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Historic Homes of Denver: People Who Shaped Denver’s History - Aunt Clara Brown

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Palm Realty BK3273458

Clara BrownClara Brown was one of Denver's first early black pioneers.  Born in 1800, Clara Brown was born a slave in Virginia.  During her childhood, Clara Brown was sold several times eventually ending up in Kentucky.  At the age of 18, Clara Brown married her husband Richard, also a slave.  Clara Brown and her husband had four children.  Three girls named Margaret, Paulina Ann and Eliza Jane and one son named Richard.

At the age of 35, Clara Brown's owner died and her entire family was split up and sold off one by one at auction.  Clara Brown was purchased by one George Brown and worked as a house slave until Brown died when Clara was in her 50's.  Clara Brown was then given her freedom by George Brown's daughter.  Clara Brown had heard rumors that her daughter, Eliza Jane, had moved west after she had been sold years earlier.  Clara Brown decided to search for the family that she had lost years before.  Blacks were prohibited from use of the stagecoaches, so, Clara Brown worked as a cook for a group of prospectors travelling west and walked most of the 700 miles to Denver.   

Not finding her daughter in Denver, Clara Brown moved further on to Central City. where she opened a laundry business for gold rush miners.  Clara Brown collected whatever gold dust came out of the miners pockets and saved and made more money by cooking and cleaning.  By the end of the Civil War, Clara Brown had saved over $10,000.  Being a keen businesswoman, Clara Brown went on to invest in mining claims and real estate.  During this period of time, Clara Brown also helped injured miners, acted as a midwife and helped former slaves find work, thus earning her the name Aunt Clara Brown.

Clara Brown continued to search for her lost family in the coming years, traveling to Kentucky and Tennessee in her quest. Although she didn't find her children, she did find extended family members and paid for them to come to Colorado.  In 1879, Clara Brown, acting on behalf of then Colorado Governor Pitkin, assisting black families in the "Black Exodus" from slavery.  She helped them move to Colorado and get jobs in various mining camps.  Clara Brown financed many of these families with her own money.

In 1882, Clara Brown heard rumors of a black woman named Eliza Jane living in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Clara Brown immediately traveled to Iowa to see if this woman was indeed her Eliza.  Miraculously, it was, and Eliza returned to Colorado with her mother and lived with Clara Brown until her death in 1885.  The story of Clara Brown and her daughter's reunion made newspapers throughout the west.

In 1885, Clara Brown died in her sleep 3 short years after finding her daughter Eliza.  The funeral for Clara Brown was large.  Both Denver's Mayor and Colorado's Governor attended her funeral which was paid for by the Colorado Pioneer Association who made Clara Brown their first Black member.

In 1930, a chair in the Central City Opera House was installed in Clara Brown's honor.

In 1977, a stained glass portrait of Clara Brown was installed in the state capitol.

A plaque commemorating the life of Clara Brown hangs at St. James Methodist Church in Central City, stating that Clara's home had served as the first church in Central City.

In 2003, an opera about Clara Brown's life, called Gabriel's Daughter, debuted in Central City, Colorado.

Clara Brown went from a slave to being one of Colorado's most successful, well known and beloved Pioneers.  Her inspiring kindness and perseverance is something that many could learn from.

Posted by

Kerry

 If You have any questions about homes on the Space Coast, the Treasure Coast or in the greater Orlando area, please contact me at  321-626-5968.  Visit us on the web at

www.PalmRealty.com

Posted By: Kerry Klun - 321-626-5868
kerry@Palmrealty.com

Palm Realty

             

Comments (8)

Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Kerry, that is such a touching story! It gives one hope and the desire to do more in life. Thanks.

Nov 18, 2010 05:53 PM
Kerry L Klun, Broker/Owner
Palm Realty - Melbourne, FL
321-626-5868

Maria,

She certainly was inspirational wasn't she?  Good hearing from you!

Kerry

 

Nov 18, 2010 06:04 PM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips - Eureka, CA
Realtor and Broker/Owner

Hi Kerry, thank you for sharing the information about a very interesting lady!

Nov 18, 2010 07:37 PM
Diane Williams
Pell City, AL

The respect this woman gained by her kindness in helping others is very inspiring. It is wonderful that she did locate her daughter and ashamed she did not find the other three children. Thanks for the interesting read.

Nov 18, 2010 11:01 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

Kerry you are just a wealth of information about the City of Denver....it is a wonder to me how a buyer or seller would choose anyone else to sell their Historic Denver Home.

Nov 19, 2010 04:15 AM
Kerry L Klun, Broker/Owner
Palm Realty - Melbourne, FL
321-626-5868

Dan,

She was interesting and compassionate, a great combination.

Kerry

Nov 19, 2010 06:16 AM
Kerry L Klun, Broker/Owner
Palm Realty - Melbourne, FL
321-626-5868

Diane,

i can't imagine losing a child in that way, let alone four!

Kerry.

 

 

Nov 19, 2010 06:28 AM
Kerry L Klun, Broker/Owner
Palm Realty - Melbourne, FL
321-626-5868

Jeff,

I agree, I think everyone in Central Denver should call me to help them!

Kerry

Nov 19, 2010 06:30 AM