Memorable Manitobans: John Livingstone Brown (1867-1953)

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John Livingstone Brown
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Cleric, farmer, MP (1922-1925), MP (1926), MP (1926-1930), MP (1930-1935).

Born at Belwood, Ontario on 7 February 1867, one of seven children of Robert Brown and Anna Haselden Unsworth, he attended elementary school at Middleville, Ontario, Winnipeg Collegiate Institute, and McGill University. The family came to Manitoba around 1882 and settled in the Pilot Mound area, also living at Deloraine. He was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church in 1894, serving as minister at Franklin Centre, Quebec (1894-1897), Brandon (1897-1898), Snowflake (1898-1903), and Wood Bay (1903-1925). During this period, he also served as President of the Manitoba School Trustees Association (1913-1915).

Brown farmed at Pilot Mound, and was Vice President (1918-1919) and President (1920-1921) of the United Farmers of Manitoba. Defeated as a Liberal candidate for Manitou in the 1899 provincial general election, he was elected to the House of Commons in 1921, and was re-elected in 1925, 1926, and 1930. He was responsible for guiding the legislation responsible for union of the Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches to form the United Church of Canada. After leaving politics, he returned to his farm at Pilot Mound but did not resume his ministry.

On 13 August 1894, he married Mary Ellen Campbell (1867-?) in the RM of Louise. They had four children: Anna M. Brown (1895-?), Muriel Brown (1897-2004, wife of Hugh W. Mills), Robert Campbell Brown (1901-1971), and Mabel Brown (1904-?). He was a member of the Canadian Order of Foresters.

He died at Pilot Mound on 20 March 1953 and was buried in the Pilot Mound Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 and 1911 Canada censes, Automated Genealogy.

“Foresters, Legion join in rites for J. L. Brown,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 March 1953, page 8.

The Canadian Directory of Parliament, 1867-1967, edited by J. K. Johnson, Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa [Library and Archives Canada], 1968.

Obituary [Robert Campbell Brown], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 August 1971, page 31.

Burial transcription [Muriel Mills], Brandon Municipal Cemetery.

We thank John Brown and Joshua Watt for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 8 March 2023

Memorable Manitobans

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.

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