Llewellyn Buford Brown, also known as Lew Brown, (June 13, 1861 – August 16, 1944) was an American lawyer, newspaper publisher, and promoter for Saint Petersburg, Florida. He owned and edited the Evening Independent in that city from 1908 to 1927.
Brown was famous for the "Sunshine Offer" that offered a free newspaper for every day in St. Petersburg without sunshine.
Early life
Brown was born in Madison, Arkansas on June 13, 1861 during the American Civil War. His mother was Amelia L. Brown and his father was George L. Brown, a captain in the Confederate Army. Lew had two younger sisters, Cora and Hattie. Brown was home schooled by his father and never received a full public education despite his desire for one.
After the war, the Brown family moved to St. Louis, Missouri then to Helena, Missouri, then Madison and Forrest City, Arkansas. In Forest City, Brown claimed that he witnessed the murder of a white man by a black man.
Career beginnings
A year after moving to Forrest City, the Brown family moved to Ozark. George Brown had bought the Ozark Banner to publish himself. At age 10, after his father's health declined, Brown left school to help in the print shop. At age 13, Brown and his sisters began printing their own Saturday paper, the Monthly Visitor. George Brown died in April 1876.
Brown's mother married Joseph William Cummings a few months later. The family later sold the Banner and moved to Cloverport, Kentucky and later Louisville, Kentucky. In Louisville, Brown joined the Courier-Journal as a journeyman printer. He later became the foreman, journalist and poet for both it and the Louisville Times.
Marriage
On February 11, 1885, Brown married Emma Julia Struby. He then picked up a third job working as foreman for a Sunday paper called the Truth. On July 11, 1886, the couple had their first child, Llewellyn Chauncey Brown. He also became the editor of the Labor Record.
In November 1886, the stress of Brown's s four jobs and Chauncey's ill-health motivated the Brown family to move to Spencer County, Indiana to live on a farm called Fairview Farm. Brown spent all his money to get the seed and capital to plant, but the crop was washed away by rain. Brown then regained his job at the Courier-Journal and moved back to Louisville that spring.
On August 13, 1889, the Browns had another child, Albert Young. Brown suffered a heart attack a few weeks later and was warned by doctors to take it easier. In response, the Brown family moved to Peewee Valley, Kentucky to grow peaches. However, the peach crop was not fit for eating and their house burned down.
Brown then bought the Spencer Courier and resumed his newspaper work. On August 26, 1890, Barbra Brown was born. Later that year, the Spencer Courier printing office burned down, forcing a move.
Law career
Due to the Panic of 1893, Brown decided to become a lawyer to supplement his newspaper income. After obtaining his law license, Brown became a Police Judge, then a State Attorney.
Brown and his wife were baptized as Christians on August 28, 1894. Brown later become a Sunday school teacher, then the superintendent.
On December 13, 1893, Albert Brown died of diphtheria. Six days later, his mother, Julia Brown died of a heart attack. Brown married Julia's sister, Mollie Amelia Struby on October 10, 1895. Barbra Brown died on November 17 from diphtheria. Amelia Louise Brown was born on September 14, 1898.
In 1899, Brown ran for county prosecutor. He won handily due to his willingness to make a speech at bullet point. In 1900, Brown sold his law practice and the Spencer Courier, then bought the Harrodsburg Democrat. in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He only defended at one last trial, and then stopped practicing law.
In 1907, Brown was elected president of the Kentucky Press association. He used his new position to promote a consumer protection law in Kentucky against false advertising. Several other states in the region copied his idea. After his stepfather died on December 10, 1908, Brown decided to buy a winter home in Florida to be near his mother.
In St. Petersburg
After five days in St. Peterburg, Brown bought the Evening Independent, named for its print time of 4:00 pm. His wife helped Brown double the paper's subscriptions. in 1909, Brown joined the Charter committee to create a new city charter, which was ratified in March. He also advocated for a hospital in the city.