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JOSEPH E. BROWN


In the business and professional life of West Virginia one finds the representatives of various states. Dr. Joseph Edward Brown of Keystone, comes to the State from New Jersey, being a native of Rahway, N. J., where he was born on February 7, 1888. His father, the late Ernest L. Brown was a successful caterer. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Anna Kelly, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Kelly.

As a boy, young Brown attended the local public and high schools of Rahway. He came South for his college work and spent two years at Kittrell College. Kittrell, N. C. When ready for his medical course, he matriculated at Leonard Medical College and won his M.D. degree in 1913.

On completion of his medical course he located at Bramwell, W. Va., where he practiced for eighteen months. He then moved to Keystone, where he has since resided and has built up a practice which would be a credit to a much older man. In his surgical work he associated himself with Dr. Harrison, of Kimball, and owns an interest in the Kimball Hospital. Believing in the future of that section of West Virginia he has invested in business property at Keystone. His standing in the profession is high. He belongs to the National Medical Association and the State Medical Association. He is also identified with the local medical organization known as the Flat Top Medical Society.

In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Baptist church and is identified with the Pythians, Masons and the Golden Rule, and is medical examiner for the Pacific Mutual Insurance Company and the Inter Ocean Casualty Company. On February 3, 1912, Dr. Brown married Miss Hattie Mae Porch, daughter of Richard I. Porch and Georgia (Sumner) Porch. Mrs. Brown's father was an A.B. of Shaw University and Mrs. Porch a graduate of Estey Seminary of the same institution.

Mrs. Brown was educated at the Faucett Art School of Newark, N. J., and is an accomplished Artist. They have one child, Anna Brown.

Dr. Brown has had opportunity to study conditions over a considerable part of the country and is of the opinion that one great need of the race is the practice of economy.

Dr. Brown volunteered for the Medical Reserve Corps during the war and was commissioned First Lieut., but was not called overseas.

He enters heartily into the business, social and professional life of his people.

During his school days, Dr. Brown was active in athletics. In 1911 he was Captain of the foot ball team at Shaw and in that year was selected colored all-American full-back. In 1909 he brought to Lincoln University the first defeat in the history of the school by making a run of 85 yards for a touch-down.


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