Jeremiah A. Brown

Jeremiah A. Brown (November 14, 1841 – March 28, 1913) was an American politician and civil rights activist in the American city of Cleveland, Ohio. Early in his life, Brown worked on steamboats with Mark Twain. He later moved to Cleveland, where he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1885 where together with Benjamin W. Arnett, he played an important role in fighting black laws, supporting education, and working for the civil rights of Ohio's African Americans. He also held numerous state and national political appointments.

Brown was the first African-American to receive a political appointment in Cuyahoga County, the first to serve as a deputy sheriff in Ohio, and the second to be elected to the Ohio state legislature.

Biography Early life Jeremiah A. Brown, known as "Jere", was born November 14, 1841, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest child of six children of Thomas A. and Frances J. Brown. His sister, Hallie Quinn Brown, was a noted educator and civil rights activist. He attended school in Pittsburgh until age thirteen. His classmates included Rev. Benjamin Tucker Tanner, Thomas Morris Chester, and James T. Bradford. He then joined his father as a steamboatman along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. As a steamboatman, Brown claimed friendship with Mark Twain,

About the age of seventeen he apprenticed himself to James H. McClelland to work as a carpenter and joiner. Many other employees of McClelland quit when Brown joined the shop, unwilling to work with a black person. He also attended Avery College in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, for a short time. After his apprenticeship, Brown's parents moved the family to Chatham, Ontario, to be away from discrimination. When the US Civil War began, Brown moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to work on steamboats. On January 17, 1864, he married Mary A. Wheeler, sister of Chicago lawyer Lloyd G. Wheeler and Harford minister Robert F. Wheeler. Brown later remarried and he had two children. a position he held until being elected in 1885.

In 1885 he was elected to the Ohio State House of Representatives. He was very active in the legislature, particularly in working to end the Black Laws in Ohio. He was especially known for passing an anti-discriminating insurance bill.

He was active in republican politics and supported prominent Ohio Republicans including John Sherman and Mark Hanna, for which he was rewarded with public positions after serving in the legislature. He held a number of other appointments including deputy in the state insurance commissioner's office. Brown was a prominent Mason in Ohio Later in life he was active in promoting education and religion. He was a member of the Congressional club of Cleveland. Brown was raised in the African Methodist Episcopal church and was a member of the Mt. Zion Congregational Church, in the denomination United Church of Christ at his death.

Death and legacy Brown died on March 28, 1913, aged 71.