William John Brown

(Aug. 15, 1805-Mar.18, 1857). Born in Mason County, Kentucky, Brown moved to Clermont County, Ohio, in 1808. He attended the common schools there and then moved to Rushville, Indiana, in 1821. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1826.

Brown served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1829 to 1832. He also served as prosecuting attorney in Rush County in 1832.

He moved to Indianapolis to serve as Indiana secretary of state from 1836 to 1840. Brown and Governor David Wallace often took opposing sides on issues and aired their grievances in person and in politically competing papers.

Brown served in the Indiana House of Representatives for Marion County from 1841 to 1842. He then was chair of the state Democratic Central Committee and ran for a congressional seat against his nemesis Governor Wallace in 1842. He won that election but left after one term to accept President James K. Polk’s appointment as assistant postmaster general in 1845.

Brown served in the 31st Congress from 1849 to 1851. After his unsuccessful bid for renomination in 1850, he became chief editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel where he worked until 1855. President Pierce appointed Brown as special agent of the Post Office Department for Indiana and Illinois, a position he held from 1853 until his death. Brown was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.

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