Joshua Brown (Texas pioneer)
Encyclopedia
Joshua D. Brown was a Texas
pioneer who in the 1850s became the first settler of Kerrville
, the seat of Kerr County
in the Texas Hill Country
west of San Antonio
.
In 1856, Brown donated the original 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) townsite for Kerrivlle. He named the community for his fellow Kentucky
native, James Kerr
(1790–1850). He was married to the former Sarah Jane Goss of Gonzales
, Texas. He made his living by harvesting shingles from cypress trees growing along the Guadalupe River
. Brown owned 2640 acres (10.7 km²) with frontage on the river.
A.P. Brown, a son of the Browns, served during the 1930s as a member of the Kerr County commissioners court.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
pioneer who in the 1850s became the first settler of Kerrville
Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 22,826...
, the seat of Kerr County
Kerr County, Texas
Kerr County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 49,625. Its county seat is Kerrville. Kerr County was named by Joshua D. Brown for his fellow Kentucky native, James Kerr, a congressman of the Republic of Texas...
in the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
west of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
In 1856, Brown donated the original 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) townsite for Kerrivlle. He named the community for his fellow Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
native, James Kerr
James Kerr (Texas)
James Kerr was a politician in Missouri and Texas who was active in the establishment of the Republic of Texas.-Early life and family:...
(1790–1850). He was married to the former Sarah Jane Goss of Gonzales
Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
, Texas. He made his living by harvesting shingles from cypress trees growing along the Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River (Texas)
The Guadalupe River runs from Kerr County, Texas to San Antonio Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. The river is a popular destination for rafters and canoers. Larger cities along the river include New Braunfels, Kerrville, Seguin, Gonzales, Cuero, and Victoria...
. Brown owned 2640 acres (10.7 km²) with frontage on the river.
A.P. Brown, a son of the Browns, served during the 1930s as a member of the Kerr County commissioners court.