John Mason Brown, 1837-1890

John Mason Brown was born in Frankfort, Ky., 26 April 1837, the son of Mason and Mary (Yoder) Brown. He graduated from Yale College in 1856. He returned to Frankfort where he taught school and studied law. In April, 1860, he opened a law practice in St. Louis, Mo. He spent several months in 1861 and 1862 traveling in the Northwestern United States and British America. Upon his return from a trip to the Montana Territory in October, 1862, he was commissioned Major of the Kentucky10th cavalry regiment. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the 45th Kentucky Mounted Rifles regiment in December, 1863. He was subsequently appointed commander of the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, District of Kentucky in April, 1864 and the 2nd Brigade in July, 1864. He left the service in December, 1864 and resumed his law practice in Frankfort. He eventually opened a law firm in Louisville in 1873 and later was a founder of the Filson Club. He married Mary O. Preston, eldest daughter of Gen. William Preston, 25 November 1869. They had 4 children. He eventually settled in Louisville, Ky., where he remained in practice until his death on 29 January 1890 at the age of 52.