JAMES P. BROWN is one of the family of children who were born to the marriage of William Brown and Jane G. GOODRUM. The father was born in North Carolina in 1803, and about 1824 came to Shelbyville where he lived and died. He was a trader in live-stock, lands, etc., and became a well-to-do and prominent citizen of the county. He died in 1880. The mother was born in South Carolina in 1809, and died in 1882.
The subject of his sketch was born July 30, 1838 in Bedford County. He was educated in Shelbyville, and remained with his parents until the war. He then enlisted in Company B, Forty-first Tennessee, and was in the service throughout the war. Returning from the war he engaged in the pursuit of farming, in which he continued very successfully till 1875. From 1868 to 1871 he lived in Texas, returning from there to Bedford County.
In 1874 he went to Columbus, Miss., and engaged there in the brick-making and contracting business, and he yet continues that business here. In October, 18813, he opened his clothing trade, and carries a stock of about $8,000. He was married, in 1881, to Miss Kate GOODRUM, a native of Forsyth, Ga. Two children have been born to this union, viz.: Paul M. and Annie L. Mr. BROWN and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. Politically he is a firm Democrat. He has never aspired to office, but I a worthy respected citizen of the county.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Source: Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.