BROWN, FAYETTE (17 Dec. 1823-20 Jan. 1910), was a Cleveland businessman who served as a U.S. Army paymaster during the CIVIL WAR. Born in N. Bloomfield, Ohio (Trumbull County) to Ephraim and Mary (Buckingham Huntington) Brown, he worked for his brother at a wholesale dry-goods store in Pittsburgh, PA after completing his schooling and became a member of the firm in 1845. He moved to Cleveland in 1851, formed a banking partnership with Geo. Mygatt under the name of Mygatt & Brown, and took over the business in 1857, when Mygatt retired. Brown closed his business at the outbreak of the Civil War, serving as paymaster, U.S. Army, 1861-62, before resigning his commission to return to private life. He returned to Cleveland to become general agent of the Jackson Iron Co. In the following years he became a powerful force in the iron industry, serving as president of the Union Steel Screw Co.; general manager of the Stewart Iron Co.; president of the Brown Hoisting & Conveying Machine Co.; and receiver of the Brown, Bonnell Co. of Youngstown, Ohio. Brown married Cornelia C. Curtiss of Allegheny City, Pa., on 15 July 1847 and had 3 sons, Alexander E., William F., and Harvey H., and 2 daughters, Florence C. and Mary L. Because of Brown's military service, he was frequently referred to as "Major" or "Colonel." Brown was buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.

Brown Family Papers, WRHS.

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