Brown Vault – Thomas A. Brown, an engineer, was hired by Col. Smith to survey and plot the city of Martinez for a fee of $2,500. He did this with the help of his brother Warren.
He came to the west coast as early as 1843 when he along with the company of immigrants, arrived at Willamette Falls, Oregon. During that time, Thomas laid out the City of Portland, Oregon Territory.
Following the Smith assignment, he was hired by the William Welch heirs to survey another 500 acres east of Alhambra Creek to be added to the new city. He received nearly 1/3 of the land surveyed as payment. Thomas was a partner in a trading post located in town.
He was appointed Alcalde of the territory in 1849 and was elected first County Clerk and Recorder when Contra Costa County was formed in 1850. He retired from that post in 1855 to become a County Supervisor. While serving as County Clerk, he studied law and was admitted to practice in 1855.
He was elected to the Assembly in 1864 and served two terms. in 1867, he was the Republican choice for U.S. Senate to succeed the Hon. John Conness. He lost to Democrat Eugene Casserly by 13 votes.
He was appointed to the County Judgeship of Contra Costa County on January 21, 1874 by the governor of California to fill the vacancy “occasioned by the sudden death of Judge Lander…”.
In 1874, Judge Brown was elected President of the Alhambra Cemetery Association.
When the Superior Court was created, he became the first Superior Court Judge commissioned in 1879.
In 1884, Superior Court Judge Brown was stricken with paralysis and was not able to move his limbs or speak. He died on August 5, 1889 at his home. His father and mother lie in the grave immediately to the right.
The original content of this post was taken from the previous website and updated for republishing in 2021.