Brown, Webster Evert

Webster Evert Brown (1851-1929)

  • 1851 – 1929     (78)     (2 of 4 brothers)
  • Juliet D. (Meyer) Brown
  • House – Carlson’s corner (1883) (Second house 1887)
  • Lawrence College, Spencerian Business College (Milw) and UW Madison – Grad class of 1894
  • 1865 – At the age of 14, WE began his business career when he and AW rented their father’s 320 acre farm near Stevens Point, handling all aspects of the business from hiring the help to selling the crops.
  • 1874 – Purchased 1,500 acres from the State (AW, WE, ED & TW)
  • 1875 – AW & WE formed Brown Bros Co. (EO joined in 1882)
  • 1878 – Negotiated deal with Milw, Lake Shore & Western RR (Milw to Ontonogan)  (JO Thayer agent) - one half of land deeded to RR
  • 1882 – Village of Rhinelander formed (part of town of Pelican);  RR reached Village; Started construction of Sawmill and Boarding House  (Lumber for Boarding House was on first train to village) (WE oversaw construction of BB sawmill)
  • 1882 – WE laid out site for Village of Rhinelander - had charge of the sale of the family’s village real estate
  • 1882-3 – Closed out their business in Stevens Point and moved to Rhinelander
  • 1885 – Negotiated with Soo Line RR (WD Washburn agent)  offered half of remaining land. Soo countered with half of all land. Convinced MLS&W to give part of the land they received.
  • 1887 – Soo completed line to Village of Rhinelander  (2 sawmills then, but 5 more soon added)
  • 1890 – Business was incorporated under name Brown Bros Lumber Co. (AW was president for entire time)  (WE was in charge of mill operations and marketing of product and AW was in charge of the Camps and timber buying)
  • 1893 – After his wife Helen passed away, ED (father) moved to Rhinelander with two daughters
  • 1894 – First Mayor of Rhinelander (Age of 45)
  • 1901 – Congressman (3 terms)  And helped organize the Rhinelander Telephone Company
  • 1917 – Sold mill to Brown Land & Lumber (2 of AW’s sons)
  • Activities as lumberman, manufacturer, town site developer, and Banker
  • Director - Merchants State Bank
  • President of Rhinelander Refrigerator Company
  • Succeeded AW as President of Rhinelander Paper Co. (VP prior)
  • President of WI Valley Improvement Co
  • 1882 - Chairman of the Board of the Town of Pelican for 2 years
  • Founding member of the First Congregational Church

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