George Thomas Brown was born on this day in 1869, in Mocksville, to Rufus D. and Sarah Gibbs Brown.
He moved to Winston-Salem as a child and attended the local schools. He also studied at Davidson College and took a business course at Baltimore.
His father, Rufus, was a tobacco manufacturer. He was first established in business in Mocksville, then moved to Winston-Salem in 1876 and established a tobacco business. Rufus was a soldier in the Civil War, and was badly wounded in one battle. He died in 1893. His tobacco business was sold to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
George married Elsie Thompson in 1893.
George Brown grew up in his father’s tobacco business, and established his own company in 1894 with his brother-in-law R. L. Williamson, called Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company. The business was incorporated in 1906.
George was the president of the company when he passed away in 1913.
George served on the city council, and was a mason. He also helped organize Forsyth Country Club.
The advertisement shown above was published in a 1935 newspaper.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
