Archives West Finding Aid

Known as Frank D. "Sandbar" Brown throughout his life in Montana, Brown was born John Francis Deane Brown in Nelson County, Virginia on November 24, 1845. In June 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served until his discharge in September 1862. He re-enlisted, this time in the marine service. Capture by the Union Army ended his military career in April 1863. Brown was paroled and transported to St. Louis where he booked passage on a steamer to Fort Union on the upper Missouri River and then on to Fort Benton in Montana Territory by December 1865. It was also about this time that Brown permanently dropped "John" from his name in response to an increasing distaste for the Union Army's marching song "John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the ground..."

In Montana Territory he worked as a fur trapper, scout and a placer miner. In 1873, A. J. Davis hired Brown, who then located the Lexington and other mines. In 1878, Brown moved to Philipsburg and worked for mining firms in the area. During the next forty years he managed and developed many of the well-known placer and quartz mines in the area. He was also owner and editor of the Philipsburg Mail and gained his nickname of "Sandbar" through the signing of many articles with that title.

Brown attended all Democratic party state conventions for over 40 years. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the major-general commanding the northwest division of the United Confederate Veterans for the states of Montana, the Dakotas, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington.

Brown was an active member of the Society of Montana Pioneers and in 1908 was elected as its historian, an office he held, except for one year, until his death in 1931. In 1923 he was also elected as secretary of the organization. Within the Society, he was instrumental in determining locations and erecting monuments marking significant historical events, including marking the path of the Mullan Road. A son, James M. Brown, and daughter, Albertina (Tina) Brown Parker, were active in the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers.

Brown married Anna Elizabeth Lentz in Helena, Montana, on December 1873. They had eight children: Frances Dean, Anna, Edward Wilhelm, Amy Frances, Albertina Nettie, Minnie Madeline, Angus, and James A. Murray. Francis Dean, Anna, and Angus died before the age of three. Anna Lentz Brown died on October 6, 1914.

During his later years, Brown was a rancher and also worked in real estate and insurance. He died in Missoula, Montana, on January 16, 1931.