"B" Surnames

Brown, Rufus Alexander

Rufus Alexander Brown was born in Concord, N. C., in 1851.  His father was Alfred Brown, a farmer of Cabarrus county, and his mother was Miss Margaret Bost, a daughter of John Bost, a farmer.  He was educated in the public schools of Cabarrus county.

In 1880 he began ginning cotton, and later in 1882 opened a general merchandise store in Concord under the style of Brown & Schafer, A. R. Schafer being his associate.  This firm continued until 1888 after which he continued alone until 1894 when he discontinued to manufacture brick and enter the contracting business on a large scale and organized the Brown Manufacturing Company, he being the largest stockholder and vice-president.  This company has built a 10,000 spindle 250 loom cotton mill.  He is also interested in various other enterprises.  

He married Miss Missouri Fisher, a daughter of George W. Fisher, a large live stock dealer of the West, who was raised on her grandmother's farm in Perry county, Mo.  They have four children.  He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Elk, and a D. O. K. K.

Source:  Prominent People of North Carolina: Brief Biographies of Leading People for Ready Reference Purposes (Asheville, North Carolina: Evening News Publishing Company, 1906), 60.

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