Brown was born near Shiloh Springs in Aiken County[1] to Augustus Abraham Brown and Elizabeth Howard Brown. He, accompanied by his oldest sibling, Minnie, attended the China Springs School close to Edgefield Road. He was also educated at The Graniteville Academy which was maintained by the Graniteville Company.[1] Edgar decided to drop out of the academy in 1904 and to instead apply himself to the business course of study at Osborne's in Augusta, Georgia. From 1905 to 1906 he served as a court reporter and from 1906 to 1907 he was a law clerk and head stenographer for the Henderson firm in Aiken while also studying law. In 1908, Brown was appointed the official court stenographer of the 2nd Judicial Circuit after competitive examination and relocated to Barnwell to serve Judge Aldrich who had need of his services. Brown passed the state bar examination in June 1910 and was admitted to practice law the same year.
Having established himself as an attorney, Brown continued to court and spark Miss Annie Love Sitgreaves a teacher, originally from Laurens, whom he had met in Aiken- and he and James F. Byrnes, whom Brown had replaced as Court Stenographer when Jimmy ran for Solicitor, became so close that Brown asked Jimmy to be the best man at his wedding.
Political career
At the age of 26 in 1914, Brown became the chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Barnwell County and also served as a member of the state Democratic executive committee.[1] In 1921, Brown was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and he became the speaker of the body in 1925.[1] From 1922 to 1926, Brown was the chairman of the state Democratic Party. Brown resigned his speakership in 1926 to challenge Senator Ellison D. Smith in the Democratic primary election, but fell short by 5,000 votes in the runoff election.
In 1928, Brown returned to the statehouse, this time as the senator for Barnwell County. Brown once again challenged Senator Smith, along with Olin D. Johnston, in the 1938 Democratic primary, but Smith pulled out another victory. In 1942, Brown was elected by the state senate to the position of President Pro Tempore, a position he held along with the chairmanship of the finance committee for thirty years. Upon the death of Senator Burnet R. Maybank in 1954, the executive committee of the state Democratic Party chose him as their nominee for the general election. The absence of a primary election caused an uproar in the state and Strom Thurmond defeated Brown as a write-in candidate. Brown retired from the state Senate on July 28, 1972.[1]
During Brown's legislative service, he was known for conservative fiscal policies, financing the state road system with gasoline tax revenue bonds, and improving education in the state as well as implementing the South Carolina Educational Television.[1] SCETV station WEBA-TV (channel 14), which is licensed to Allendale and covers Barnwell County, was named in honor of Brown upon its sign-on in 1967.[3]
Personal life
His parents, Augustus Brown and Elizabeth Howard were married on March 29, 1875, and settled on a part of the Brown family farm, which Needham [Gus's father] had given to them. Brown had four siblings; Minnie, John (who died at sixteen), Lula, and Grover. Brown married Annie Love Sitgreaves, daughter of Edwin McBurney and Centellia Martin Sitgreaves, on December 30, 1913 and together they had one child, Emily McBurney Brown.[1][4] Brown was also survived by a grandson, Richard Allan Jefferies, and a granddaughter, Emily McBurney Jefferies. His son-in-law Richard Manning Jefferies, Jr. (son of GovernorRichard Manning Jefferies) served as chairman of SCETV.
He died after suffering injuries in an automobile accident.
Brown served as a trustee of Clemson University. The University Union was renamed in his honor after his 1975 death.
References
^ abcdefghiCongressional Record-Extensions of Remarks,Hon. Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn, E 8952. October 25, 1972.
^Workman Jr, W.D. (1963). The Bishop From Barnwell. Columbia, South Carolina: The R.L. Bryan Company. p. 6. LCCN 63022368.
^"South Carolina Educational Television Commission Program Evaluation Report [July 2018]" (PDF). South Carolina House of Representatives.
^Mazursky, Louise Vaughn; Marguerite Tolbert; Irene Dillard Elliott; Dr. Wil Lou Gray (1972). South Carolina's Distinguished Women of Laurens County (first ed.). Columbia South Carolina: R.L. Bryan Company. p. 140.
Lander Jr., Ernest McPherson (1970). A History of South Carolina, 1865-1960. University of South Carolina Press. pp. 182, 183, 193, 195. ISBN0-87249-169-2.
External links
USC Biography of Edgar Allan Brown
Edgar Allan Brown Papers at Clemson University's Special Collections Library
edgar, allan, brown, july, 1888, june, 1975, long, time, democratic, legislator, south, carolina, from, barnwell, county, served, south, carolina, from, 1922, 1972, principal, member, called, barnwell, ring, member, south, carolina, house, representatives, fro. Edgar Allan Brown July 11 1888 June 26 1975 was a long time Democratic legislator of South Carolina from Barnwell County who served South Carolina from 1922 1972 1 He was a principal member of the so called Barnwell Ring 1 2 Edgar Allan BrownMember of the South Carolina House of Representatives fromIn office 1922 1972Personal detailsBorn 1888 07 11 July 11 1888Aiken County South Carolina U S DiedJune 26 1975 1975 06 26 aged 86 Barnwell South Carolina U S Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Political career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career EditBrown was born near Shiloh Springs in Aiken County 1 to Augustus Abraham Brown and Elizabeth Howard Brown He accompanied by his oldest sibling Minnie attended the China Springs School close to Edgefield Road He was also educated at The Graniteville Academy which was maintained by the Graniteville Company 1 Edgar decided to drop out of the academy in 1904 and to instead apply himself to the business course of study at Osborne s in Augusta Georgia From 1905 to 1906 he served as a court reporter and from 1906 to 1907 he was a law clerk and head stenographer for the Henderson firm in Aiken while also studying law In 1908 Brown was appointed the official court stenographer of the 2nd Judicial Circuit after competitive examination and relocated to Barnwell to serve Judge Aldrich who had need of his services Brown passed the state bar examination in June 1910 and was admitted to practice law the same year Having established himself as an attorney Brown continued to court and spark Miss Annie Love Sitgreaves a teacher originally from Laurens whom he had met in Aiken and he and James F Byrnes whom Brown had replaced as Court Stenographer when Jimmy ran for Solicitor became so close that Brown asked Jimmy to be the best man at his wedding Political career EditAt the age of 26 in 1914 Brown became the chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Barnwell County and also served as a member of the state Democratic executive committee 1 In 1921 Brown was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and he became the speaker of the body in 1925 1 From 1922 to 1926 Brown was the chairman of the state Democratic Party Brown resigned his speakership in 1926 to challenge Senator Ellison D Smith in the Democratic primary election but fell short by 5 000 votes in the runoff election In 1928 Brown returned to the statehouse this time as the senator for Barnwell County Brown once again challenged Senator Smith along with Olin D Johnston in the 1938 Democratic primary but Smith pulled out another victory In 1942 Brown was elected by the state senate to the position of President Pro Tempore a position he held along with the chairmanship of the finance committee for thirty years Upon the death of Senator Burnet R Maybank in 1954 the executive committee of the state Democratic Party chose him as their nominee for the general election The absence of a primary election caused an uproar in the state and Strom Thurmond defeated Brown as a write in candidate Brown retired from the state Senate on July 28 1972 1 During Brown s legislative service he was known for conservative fiscal policies financing the state road system with gasoline tax revenue bonds and improving education in the state as well as implementing the South Carolina Educational Television 1 SCETV station WEBA TV channel 14 which is licensed to Allendale and covers Barnwell County was named in honor of Brown upon its sign on in 1967 3 Personal life EditHis parents Augustus Brown and Elizabeth Howard were married on March 29 1875 and settled on a part of the Brown family farm which Needham Gus s father had given to them Brown had four siblings Minnie John who died at sixteen Lula and Grover Brown married Annie Love Sitgreaves daughter of Edwin McBurney and Centellia Martin Sitgreaves on December 30 1913 and together they had one child Emily McBurney Brown 1 4 Brown was also survived by a grandson Richard Allan Jefferies and a granddaughter Emily McBurney Jefferies His son in law Richard Manning Jefferies Jr son of Governor Richard Manning Jefferies served as chairman of SCETV He died after suffering injuries in an automobile accident Brown served as a trustee of Clemson University The University Union was renamed in his honor after his 1975 death References Edit a b c d e f g h i Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks Hon Wm Jennings Bryan Dorn E 8952 October 25 1972 Workman Jr W D 1963 The Bishop From Barnwell Columbia South Carolina The R L Bryan Company p 6 LCCN 63022368 South Carolina Educational Television Commission Program Evaluation Report July 2018 PDF South Carolina House of Representatives Mazursky Louise Vaughn Marguerite Tolbert Irene Dillard Elliott Dr Wil Lou Gray 1972 South Carolina s Distinguished Women of Laurens County first ed Columbia South Carolina R L Bryan Company p 140 Lander Jr Ernest McPherson 1970 A History of South Carolina 1865 1960 University of South Carolina Press pp 182 183 193 195 ISBN 0 87249 169 2 External links EditStatehouse Biography of Edgar Allan Brown USC Biography of Edgar Allan Brown Edgar Allan Brown Papers at Clemson University s Special Collections LibraryParty political officesPreceded byBurnet R Maybank Democratic nominee for U S Senator from South Carolina Class 2 1954 Succeeded byStrom Thurmond Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edgar Allan Brown amp oldid 1166187340, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
