BIOGRAPHY: Morganza A. BROWN, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 48-9
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MORGANZA A. BROWN, who for forty years was the faithful and efficient head of 
the saddlery department of the Cambria Iron company, is a son of Andrew and Mary 
(Green) Brown, and was born May 3, 1822, in Blairsville, Indiana county, 
Pennsylvania.
     His father was born in Centre county, this State, and belonged to one of 
those sturdy pioneer families of central Pennsylvania. When a young man, the 
tide of emigration being westward, he removed to Blairsville, Indiana county, 
which was his home until death closed his active and useful and eminently 
successful life, September 19, 1830. He was a resident of that old borough at 
the time of the building of the old Pittsburg pike, and for him the upper 
portion of the borough was named, and, to this day, is known as Browntown. His 
trade was that of a stonemason, and in his craft was recognized as a skilled and 
reliable artisan. Just prior to his death he was a contractor for the building 
of a lock on the Pennsylvania canal, which, in connection with the old Portage 
railroad, was the connecting link between the eastern and western part of the 
State. While thus engaged he caught cold, from which he never recovered, and 
which caused his death. Politically he affiliated with the party of Jefferson, 
and being well-known as a man of discriminating judgment, clear conceptions and 
of the strictest integrity, he was appointed by the Governor of the State as 
associate judge, to sit on the judicial bench of Indiana county, a position for 
which his well-known qualities of head and heart rendered him eminently 
qualified to fill, and he discharged the duties of his office in a way that 
reflected great credit upon him and secured for him the esteem and respect of 
those who knew him. His marriage resulted in the birth of the following 
children:  Eliza, born January 3, 1800, died January 12, 1822; James G., born 
February 19, 1807; Harriet, born January 23, 1809; William B., born September 
17, 1811; Susanna, born October 6, 1813, the wife of Elijah Smith, of 
Farmington, Fulton county, Illinois, and the only one living except the subject 
of this sketch; Joseph G. was born November 30, 1815; Mary Ann, born on February 
3, 1818, and died September, 1819; John B., born April 17, 1820, and died 
January 16, 1843; Morganza, subject, and Emily.
     Morganza Brown secured but the elements of an education, by attending, for 
a short time, the subscription schools, as they existed before the common school 
system was established. His father died while he was yet young, and he was put 
to the necessity of going to work to help support and take care of the family. 
In 1839 he came to Johnstown and apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a 
saddler. After learning the trade he followed it for a time, but on account of 
failing health was compelled to give it up, and then for a time worked in and 
about the warehouses that were an adjunct to the transportation on the canal and 
Portage road. In October, 1854, he commenced working for the Cambria Iron 
company, and in 1855 took charge of the saddlery department of that company, and 
for forty years remained the efficient head of it. In 1895 he resigned the 
position he had so long and so efficiently filled, and has since lived a retired 
life, and if there is anything in the saying that "labor sweetens rest," the 
rest of Mr. Brown must be sweet indeed. Up to the days of "Knownothingism," Mr. 
Brown was a staunch democrat, but upon the issues of that campaign he left the 
party of his ancestors and his youth, and has ever since cast his fortunes with 
the party of Lincoln and Grant.
     Fraternally Mr. Brown stands deservedly high. He is a member of Alma Lodge, 
No. 523, I. O. O. F., and has passed through its chairs; Mineral Lodge, No. 89, 
Knights of Pythias, in connection with which he was, for a number of years, 
Master of the Exchequer, passed through the chairs and belongs to the Uniform 
Rank, No. 18, and has passed the chairs in both lodges.
     Mr. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been since 
1839. He is a class-leader and an active and devoted worker in the church of his 
choice, and his walk and conversation reflect that amiableness of disposition, 
humane sympathy and kindly consideration for the rights and feelings of others, 
that are the ever-present characteristics and attributes of the true Christian.
     Mr. Brown has been twice married. He wedded as his first wife Caroline 
Tantlinger, January 23, 1845, and this union resulted in the birth of six 
children: Mary Catherine, born March 26, 1846, is the widow of John E. Hill, in 
his day a prominent and respected citizen of Morrellville.
     William Andrew, born December 23, 1847, now deceased; Joseph Green, whose 
sketch   follows; Anna Lena, born May 14, 1852, is the wife of John F. Seigh, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Henry Yeagley, born April 14, 
1856, deceased; Samuel, born May 16, 1860, deceased.
     The life record of Mr. Brown is a striking lesson in constancy of purpose 
and faithfulness and fidelity to the interests of his employers. And, although 
the latter were reluctant to accept his resignation, yet it was done with the 
kindly assurance that they would only be glad to accept his service should he 
feel disposed to again enter their employ.