I96210: NICHOLAS BEAUMONT (ABT 1364

Notes

8243: Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago. Reprinted by Southern Historical Press. p. 212. Jefferson County.
"JOHN YOUNG BROWN, who recently retired from the gubernatorial chair of Kentucky, is one of the foremost orators and statesmen of his commonwealth. He is a son of Thomas Dudley and Elizabeth (Young) Brown, and was born in Hardin county, June 28, 1835.

His father was for several terms a member of the legislature from Hardin county, and also represented that county in the convention which framed the state constitution in 1849-50. As a consequence, the future governor spent several winters at the state capital, and received his first lessons in oratory from the many famous speakers of that day, who esteemed it an honor
to secure an election to the law-making body of the state.

Thomas Dudley Brown was himself an orator of no mean reputation, and the Youngs, the
maternal ancestors of Governor Brown, were long famed in Kentucky for the brilliancy of their intellect.

John Young Brown entered Center College, Danville, Kentucky, when but sixteen years of age, and graduated at that institution four years later in the class which furnished so many of the famous statesmen of Kentucky and other states. Returning to Hardin county, he read law, and at the age of twenty-one commenced practice at the Elizabethtown bar. For the next few years Mr. Brown was in great demand as a campaign orator. The issue of Know-nothingism being at that time at its height, and Mr. Brown being one of it most formidable opponents, his life was often threatened by the adherents of this un-democratic party. In 1859 the Democrats of his district met at Bardstown and nominated him, over his own protest, as their candidate for congress. He lacked over a year of being the required age for a congressman, but his constituents would not listen to his oft-repeated declinations. Colonel Jewett, the out-going
congressman, opposed him as an independent, but the young orator met him at every appointment and carried the district by storm, beating his opponent by about two thousand votes. Being under age, he was not allowed to take his seat until the short session of the term after he had attained the constitutional age, nearly two years after his election. He was chosen as a state elector on the Douglas ticket in 1860, and held a series of joint debates with the Hon. W.C.P. Breckinridge, who had been his classmate, who was an elector on the ticket headed by the brilliant John C. Breckindidge.

These debates added much to the reputation of Mr. Brown. After the close of the war Mr. Brown moved to Henderson, in another congressional district, from which he was again elected to congress, in 1867,--to the fortieth congress. He was refused his seat on account of alleged disloyalty, but his constituents refused to elect another in his stead, and for two years the district remained without a representative. He was elected again in 1872, and again for the fourth time in 1874, after which he refused to allow his name to be presented. He remained in political retirement until 1891, when he was triumphantly elected governor of Kentucky.

It was during 1875 when Mr. Brown made his famous denunciatory speech in congress against General Benjamin F. Butler (hated union general who ruled New Orleans), which made his name ring around the continent. A resolution of censure was passed against him for this speech, but he was much applauded for it throughout the south, and a subsequent congress, by unanimous vote, ordered the censure expunged from the record. The greatest
victory of his life was won by Mr. Brown when he secured the Democratic nomination for governor in 1891. He had very formidable opposition for the nomination in the persons of Hon. Cassius M. Clay Jr., president of the constitutional convention of 1890-91; Dr. J. D. Clardy, also a prominent member of that body, now congressman from the second district, and ex-Attorney General P. W. Hardin.

At the election following, his majority over his nearest competitor was over twenty-eight thousand. Coming into the gubernatorial office at the time of the adoption of the new constitution and the consequent entanglement into which the laws had fallen, the first part of Governor Brown's term was characterized by laborious work and by occasional conflicts with the legislature. His veto messages were masterly state papers, and it is a satisfactory commentary on their worth when it is known that of the many vetoes sent to the two assemblies that met during his term of office not one was overruled.

He retired from office on December 10, 1895, and is now engaged in practice of law in Louisville. Governor Brown's social life has been pre-eminently a happy one. When quite a young man he was married to Rebecca Dixon, the beautiful and highly accomplished daughter of Hon. Archibald Dixon, ex-lieutenant governor and ex-United States senator.

Governor Brown is an orator among the giants in Kentucky, the home of oratory. In his younger days he attained a reputation for eloquence that was not confined to this state or the south. Since his return to political life he has shown that he has not lost the fire of youth, and with the added strength that experience has given he can sway the people as few speakers can. While a reticent man, he is not taciturn, and people who have been thrown with him through official relations or by personal contact bear testimony to his genial manner, warm-hearted friendship and generous hospitality."

Notes

"79-1B1-1783, Amelia County, Va. Elizabeth Hurt was a daughter of Moses Hurt, Sr. and his wife Ann Hurt and mentioned in the 1783 will of Moses Hurt, Sr. as Elizabeth White. I do not have a record of her marriage, but she is said to have married John White whose will is dated 12-20-1803, probated 9-6-1804 and recorded in Will Book 2, page 106 in Nottoway County. The will mentions wife, Elizabeth White and seven children as follows: (1) Seanny White, (2) Purify White, (3) Polly White, (4) John White, (5) Willis White, (6) Pleasant White and (7) Elizabeth A. Grigg. (Note by O. H.: 1-23-64: Newly found information indicates that this Elizabeth Hurt was the wife of Joseph White, rather than of John White. John and Joseph White both lived near the home place of Moses Hurt, Sr. (d. 1783) and the wives of both were named Elizabeth. John and Joseph White were probably brothers.) (Amended-79-1B1-1783. Amelia County, Va.)."

^[S1013]

Notes

-Sources Birth: John Wallace diskette.

Notes

Father: Manfredo of LOMBARDY Spouse Unknown.

Notes

+ Clarissa POLLARD b: ABT. 1762 d: 7 JAN 1828

My Southern Family

NICHOLAS BEAUMONT

ABT 1364 - ____

ID Number: I96210

Sources

Hon. John Young BROWN Gov of Kentucky

28 Jun 1835 - 11 Jan 1904

ID Number: I73435

Notes

Sources

Evelyn Taylor BYRD

3 Oct 1766 - ____

ID Number: I86039

Sources

Elizabeth HURT

ABT 1739 - AFT 1796

ID Number: I48231

Notes

Sources

Margaret LINDSAY

15 Aug 1838 - 29 May 1913

ID Number: I25456

Sources

Maggie MEADE

1881 - ____

ID Number: I12852

Notes

Sources

MANFREDO di MOSEZZO

____ - ____

ID Number: I64152

Notes

Sources

Lydia PENDLETON

1853 - ____

ID Number: I60831

Sources

James STEWART

ABT 1766 - 1807

ID Number: I69519

Notes

Sources

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