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{{short description|American journalist}}
{{Multiple issues|

{{essay-like|date=October 2016}}
{{Underlinked|date=February 2015}}
{{one source|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lew Buford Brown
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1861|06|13}}
| birth_place = [[Madison, Arkansas]], C.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1944|08|16|1861|06|13}}
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names = Llewellyn Buford Brown
| occupation = Editor and poet
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
}}


'''Llewellyn Buford Brown''' (June 13, 1861 – August 16, 1944) was a notable editor and poet in the Southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The legendary “Sunshine Offer” he advertised in ''The Evening Independent'' was his most famous stunt and helped the little town of St. Petersburg, Florida grow exponentially.
'''Llewellyn Buford Brown''', also known as '''Lew Brown''', (June 13, 1861 – August 16, 1944) was an American lawyer, newspaper publisher, and promoter for [[St. Petersburg, Florida|Saint Petersburg]], [[Florida]]. He owned and edited the ''[[Evening Independent]]'' in that city from 1908 to 1927.

Brown was famous for the "Sunshine Offer" that offered a free newspaper for every day in St. Petersburg without sunshine.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Lew was born in [[Madison, Arkansas]] in the midst of the Civil War.<ref>Zaiser, 13</ref> His mother was Amelia L. Brown and his father was George L. Brown,<ref>Grismer, 308</ref> who served in the Confederate Army at the time of Lew’s birth and was promoted to Captain by the end of the war.<ref>Zaiser, 20</ref> He was captured by the Union but later released as part of a prisoner trade deal.<ref>Zaiser, 26</ref> Lew had two younger sisters, Cora and Hattie. Cora was only about two years younger than Lew, while Hattie was about five years younger than him. At 6, Lew decided to be home schooled by his father.<ref>Zaiser, 38</ref> He would never receive a full public education despite his desire for one.
Brown was born in [[Madison, Arkansas]] on June 13, 1861&nbsp;during the [[American Civil War]].{{sfn|Zaiser|p=13}} His mother was Amelia L. Brown and his father was George L. Brown,<ref>Grismer, 308</ref> a captain in the [[Confederate Army]].{{sfn|Zaiser|p=20}} Lew had two younger sisters, Cora and Hattie. Brown was home schooled by his father{{sfn|Zaiser|p=38}} and never received a full public education despite his desire for one.


His family constantly moved around the South under Reconstruction, from Madison to St. Louis, then to Helena and eventually back to Madison. When the county seat moved to Forest City, so did the Browns.<ref>Zaiser, 64</ref> It was in Forest City where Lew witnessed a murder of a white man at the hands of a black man.<ref>Zaiser, 65</ref>
After the war, the Brown family moved to [[St. Louis, Missouri]] then to [[Helena, Missouri]], then Madison and [[Forrest City, Arkansas]].{{sfn|Zaiser|p=64}} In Forest City, Brown claimed that he witnessed the murder of a white man by a black man.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=65}}


==The First Print==
==Career beginnings==
A year after moving to Forest City, the Brown family moved to Ozark.<ref name="Zaiser">Zaiser, 71</ref> George had bought the city newspaper, the ''Ozark Banner'', to publish himself.<ref name="Zaiser" /> At 10, Lew gave up his school work again to help his father in the print shop after his father’s health took a violent turn for the worse.<ref>Zasier, 73</ref> At thirteen, Lew and his sisters began printing their own Saturday paper, the ''Monthly Visitor'', with great success.<ref>Zasier, 80</ref>
A year after moving to Forrest City, the Brown family moved to Ozark.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=71}} George Brown had bought the ''Ozark Banner'' to publish himself.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=71}} At age 10, after his father's health declined, Brown left school to help in the print shop.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=73}} At age 13, Brown and his sisters began printing their own Saturday paper, the ''Monthly Visitor''.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=80}} George Brown died in April 1876.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=83}}
Lew’s father died in April 1876, finally succumbing to an illness he’d contracted in the war prison.<ref name="Zaiser_a">Zaiser, 83</ref>


His mother married the Banner’s new foreman, Joseph William Cummings, a few months later.<ref>Zasier, 90</ref> The family later sold the ''Banner'' and moved from Russelville, Arkansas to Cloverport, Kentucky to Louisville, Kentucky.<ref name="Zaiser_a" /> In Louisville, Lew forfeited his chance for a high school diploma in order to feed his family.<ref>Zaiser, 94</ref> He eventually joined the ''Courier-Journal'' as a journeyman printer<ref>Zasier, 96</ref> and later became the foreman, journalist and poet for both it and the ''Louisville Times''.<ref>Zasier, 100-102</ref>
Brown's mother married Joseph William Cummings a few months later.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=90}} The family later sold the ''Banner'' and moved to [[Cloverport, Kentucky]] and later [[Louisville, Kentucky]].{{sfn|Zaiser|p=83}} In Louisville, Brown{{sfn|Zaiser|p=94}} joined the ''[[The Courier-Journal|Courier-Journal]]'' as a journeyman printer.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=96}} He later became the foreman, journalist and poet for both it and the ''[[The Louisville Times|Louisville Times]]''.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=100-102}}


==Mrs. Brown==
==Marriage==
On February 11, 1885, Lew Brown married Emma Julia Struby<ref>Zaiser, 130</ref> and picked up a third job working as foreman for a Sunday paper called the ''Truth'' after their honeymoon.<ref>Zasier, 136</ref> On July 11, 1886, Lew and Emma had their first child, Llewellyn Chauncey Brown, who was diagnosed with a weak heart.<ref name="Zasier">Zasier, 140</ref> The combined stress of his four jobs, he was now the editor of the ''Labor Record'',<ref name="Zasier" /> and Chauncey’s wellbeing motivated the Brown family to the farmlands. In November 1886, the Browns moved to Spencer County, Indiana to live in their new farm residence, Fairview Farm.<ref>Zasier, 141</ref> The farming venture was a disaster by all counts. Lew spent all of the money he had earned to get the seed and capital to plant, and the rain washed away the loose topsoil and all of his work.<ref name="Zasier_a">Zasier, 148-149</ref> Lew regained his job at the ''Courier-Journal'' and moved back to Louisville by spring.<ref name="Zasier_a" />
On February 11, 1885, Brown married Emma Julia Struby.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=130}} He then picked up a third job working as foreman for a Sunday paper called the ''Truth''. {{sfn|Zaiser|p=136}} On July 11, 1886, the couple had their first child, Llewellyn Chauncey Brown.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=140}} He also became the editor of the ''Labor Record''.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=140}}


In November 1886, the stress of Brown's s four jobs and Chauncey's ill-health motivated the Brown family to move to [[Spencer County, Indiana]] to live on a farm called Fairview Farm.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=141}} Brown spent all his money to get the seed and capital to plant, but the crop was washed away by rain. Brown then regained his job at the ''Courier-Journal'' and moved back to Louisville that spring.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=148-149}}
On August 13, 1889, the Browns had another child, Albert Young, who in contrast to Chauncey, was very healthy.<ref name="Zasier_b">Zasier, 151</ref> Lew suffered a heart attack a few weeks later and was warned by doctors not to push himself so hard working.<ref name="Zasier_b" /> Lew and his family decided to move to Peewee Valley to grow peaches.<ref name="Zasier_b" /> The peaches turned out underwhelming and only fit to be turned into vinegar and wine. The farming venture did not last long. A few weeks after the peaches were harvested, the Brown’s house burned to the ground.<ref>Zaiser, 152</ref> Lew bought the ''Spencer Courier'' and resumed his newspaper work.<ref>Zaiser, 153</ref> On August 26, 1890, Lew’s first daughter, Barbra, was born.<ref>Zasier, 158</ref> Later that year, the ''Spencer Courier'' printing office burned to the ground, forcing Lew to move operations into a house had had previously constructed.<ref>Zasier, 167</ref>


On August 13, 1889, the Browns had another child, Albert Young.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=151}} Brown suffered a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] a few weeks later and was warned by doctors to take it easier.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=151}} In response, the Brown family moved to [[Pewee Valley, Kentucky|Peewee Valley, Kentucky]] to grow peaches.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=151}} However, the peach crop was not fit for eating and their house burned down.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=152}}
==Attorney Brown==
Lew was unable to reliably sustain his family due the Panic of 1892, so he decided he would hold two jobs as a newspaper man and a lawyer. Lew earned his license by the Supreme Court,<ref>Zasier, 181</ref> which allowed him to be Police Judge, then State Attorney.<ref>Zasier, 182</ref> Lew and his wife were baptized on August 28, 1894. Lew later become a Sunday school teacher, then the superintendent.<ref>Zasier, 192</ref> Tragedy struck once again, Albert caught diphtheria in the woods and died on December 13, about a week later.<ref>Zasier, 195</ref> Six days later, Julia had a heart attack and died, induced by the stress of losing their second born son.<ref>Zasier, 197</ref>


Brown then bought the ''Spencer Courier'' and resumed his newspaper work.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=153}} On August 26, 1890, Barbra Brown was born.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=158}} Later that year, the ''Spencer Courier'' printing office burned down, forcing a move.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=167}}
Lew married his late wife’s sister, Mollie Amelia Struby on October 10, 1895.<ref name="Zasier_c">Zasier, 209</ref> Lew's first daughter, Barbra died on November 17 from diphtheria, just as her brother had before.<ref name="Zasier_c" /> Mollie would bear his second daughter, Amelia Louise, on September 14, 1898.<ref>Zasier, 217</ref> The following year, Lew ran for county prosecutor. He won handily due to his willingness to make a speech at bullet point.<ref>Zasier, 218-219</ref> In the fall of 1902, Chauncey was admitted to Kentucky State College, at 15, thus being well on his way to earning the full education his father never was able to obtain.<ref>Zasier, 225</ref> The next year, Lew sold his law practice and the ''Spencer Courier'' and moved on to the ''Harrodsburg Democrat''.<ref>Zasier, 226</ref> He only defended at one last trial, and then stopped practicing law for good.<ref>Zasier, 231</ref> Chauncey obtained his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in June 1906 with many high honors and accolades. He returned to school to obtain his masters.<ref>Zaiser, 238</ref>


==Law career==
⚫
In 1907, Lew was elected president of the Kentucky Press association, and he used his new position to introduce a new law, which was designed to protect consumers from false advertising. The law passed and a few other states in the region copied his idea.<ref>Zasier, 240</ref> On December 10, 1908, Lew’s stepfather, Will, had passed, leaving his mother alone and restless. Lew decided to buy a winter home in Florida, where she lived, to keep her company.<ref>Zaiser, 242</ref>
Due to the [[Panic of 1893]], Brown decided to become a lawyer to supplement his newspaper income. After obtaining his law license,{{sfn|Zaiser|p=181}} Brown became a Police Judge, then a State Attorney.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=182}}


Brown and his wife were baptized as Christians on August 28, 1894. Brown later become a [[Sunday school]] teacher, then the superintendent.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=192}}
==Sunshine Gambit==
Lew spent only five days in St. Petersburg but he made the decision to make it a semi-permanent residence by buying the ''Evening Independent'',<ref>Zasier, 253</ref> named for its print time of 4:00 pm.<ref>Zaiser, 265</ref> His wife had helped him double the paper’s subscriptions and joined the Woman’s Town Improvement Association and Les Treize.<ref>Zasier, 255</ref>


On December 13, 1893, Albert Brown died of diphtheria.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=195}} Six days later, his mother, Julia Brown died of a heart attack.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=197}} Brown married Julia's sister, Mollie Amelia Struby on October 10, 1895.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=209}} Barbra Brown died on November 17 from diphtheria.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=209}} Amelia Louise Brown was born on September 14, 1898.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=217}}
Lew’s immersion in the town’s growth began in 1909, where he joined the Charter committee and set up a new charter, which was ratified in March. He also advocated for a hospital to be built to prevent the ill from simply collapsing due to inadequate healthcare.<ref>Zaiser, 260</ref> On September 1, 1910, Lew Brown took his most radical step for promoting St. Petersburg, by way of “The Sunshine Offer.” He proclaimed that every day the sun does not shine, he would give his paper away for free.<ref>Baker, 95</ref> Within six weeks, he had to give away two free papers, due to a hurricane.<ref>Zasier, 269</ref> Fortunately, Lew’s gambit only averaged four free papers every year the Independent was published.<ref>Arsenault, 139</ref> By the end of the 1910, he sold the ''Democrat'' and bought a permanent residence in St. Petersburg. In addition, his son Chauncey owned one third of the Independent and chose to live in St. Petersburg as well.<ref>Zaiser, 275</ref>

In 1899, Brown ran for county prosecutor. He won handily due to his willingness to make a speech at bullet point.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=218-219}} In 1900, Brown sold his law practice and the ''Spencer Courier,'' then bought the ''Harrodsburg Democrat''. in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=226}} He only defended at one last trial, and then stopped practicing law.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=231}}

⚫
In 1907, Brown was elected president of the Kentucky Press association. He used his new position to promote a [[consumer protection]] law in Kentucky against false advertising. Several other states in the region copied his idea.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=240}} After his stepfather died on December 10, 1908, Brown decided to buy a winter home in Florida to be near his mother.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=242}}

==In St. Petersburg==
After five days in St. Peterburg, Brown bought the ''Evening Independent'',{{sfn|Zaiser|p=253}} named for its print time of 4:00 pm.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=265}} His wife helped Brown double the paper's subscriptions.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=255}} in 1909, Brown joined the Charter committee to create a new city charter, which was ratified in March. He also advocated for a hospital in the city.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=260}}

On September 1, 1910, Brown revealed "The Sunshine Offer." He proclaimed that every day the sun does not shine in St. Petersburg, he would give his paper away for free.<ref>Baker, 95</ref> Within six weeks, Brown had to give away two free papers, due to a [[hurricane]].{{sfn|Zaiser|p=269}} Brown averaged four free papers every year the ''Independent'' was published.<ref>Arsenault, 139</ref>

In late 1910, Brown sold the ''Harrodsburg Democrat'' and bought a permanent residence in St. Petersburg.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=275}}
In 1911, Brown successfully advocated for the creation of [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]] to cover the [[Pinellas peninsula|Pinellas Peninsula]].{{sfn|Zaiser|p=279}} Brown, as the President of the Board of Trade, commissioned a road through the new county. During its construction, Brown discovered that the road contractors had used inferior bricks and cheated the country.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=280}}
Lew used his political clout to advocate for the separation of the Pinellas Peninsula from the rest of Hillsborough County. The measure succeeded in November, 1911, and the new county was named Pinellas.<ref>Zaiser, 279</ref> When Pinellas became its own county, Lew, as the President of the Board of Trade, commissioned a road through Pinellas County. During construction, it came to his attention the contractors had used inferior bricks and pocketed the difference in cash.<ref>Zaiser, 280</ref> Lew put an end to the graft, but he had managed to create a few enemies along the way, due to the public nature of the affair. One commissioner had written an editorial in the ''St. Petersburg Times'' that defamed both him and Chauncey.<ref name="Zaiser_b">Zaiser, 281</ref> When Lew saw Chauncey’s good name being slandered, he threatened to shoot the commissioner dead.<ref name="Zaiser_b" /> The commissioner called the police, and Lew went to trial for threatening to kill.<ref>Zaiser, 282</ref> He was acquitted and an apology appeared in the Times the next day, along with the Independent’s front-page coverage of the trial.<ref>Zaiser, 284</ref>

Brown exposed the road scandal, but created political enemies. One commissioner wrote an editorial in the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' that allegedly defamed both Brown and his son Chauncey.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=281}} Brown then threatened to shoot the commissioner dead.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=281}} The commissioner filed a [[criminal complaint]] and Brown was eventually indicted for his threat.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=282}} After a trial, Brown was acquitted, The ''Times'' published an apology the next day, along with the Independent's front-page coverage of the trial.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=284}}

==Military and civic affairs==
In December 1913, Lew invested in an airline to get people across [[Tampa Bay]].<ref>Arsenault, 142</ref> On July 23, 1916, Brown helped revive the Yacht Club.<ref>Baker, 115</ref>


At the start of [[World War I]] began, Florida Governor [[Sidney Johnston Catts|Sidney Catts]] appointed Brown as Captain of the Home Guard for Pinellas County.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=290}} Lew initially called for 100 men to enlist for one company, but he soon had four and the four elected him to be the commissioner. Catts later promoted Brown to major.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=291}}
==Major Brown==
In December 1913, Lew invested in an airline to get people across Tampa Bay.<ref>Arsenault, 142</ref> On September 16, 1915, Chauncey married former dance teacher Marion Edwina Ames.<ref name="Zaiser_c">Zaiser, 290</ref> On July 23, 1916, Lew Brown, William, Straub and George Gandy revived the Yacht Club.<ref>Baker, 115</ref> Lew met his first grandchild in January 1917, born from Chauncey and Edwina.<ref name="Zaiser_c" /> When World War I began, Lew was appointed by Governor Catts to be Captain of the Home Guard for Pinellas County.<ref name="Zaiser_c" /> Lew initially called for 100 men to enlist for one company, but he soon had four and the four elected him to be the commissioner. Catts promoted Lew to the position of major shortly after.<ref>Zaiser, 291</ref>
On October 25, 1921, St. Petersburg is hammered by a hurricane, which took out the recreational pier. Lew launched a campaign to have the pier rebuilt, raising $300,000 to do so. It was rebuilt by January of the following year at a final cost of almost $1,000,000.<ref>Grsimer, 162</ref>
On October 25, 1921, St. Petersburg was hit by the [[1921 Tampa Bay hurricane|Tampa Bay Hurricane]] and its recreational pier was destroyed. Brown launched a campaign to rebuild it, raising $300,000 to do so. The new pier was finished January 1922 at a final cost of almost $1,000,000.<ref>Grismer, 162</ref>


==End of Brown's Life==
==Later years and death==
On August 14, 1923, a new charter was ratified by the commission, which Lew Brown chartered while he was the president of the commission. It reduced the power of the mayor and allowed commission members to be elected by popular vote.<ref>Grismer, 238</ref> On August 21, Lew Brown immersed himself in a political fight over the Nolan Plan for too much control over city development. Unlike most political fights he participated in, he lost his bid to remove the Nolan Plan.<ref>Baker, 138</ref> On December 19, Lew’s youngest daughter, Louise, married Orville Ray in the Soreno Hotel.<ref>Zaiser, 301</ref>
On August 14, 1923, a new charter was ratified by the commission, which Brown chartered while he was the president of the commission. It reduced the power of the mayor and allowed commission members to be elected by popular vote.<ref>Grismer, 238</ref> On August 21, Brown immersed himself in a political fight over the Nolan Plan for too much control over city development. Unlike most political fights he participated in, he lost his bid to remove the Nolan Plan.<ref>Baker, 138</ref>{{sfn|Zaiser|p=301}}


On December 16, 1927, the city of St. Petersburg celebrated one year of sunshine, in which time no free papers were given.<ref>Baker, 159-160</ref> Earlier that year, Lew had ceded the positions for Editor and president over to Chauncey. On July 18, 1929, Lew’s mother, Amelia Levisa Young Brown Cummings, finally passed on.<ref>Zaiser, page 320</ref>
On December 16, 1927, the city of St. Petersburg celebrated one year of sunshine, in which time no free papers were given.<ref>Baker, 159-160</ref> Earlier that year, Lew had ceded the positions for Editor and president over to Chauncey.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=320}}


In January 1941, Mollie died, twelve days after Lew’s first great grandchild Alan Zaiser was born.<ref>Zaiser, 335</ref> On August 16, 1944, Lew B. Brown died at 85 years old.<ref>Grismer, 310</ref>
In January 1941, Mollie Brown died.{{sfn|Zaiser|p=335}} On August 16, 1944, Lew B. Brown died at 85 years old.<ref>Grismer, 310</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==
Lew was a known poet and had many of his works published in newspapers. Eventually they were compiled into a book called ''A Bit of Lace and Other Poems'', which was reprinted with the additional poem “Woman,” called ''Woman and Other Poems''.<ref>Grismer, 309</ref>
Brown's poems were published as ''A Bit of Lace and Other Poems.'' It was reprinted with the additional poem "Woman," called ''Woman and Other Poems''.<ref>Grismer, 309</ref>


==Controversy==
==Racism==
The nature of the time period and location did yield Lew to have racist tendencies, of an odd patriarchal sort, which is to say he regarded the African-Americans as children who could not govern themselves. He supported the White Primaries that were common occurrences in the South and wrote they were necessary “in order to maintain control of city affairs in the hands of the white people.”<ref name="Wilson">Wilson, 19</ref> While he did not write of any explicit hatred or ill will to “negroes,” he did carry an air of superiority above them.
During his time in Florida, Brown supported the [[White primaries|White Primaries]], writing that they were necessary "in order to maintain control of city affairs in the hands of the white people."<ref name="Wilson">Wilson, 19</ref>


The tragic lynching of John Evans and Lew’s commentary on the situation illuminates his odd bipolarity. After the event he wrote, “It should be remembered that John Evans was not a St. Petersburg Negro; he came here only a few weeks ago from Dunnellon. It is usually the Negroes that stray here and stay only a short while who commit crimes. The bulk of St. Petersburg negroes are honest, principled people who are industrious and well behaved.”<ref name="Wilson" />
After the 1914 [[lynching of John Evans]], Brown wrote, <blockquote>"It should be remembered that John Evans was not a St. Petersburg Negro; he came here only a few weeks ago from Dunnellon. It is usually the Negroes that stray here and stay only a short while who commit crimes. The bulk of St. Petersburg negroes are honest, principled people who are industrious and well behaved."<ref name="Wilson" /></blockquote> In Brown's poem "To a Mulatto", he calls a [[mulatto]] child an abomination and states that the black in a mulatto's blood was somehow inferior to the white blood. He implies that whites have an obligation to not produce such children.<ref>Lew, 20</ref>


Lew also wrote a poem about Mulatto people, titled “To a Mulatto,” where he calls the child an abomination and the black in their blood was somehow inferior to the white blood but still implicates that the whites have an obligation to not produce such children.<ref>Lew, 20</ref> It is this unsavory attitude to a fellow human that caused a stir in August 2000, when a statue of Lew Brown was to be placed in the Pier he had helped maintain. The statue was abandoned in favor of a nondescript child selling the Evening Independent. A compromise was met where the statue would be nondescript, but Lew would be mentioned on the “Sunshine Offer” Plaque.<ref>Lennie</ref>
Due to Brown's racist opinions, there were protests in August 2000 when the City of St. Petersburg announced plans to erect a statue of Brown on the St. Petersburg Pier. In a compromise, the statue became that of a child selling the ''Evening Independent'', with Brown mentioned on the plaque.<ref>Lennie (2000)</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 67: Line 94:
* Brown, Lew B. ''A Bit of Lace and Other Poems''. St.Petersburg 1928. Print.
* Brown, Lew B. ''A Bit of Lace and Other Poems''. St.Petersburg 1928. Print.
* Grismer, Karl H. ''The Story of St.Petersburg''. St.Petersburg: P.K. Smith & Company, 1948. Print.
* Grismer, Karl H. ''The Story of St.Petersburg''. St.Petersburg: P.K. Smith & Company, 1948. Print.
* Wilson. "Days of Feat: A Lynching in St.Petersburg." ''St. Petersburg Evening Independent'' [St.Petersburg] 14 November 1914. 19.
* Wilson. "Days of Fear: A Lynching in St.Petersburg." ''St. Petersburg Evening Independent'' [St.Petersburg] 14 November 1914. 19.
* Zaiser, Marion. ''The Beneficent Blaze''. New York: Pageant Press, 1960. Print.
* {{cite book|last=Zaiser|first=Marion|title=The Beneficent Blaze|location=New York|publisher=Pageant Press|year=1960|ref={{sfnref|Zaiser}}}}

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[[Category:20th-century American poets]]
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[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American newspaper publishers (people)]]
[[Category:Journalists from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Writers from St. Petersburg, Florida]]
[[Category:Journalists from Florida]]
[[Category:Poets from Florida]]
[[Category:Florida lawyers]]
[[Category:19th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:Kentucky lawyers]]

Latest revision as of 13:45, 25 May 2024

Lew Buford Brown
Born(1861-06-13)June 13, 1861
Madison, Arkansas, C.S.
DiedAugust 16, 1944(1944-08-16) (aged 83)
Other namesLlewellyn Buford Brown
Occupation(s)Editor and poet

Llewellyn Buford Brown, also known as Lew Brown, (June 13, 1861 – August 16, 1944) was an American lawyer, newspaper publisher, and promoter for Saint Petersburg, Florida. He owned and edited the Evening Independent in that city from 1908 to 1927.

Brown was famous for the "Sunshine Offer" that offered a free newspaper for every day in St. Petersburg without sunshine.

Early life

[edit]

Brown was born in Madison, Arkansas on June 13, 1861 during the American Civil War.[1] His mother was Amelia L. Brown and his father was George L. Brown,[2] a captain in the Confederate Army.[3] Lew had two younger sisters, Cora and Hattie. Brown was home schooled by his father[4] and never received a full public education despite his desire for one.

After the war, the Brown family moved to St. Louis, Missouri then to Helena, Missouri, then Madison and Forrest City, Arkansas.[5] In Forest City, Brown claimed that he witnessed the murder of a white man by a black man.[6]

Career beginnings

[edit]

A year after moving to Forrest City, the Brown family moved to Ozark.[7] George Brown had bought the Ozark Banner to publish himself.[7] At age 10, after his father's health declined, Brown left school to help in the print shop.[8] At age 13, Brown and his sisters began printing their own Saturday paper, the Monthly Visitor.[9] George Brown died in April 1876.[10]

Brown's mother married Joseph William Cummings a few months later.[11] The family later sold the Banner and moved to Cloverport, Kentucky and later Louisville, Kentucky.[10] In Louisville, Brown[12] joined the Courier-Journal as a journeyman printer.[13] He later became the foreman, journalist and poet for both it and the Louisville Times.[14]

Marriage

[edit]

On February 11, 1885, Brown married Emma Julia Struby.[15] He then picked up a third job working as foreman for a Sunday paper called the Truth. [16] On July 11, 1886, the couple had their first child, Llewellyn Chauncey Brown.[17] He also became the editor of the Labor Record.[17]

In November 1886, the stress of Brown's s four jobs and Chauncey's ill-health motivated the Brown family to move to Spencer County, Indiana to live on a farm called Fairview Farm.[18] Brown spent all his money to get the seed and capital to plant, but the crop was washed away by rain. Brown then regained his job at the Courier-Journal and moved back to Louisville that spring.[19]

On August 13, 1889, the Browns had another child, Albert Young.[20] Brown suffered a heart attack a few weeks later and was warned by doctors to take it easier.[20] In response, the Brown family moved to Peewee Valley, Kentucky to grow peaches.[20] However, the peach crop was not fit for eating and their house burned down.[21]

Brown then bought the Spencer Courier and resumed his newspaper work.[22] On August 26, 1890, Barbra Brown was born.[23] Later that year, the Spencer Courier printing office burned down, forcing a move.[24]

Law career

[edit]

Due to the Panic of 1893, Brown decided to become a lawyer to supplement his newspaper income. After obtaining his law license,[25] Brown became a Police Judge, then a State Attorney.[26]

Brown and his wife were baptized as Christians on August 28, 1894. Brown later become a Sunday school teacher, then the superintendent.[27]

On December 13, 1893, Albert Brown died of diphtheria.[28] Six days later, his mother, Julia Brown died of a heart attack.[29] Brown married Julia's sister, Mollie Amelia Struby on October 10, 1895.[30] Barbra Brown died on November 17 from diphtheria.[30] Amelia Louise Brown was born on September 14, 1898.[31]

In 1899, Brown ran for county prosecutor. He won handily due to his willingness to make a speech at bullet point.[32] In 1900, Brown sold his law practice and the Spencer Courier, then bought the Harrodsburg Democrat. in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.[33] He only defended at one last trial, and then stopped practicing law.[34]

In 1907, Brown was elected president of the Kentucky Press association. He used his new position to promote a consumer protection law in Kentucky against false advertising. Several other states in the region copied his idea.[35] After his stepfather died on December 10, 1908, Brown decided to buy a winter home in Florida to be near his mother.[36]

In St. Petersburg

[edit]

After five days in St. Peterburg, Brown bought the Evening Independent,[37] named for its print time of 4:00 pm.[38] His wife helped Brown double the paper's subscriptions.[39] in 1909, Brown joined the Charter committee to create a new city charter, which was ratified in March. He also advocated for a hospital in the city.[40]

On September 1, 1910, Brown revealed "The Sunshine Offer." He proclaimed that every day the sun does not shine in St. Petersburg, he would give his paper away for free.[41] Within six weeks, Brown had to give away two free papers, due to a hurricane.[42] Brown averaged four free papers every year the Independent was published.[43]

In late 1910, Brown sold the Harrodsburg Democrat and bought a permanent residence in St. Petersburg.[44]

In 1911, Brown successfully advocated for the creation of Pinellas County to cover the Pinellas Peninsula.[45] Brown, as the President of the Board of Trade, commissioned a road through the new county. During its construction, Brown discovered that the road contractors had used inferior bricks and cheated the country.[46]

Brown exposed the road scandal, but created political enemies. One commissioner wrote an editorial in the St. Petersburg Times that allegedly defamed both Brown and his son Chauncey.[47] Brown then threatened to shoot the commissioner dead.[47] The commissioner filed a criminal complaint and Brown was eventually indicted for his threat.[48] After a trial, Brown was acquitted, The Times published an apology the next day, along with the Independent's front-page coverage of the trial.[49]

Military and civic affairs

[edit]

In December 1913, Lew invested in an airline to get people across Tampa Bay.[50] On July 23, 1916, Brown helped revive the Yacht Club.[51]

At the start of World War I began, Florida Governor Sidney Catts appointed Brown as Captain of the Home Guard for Pinellas County.[52] Lew initially called for 100 men to enlist for one company, but he soon had four and the four elected him to be the commissioner. Catts later promoted Brown to major.[53]

On October 25, 1921, St. Petersburg was hit by the Tampa Bay Hurricane and its recreational pier was destroyed. Brown launched a campaign to rebuild it, raising $300,000 to do so. The new pier was finished January 1922 at a final cost of almost $1,000,000.[54]

Later years and death

[edit]

On August 14, 1923, a new charter was ratified by the commission, which Brown chartered while he was the president of the commission. It reduced the power of the mayor and allowed commission members to be elected by popular vote.[55] On August 21, Brown immersed himself in a political fight over the Nolan Plan for too much control over city development. Unlike most political fights he participated in, he lost his bid to remove the Nolan Plan.[56][57]

On December 16, 1927, the city of St. Petersburg celebrated one year of sunshine, in which time no free papers were given.[58] Earlier that year, Lew had ceded the positions for Editor and president over to Chauncey.[59]

In January 1941, Mollie Brown died.[60] On August 16, 1944, Lew B. Brown died at 85 years old.[61]

Publications

[edit]

Brown's poems were published as A Bit of Lace and Other Poems. It was reprinted with the additional poem "Woman," called Woman and Other Poems.[62]

Racism

[edit]

During his time in Florida, Brown supported the White Primaries, writing that they were necessary "in order to maintain control of city affairs in the hands of the white people."[63]

After the 1914 lynching of John Evans, Brown wrote,

"It should be remembered that John Evans was not a St. Petersburg Negro; he came here only a few weeks ago from Dunnellon. It is usually the Negroes that stray here and stay only a short while who commit crimes. The bulk of St. Petersburg negroes are honest, principled people who are industrious and well behaved."[63]

In Brown's poem "To a Mulatto", he calls a mulatto child an abomination and states that the black in a mulatto's blood was somehow inferior to the white blood. He implies that whites have an obligation to not produce such children.[64]

Due to Brown's racist opinions, there were protests in August 2000 when the City of St. Petersburg announced plans to erect a statue of Brown on the St. Petersburg Pier. In a compromise, the statue became that of a child selling the Evening Independent, with Brown mentioned on the plaque.[65]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Zaiser, p. 13.
  2. ^ Grismer, 308
  3. ^ Zaiser, p. 20.
  4. ^ Zaiser, p. 38.
  5. ^ Zaiser, p. 64.
  6. ^ Zaiser, p. 65.
  7. ^ a b Zaiser, p. 71.
  8. ^ Zaiser, p. 73.
  9. ^ Zaiser, p. 80.
  10. ^ a b Zaiser, p. 83.
  11. ^ Zaiser, p. 90.
  12. ^ Zaiser, p. 94.
  13. ^ Zaiser, p. 96.
  14. ^ Zaiser, p. 100-102.
  15. ^ Zaiser, p. 130.
  16. ^ Zaiser, p. 136.
  17. ^ a b Zaiser, p. 140.
  18. ^ Zaiser, p. 141.
  19. ^ Zaiser, p. 148-149.
  20. ^ a b c Zaiser, p. 151.
  21. ^ Zaiser, p. 152.
  22. ^ Zaiser, p. 153.
  23. ^ Zaiser, p. 158.
  24. ^ Zaiser, p. 167.
  25. ^ Zaiser, p. 181.
  26. ^ Zaiser, p. 182.
  27. ^ Zaiser, p. 192.
  28. ^ Zaiser, p. 195.
  29. ^ Zaiser, p. 197.
  30. ^ a b Zaiser, p. 209.
  31. ^ Zaiser, p. 217.
  32. ^ Zaiser, p. 218-219.
  33. ^ Zaiser, p. 226.
  34. ^ Zaiser, p. 231.
  35. ^ Zaiser, p. 240.
  36. ^ Zaiser, p. 242.
  37. ^ Zaiser, p. 253.
  38. ^ Zaiser, p. 265.
  39. ^ Zaiser, p. 255.
  40. ^ Zaiser, p. 260.
  41. ^ Baker, 95
  42. ^ Zaiser, p. 269.
  43. ^ Arsenault, 139
  44. ^ Zaiser, p. 275.
  45. ^ Zaiser, p. 279.
  46. ^ Zaiser, p. 280.
  47. ^ a b Zaiser, p. 281.
  48. ^ Zaiser, p. 282.
  49. ^ Zaiser, p. 284.
  50. ^ Arsenault, 142
  51. ^ Baker, 115
  52. ^ Zaiser, p. 290.
  53. ^ Zaiser, p. 291.
  54. ^ Grismer, 162
  55. ^ Grismer, 238
  56. ^ Baker, 138
  57. ^ Zaiser, p. 301.
  58. ^ Baker, 159-160
  59. ^ Zaiser, p. 320.
  60. ^ Zaiser, p. 335.
  61. ^ Grismer, 310
  62. ^ Grismer, 309
  63. ^ a b Wilson, 19
  64. ^ Lew, 20
  65. ^ Lennie (2000)

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Arsenault, Ray. St.Petersburg and the Florida Dream. Virginia Beach: The Donning Company, 1988. Print.
  • Baker, Rick. Mangroves to Major League. St.Petersburg: Southern Heritage Press, 2000. Print.
  • Bennet, Lennie. "A statue cast in controversy." St.Petersburg Times 13 August 2000. 3 December 2012. <http://www.sptimes.com/News/081300/SouthPinellas/A_statue_cast_in_cont.shtml>
  • Brown, Lew B. A Bit of Lace and Other Poems. St.Petersburg 1928. Print.
  • Grismer, Karl H. The Story of St.Petersburg. St.Petersburg: P.K. Smith & Company, 1948. Print.
  • Wilson. "Days of Fear: A Lynching in St.Petersburg." St. Petersburg Evening Independent [St.Petersburg] 14 November 1914. 19.
  • Zaiser, Marion (1960). The Beneficent Blaze. New York: Pageant Press.
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