User:Ggillette/S. Joe Brown

S. Joe Brown was born in Keosauqua, Iowa in 1875.

Life and career
Brown’s parents' deaths, when he was but fourteen years of age, made him an independent man. At the age of nineteen years, the Ottumwa High School graduated him with the honor of Class Orator. He was the only African American member of the class. Matriculation at University of Iowa followed. Brown was the first African American student to receive the degree of A.B.  Brown was elected an honorary member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Brown became Principal of the Public Schools at Muchakinock, Iowa. Later, he was named Chair of Ancient Languages at Bishop College in Marshall, Texas in 1899. He studied law at the University of Iowa. Finishing the prescribed courses in two years time, he received the degree of LL.B.  In June, 1902, the University presented him with the degree of A.M. making him the first African American to have received this degree at his College.

Brown practiced law with Mr. George H. Woodson in Albia, Iowa. During this time he and Woodson led the founding of the Iowa Negro Bar (Iowa National Bar Association) and the National Bar Association.

Brown was an active member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) Church. In 1904, he was an Alternate-Delegate to the General Conference in Chicago. Brown married Sue Wilson, of Buxton, Iowa, a woman noted for unusual intellectual ability and great devotion to the Church - she was several times elected District Superintendent of Sunday Schools of the Iowa District of the A. M. E. Church.