William C. Brown

Nov. 30, 1824 – May 9, 1909

William Brown Cemetery

William C. Brown came to Oregon in 1847. His future wife, Martha J. Townsend, was in the same train, however, they had not met until they were on their way. Their courting was done on the trip to Oregon. 

On reaching Oregon Martha settled with her mother on a donation land claim about two miles Northeast of Dallas. William went to work for Judge Baber near Albany. His was to split rails for fences. He was to receive twenty-five cents per day and to take his wages at next harvest time (fall of 1848) in wheat at 50c a bushel. His contract was to make at least 150 rails per day, and after that his time was his own. He usually had the rails made by noon.

He came back to Polk County in 1848 and was married to Martha August 2nd, 1848. They filed a donation land claim of 640 acres near Dallas and their first log cabin was built on this claim in the fall of 1848, on a spot about 200 yards northeast of the home of L.D. Brown, on the Dallas-Salem highway. He joined the first gold rush to California, in the early spring of 1849, where he stayed about six months, but came back with much less money than when he left. After his return from California in 1849, William C. Brown and wife lived on their homestead, and did some farming. In 1852 William C. Brown went to work for C.D. Embree on the La Creole River between Dallas and Dixie (Rickreall)  as a farm hand cradling wheat. His wages were to be on sheep or three bushels of wheat for a day’s work of three acres. He took his pay partly in sheep and partly in wheat. That fall both mutton and wheat rose in price and Brown sold the sheep for $10.00 per head and the wheat at $5.00 per bushel, so that his summer’s work paid him well indeed. In 1853, Mr. Brown bought out the Ellendale general merchandise store stock from J.W. Nesmith, and moved the stock down to Cynthian. The town, such as it was, was located where the Dallas-Salem highway intersects Ellendale Avenue at North edge of Dallas. 

In 1856, the courthouse and town of Dallas was moved across the La Creole River, to its present location, and in 1857 Mr. Brown moved his store to the new town. Mr. Brown conducted a general merchandise store in Dallas, until his retirement from business about 1903, being in such a business for fifty years.

William C. Brown was a charter member of both the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges in Dallas. He was elected to the legislature in 1874,serving one term; he was an officer in the Dallas City Bank, and a director for many years.

Mr. Brown in the last years of his life would each year celebrate his birthday by inviting all the widows in Dallas to dine with him at his expense; he took great pleasure in assisting the needy, and performed many acts of charity.

Five children to William and Martha. John G. Brown, the oldest son, lives in North Dallas; Mrs. Violet A. Kersey, lives in Dallas; Joseph L. Brown, Alonzo Brown, and Henry. All of the kids lived in or near Dallas.

need photo of house here.