Virginia, 1874-75.
His paternal grandparents were Joseph A. and Catherine (Gannaway) Brownlow and his maternal grandparents were James S. and Susan Dabney (Everett) O'Brien. Col. Brownlow was educated in private schools of Knoxville and at Emory and Henry college.
In Col. Brownlow's early childhood his father moved the family to Jonesboro and re-established the paper there. It became known as the Jonesboro Whig. In the year 1849 his father moved to Knoxville and established the paper in this city. It was at first a weekly publication, but was later issued daily. Just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war the Knoxville Whig had the largest circulation of any paper south of the Ohio river. At this time Col. Brownlow was associating himself with his father in publishing the paper. During the first two years of the war it was the only paper advocating the Union cause which did not suspend publication.
In Journalistic Atmosphere
Col. Brownlow there grew up in an atmosphere where knowledge of the day was first received and commented on, and he imbibed in those days a craving for such knowledge that in later years made him a most interesting narrator of those stories and events which surrounded the lives and affairs of presidents, cabinet members, senators and congressmen, and which are not generally recorded in the brief histories to which the average man has access and many of which no history contains. In no other place than a newspaper office where he spent his young manhood could he have gained that keen appreciation of peculiar and featurable facts and information that make a newspaper feature story of first class even today. Col. Brownlow has probably inspired more interesting newspaper stories in regard to official life in Washington than any other man in Tennessee. Not only newspaper men have made a beaten path to him, but historians have acknowledged their gratitude for his assistance.
In the early part of 1862 Col. Brownlow, having entered the war, was made lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Tennessee Union cavalry regiment which he helped to recruit and put on a war basis. He commanded this regiment in all the engagements in which it participated, the colonel of the regiment not being with that unit during the war.
Became an Editor
Upon the war being terminated Col. Brownlow became editor of the Knoxville Whig, his father having been elected governor of Tennessee. Upon the election of "Parson" Brownlow to the United State senate, Col. Brownlow went with him to Washington as his private secretary. Here began that career in Washington which lasted many years in which Col. Brownlow served in various positions. Here he had unexcelled opportunity also to absorb knowledge, facts and information, such as only the trained journalistic eye can appreciate. Col. Brownlow subsequently occupied the position of special representative of the internal revenue department. He was engaged in the business of investigating frauds that may have been committed against the internal revenue laws by government employees and others.
Col. Brownlow was next an employee of the United States postoffice department, representing the government on the boards of managers at the Nashville, Omaha, Charleston, Buffalo and St. Louis expositions. At the Buffalo and St. Louis expositions, Col. Brownlow was Leon Czolgosz attempting to surge through the great crowd to get near President McKinley to fire the assassin's bullet. He saw the wrapped hand as the anarchist carried it in a sling, but thought the man merely had an injured hand and was anxious, like all others, to see and shake the hand of President McKinley.
Enters Realty Business
In the year 1904 Col. Brownlow ended his Washington career and came to Knoxville and founded the real estate firm, taking his son into partnership. This firm has been the medium through which vast properties in Knoxville have been developed and sold.
In 1872 Col. Brownlow was married to Miss Fannie Fouche, daughters of Dr. John Fouche of Knoxville. He is survived by his widow and three children, W.G. and John F. Brownlow, and Mrs. Edward Ashe, all of Knoxville. He is survived by two sisters also, Mrs. Henry M. Aiken and Mrs. Fannie D. Latta of Knoxville, and Hot Springs, Ark, respectively.
Although a republican, Col. Brownlow had a host of warm friends in the democratic party as well. Presidents U.S. Grant and Andrew Johnson were his warm personal friends, and while Col. Brownlow was in Washington the families exchanged visits. Col. Brownlow and the late Champ Clark were also warm personal friends and arrangements had been made for ex-Speaker Clark to visit the Brownlow home here as the guest of his friend, Col. Brownlow, but the death of the great Missourian occurred in the meantime.
Col. Brownlow was a close friend of Senator Isham G. Harris. Col. Brownlow's father, when governor of Tennessee, used his authority to make safe the return of Harris from England wither he had fled to escape prosecution as a result of the Union victory in the Civil War.
Senator Harris wrote to Gov. Brownlow in regard to his return to Tennessee, in reply to a letter Gov. Brownlow had written to him asking that he return.
Saw Things Right
"But what about your attorney general?" Harris wrote to the governor. The reply was that Gov. Brownlow would see that the state's attorney saw things just as the governor was seeing them, and relying on this promise Senator Harris returned, and later served the state as its governor and also as United States senator.
Col. Brownlow was the source of perhaps more unpublished history than any other man in the whole state. Few men in the south knew of events of peculiar interest to the extent that Col. Brownlow did. He had information that would make the events of United States history following the Civil war much easier to understand if the students of history in the schools had access to such information. Many have expressed great regret that Col. Brownlow did not see fit to write memoirs covering the whole period of his connection with the paper he and his father edited, and his official life in Washington.
A marvelous characteristic about Col. Brownlow was his retentive memory. Born in 1839 during the presidential administration of Martin Van Buren, he had not only a clear knowledge of the large events of American history, but he possessed unlimited information of intimate facts connected with the long train of public men that have lived contemporaneous with his own long life.
For instance, Col. Brownlow once said that Washington county in Tennessee is the first county in America to be named for George Washington, although the "father of his county" was born in Virginia and that state had ample opportunity to name a county for him. There is now a Washington county in Virginia, however.
First Public Service
Col. Brownlow's first public service came while he was secretary to his father, Senator W.G. Brownlow, having been appointed an agent for the southern claims commission which adjusted claims of many southerners damaged by invasion of Federal armies during the Civil war.
He was appointed to the postoffice department by President Rutherford B. Hayes and this service extended over a period of twenty-four years. During the administration of President Hayes the latter made a southern tour which included Tennessee. Col. Brownlow at no distant date in the past recalled this trip and said that W.B. Dickman, who opposed Hayes for the presidency, accompanied him and that he was invited to join the party in Tennessee.
It was he who informed President Hayes as to the Tennessee heroes for whom various counties were named. He told the president of Gen. Nash, for whom Nashville was named. He told him also of Gen. Davidson, a Revolutionary war leader, for whom Davidson county was named. When they got to Rutherford county, the same name as the first part of the Christian name of the president, the chief executive asked as to the politics of the county. Rutherford being a rock-ribbed democratic county, the presidential party was amused when Col. Brownlow said, "Mr. President, I don't think you got many votes in this county."
Col. Brownlow once said that not a lump of coal was burned in Knoxville until after the Civil war, although the city was sitting in one of the richest coal fields of the world. The first coal burners hauled a few lumps from Anderson county in wagons to burn in their parlors because it made a quick fire. He predicted that within a quarter of a century the population of East TEnnessee would be greater than the combined population of West and Middle Tennessee on account of the mineral wealth of the eastern division.
The most interesting event of United States history that Col. Brownlow related was that Andrew Jackson had to appoint successors to every member of the United States supreme court on account of the death of the justices during his two terms. No other president ever did this except Washington who under the constitution appointed the first United States supreme court.
Col. Brownlow was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution by direct descent, one of the oldest Masons in East Tennessee and a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was also a member of the Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the Republic and was president of Old Gray Cemetery association.
Gravesite Details
Lot 147
Family Members
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