Memorable Manitobans: Charles James “Charlie” Brown (1855-1926)

Charles James Brown Click to enlarge

Civil servant.

Born at Kingston, Upper Canada [now Ontario] on 6 April 1855, he was a member of the 1872 Red River Expedition, and he subsequently joined his father, Alexander McDougall Brown, as a resident of Winnipeg. He succeeded his father as City Clerk in 1882, serving in an acting capacity until his father’s death, after which he held the position until his death. In 1914, he was President of the American Municipalities Association.

On 13 February 1877, he married Ferrisa Banks (1850-?) of London, England. They had six children: Arthur M. Brown (1879-?), Ferissa Gertrude Brown (1880-?, wife of Vernon L. Evans), Ethel Agnes Ward Brown (1886-1906), Frank H. Brown (1889-?), Stanley Ernest Brown (1891-1906), and Irene Myrtle Brown (1894-1906). Three of their youngest children drowned in August 1906 in a boating accident at River Park. He was a member of the Old Timers’ Association of Manitoba and succeeded William James McLean as its President.

Upon his death at the Winnipeg General Hospital on 15 July 1926, he was succeeded as City Clerk by his former assistant, Magnus Peterson.

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Marriage registration [Larissa Gertrude Brown, V. L. Evans], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Wedding at St. John's,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 June 1906, page 5.

Death registrations [Ethel Agnes Ward Brown, Stanley Ernest Brown, Myrtle Irene Brown], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Five drowned in Red River,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 August 1906, page 1.

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Charles J. Brown, veteran city clerk, is dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 July 1926, page 1.

“Charles J. Brown, Winnipeg’s veteran city clerk, is dead,” undated newspaper clipping [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B8]

“Public funeral Saturday for late C. J. Brown,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 July 1926, page 5.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

We thank Lyle Brennen for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 4 August 2022

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!