Rufus E. Brown

Rufus E. Brown
From Volume 1 (1903) of Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont
Vermont Attorney General
In office 1912–1914
Preceded by	John G. Sargent
Succeeded by	Herbert G. Barber
Member of the Vermont Senate from Chittenden County
In office 1900–1902 Serving with W. H. H. Varney, W. J. Fuller
Preceded by	Charles P. Smith, Ellery C. Fay, G. W. Sales
Succeeded by	Chauncey W. Brownell, Elliot M. Sutton, George W. Sayles
State's Attorney of Chittenden County, Vermont
In office 1894–1900
Preceded by	Judson E. Cushman
Succeeded by	Edmund C. Mower
Personal details
Born	(1854-12-03)December 3, 1854 Dickinson, New York, U.S.
Died	June 15, 1920(1920-06-15) (aged 65) Burlington, Vermont
Resting place	Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Della F. Wood Josephine (Josie) Sayles Elizabeth Brownell
Children	1
Profession	Attorney

Rufus Everson Brown (December 3, 1854 – June 15, 1920) was a Vermont attorney, farmer and politician. He served as Vermont Attorney General from 1912 to 1915.

Early life

Rufus Everson Brown was born in Dickinson, New York on December 3, 1854. He attended academies in Lawrenceville and Amsterdam before relocating to Burlington, Vermont to study law.

Legal career

Brown studied at the firm of Wales and Taft, which included Torrey E. Wales and Russell S. Taft, both prominent politicians and judges. He attained admission to the bar in 1880, and operated a farm while beginning a law practice.

In 1891 he opened an office in Burlington and began to practice law full-time. In 1897 he started Brown & Macomber in partnership with James H. Macomber. In 1903 he formed a new partnership with Russell W. Taft, the son of Russell S. Taft.

Political career

A Republican, Brown served as Burlington's grand juror (city prosecutor) from 1892 to 1894. From 1894 to 1900 he served as state's attorney for Chittenden County. From 1900 to 1902 Brown was a member of the Vermont State Senate. In 1903 he was appointed Burlington's city attorney.

In 1912, Brown defeated Frank C. Archibald in the Republican primary for Vermont Attorney General. He won the general election, and served from 1912 to 1914. His term expired in November 1914; under a new statute, terms for statewide office holders were scheduled to begin in January starting in 1915. To bridge the gap between the end of Brown's term in November 1914 and the start of Herbert G. Barber's in January 1915, Governor Allen M. Fletcher appointed Barber to serve for the month of December 1914. Brown later served as judge of Burlington's city court.

Death and burial

Brown died in Burlington on June 15, 1920. He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.

Family

In 1877 he married Della F. Wood (b. 1860) of Williston, Vermont. They were the parents of a son, Ralph Earle (b. 1879).

In 1902 Brown married Josephine (Josie) Sayles (1875-1944).

His third wife was Elizabeth Brownell (1876-1948).

External links

• Rufus E. Brown at Find a Grave
• Carleton, Hiram (1903). Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont. Vol. 1. New York, NY: Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 612–613.
• Cutter, William Richard (1914). New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial. Vol. 2. New York, NY: Lewis Publishing Company. p. 892.