Norris Brown

Norris Brown
United States Senator fromNebraska
In office March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913
Preceded by	Joseph Millard
Succeeded by	George W. Norris
Attorney General of Nebraska
In office 1905–1907
Governor	John H. Mickey
Preceded by	Frank N. Prout
Succeeded by	William T. Thompson
Personal details
Born	(1863-05-02)May 2, 1863 Maquoketa,Iowa
Died	January 5, 1960(1960-01-05)(aged 96) Seattle,Washington
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican

Norris Brown(May 2, 1863 – January 5, 1960) was a Senator fromNebraska.

Brown was born inMaquoketa, Iowa.The son of William Henry Harrison and Eliza Ann Phelps Brown, he attended Jefferson Iowa Academy and graduated with a law degree from theUniversity of Iowa College of LawinIowa City, Iowa,in 1883. He was admitted to the bar in 1884 and commenced his law practice inPerry, Iowa.He moved toKearney, Nebraska,in 1888 and continued the practice of law. Brown was the prosecuting attorney ofBuffalo Countyfrom 1892 to 1896, the deputy attorney general of Nebraska from 1900 to 1905, and theattorney general of Nebraskafrom 1905 to 1907. He distinguished himself in this post by winning a tax suit of over a million dollars against the railroads. The money was used to open schools in Nebraska.

Brown was elected as aRepublicanto theUnited States Senateand served from March 4, 1907, to March 3, 1913. During his term he served as the chairman of the Committee on Patents (Sixty-first and Sixty-second Congresses). He proposed permitting an income tax, later incorporated into the16th Amendmentof theU.S. Constitution.He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1912. He then resumed the practice of law inOmahawhere he became senior partner in the firm of Brown, Crossman, West, Barton, and Quinlan. He served as attorney for theOmaha Stockyardsfor 30 years.

In 1942, he retired and moved toSeattle,Washington. Brown died there January 5, 1960, and was interred inForest Lawn CemeteryinOmaha.

Brown was married twice. In 1885, he married Lula K. Beeler, who died in 1925. They had two daughters. Ann L. Howland became his second wife in 1927. She died in 1937.

References

• United States Congress."Norris Brown (id: B000939)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Norris Brown papers^[usurped]at theNebraska State Historical Society