John Brown Colony 1889 -

by Thos. H. Thompson, Tulare, California, 1891

The John Brown Colony was organized and incorporated in September, 1889, and a syndicate was formed, principally of eastern capitalists, the management of its affairs being placed in the hands of John Brown, who was chosen as the local manager of the corporation with head-quarters at Madera. He immediately purchased 3,500 acres of land, situated seven miles south of the town of Madera, and subdivided it into five-acre lots, and in this the genius of the project was developed.
To give a plain and comprehensive idea of the scheme, an extract is here taken from the plans and specifications of the manager of the syndicate: "We take a large tract and divide it into small lots, taking five acres as our unit, and dispose of the whole tract in such or larger quantities. The purchaser has only to pay a nominal sum, according to the number of acres bargained for, as an evidence of good faith at the time the contract is made, such payment to be credited to him at the time of final settlement, the other payment to be as follows: One-third in one year, one-third in two years and the remainder at the expiration of three years, when he acquires a perfect title to his purchase.
The colony will fence, cultivate and plant the land, receiving as a recompense therefor the proceeds of the third year's crop, as the second year's product rarely even amounts to anything; or else the purchaser can make special and different arrangements; or, if one simply takes land in this colony as an investment, not intending to make it his home, he will procure a property which will yield him each year as much as it has cost him in cash outlay. The idea is that of co-operation in all the expenses until the property is brought up to a producing condition and the land is paid for, when it becomes the individual property of the subscriber."
And again -
"We plant fruits and tend them for three years for the price named. At the end of that time, if the land has not been paid for, we will cultivate another year or two if necessary. We wish to be fully understood on this point. We are not making a proposition to just cultivate for three years and take what crops may be produced upon the land in that time as our entire pay. We put this upon a business basis. The lands must be paid for. We will guarantee the best of cultivation and make all efforts to produce their price as quickly as possible. As we have often explained, it is to our direct interest to do so, for we want our money as soon as we can get it. This plan in fact by identifying our interest with those of the colonists, gives them the best kind of guarantee that the land will have the highest cultivation. We explain this that everything may be understood clearly. We can plant and cultivate the lands for three years for the price named, but we cannot go any further than that, and no reasonable person will ask us to do so after this explanation."
This, in brief, is the plan. Each individual who purchases a lot becomes a member of the association and an assistant in the development of the lands of the colony. The list of members compose many citizens of Eastern States who have never visited California, and who have confidence in the integrity of Manager Brown.
(Source: Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California - Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892)

A promotional advertisement was published in the California Illustrated Magazine. Vol. 3 (December 1892 - May 1893) San Francisco: Californian Publishing Company.

An illustrated, contemporary, description of the The John Brown Colony, written by William H. B. Hayward, was published in California Illustrated Magazine. Vol. 1(Oct. 1891 - May 1892).

(Source: Friends' Intelligencer & Journal (vol. 48) Philadelphia, 1891)

(Source: St. Nicholas: an illustrated magazine for young folks (vol. 18) New York, 1891.

(Source: Indiana School Journal. Vol. 35 (Indianapolis, 1890)

Biographical Sketch of John Brown

Prominent among the developers of Fresno County, and foremost in the rank of development about Madera, stands the subject of this sketch, who was born in Warren County, Illinois, in 1860. His education was acquired at Abingdon (Illinois) College, and at the Oskaloosa College in Iowa. In 1883 Mr. Brown was married at Oskaloosa, to Miss Emma Edwards, an estimable lady of that city. Mr.. Brown then began teaching, which he followed for two years in Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska, and in 1885 came to California and settled at Elsinore, San Diego County, where he followed teaching for three years. During the last year Mr. Brown's mind was greatly occupied with a colonization scheme, through the working of which he could develop a given acreage, sell it out on small holdings, and thus bring into the State agricultural communities, which are recognized as the life blood of every prosperous locality. The better to carry out his scheme, Mr. Brown came to the great San Joaquin valley in the fall of 1889, and settled at Madera. Mr. Brown was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Madera, which opened its doors for business November 25, 1889, and was elected cashier; but the duties of the office are mainly conducted by W. F. Baird, the vice-president, as Mr. Brown's time was given to the location and colonization of adjoining lands, under the name of John Brown colony, which was incorporated at about that time, with Mr. Brown president and manager, J.E. Newman, secretary, and W.F. Baird, treasurer. The working system is that the company shall manage and care for the land as one ranch--lands to be subdivided into blocks of five acres and upwards, and sold to purchasers who pay a small price per acre for planting and care of land for a term of three years, and the fruits off the land to pay the price of purchase. Under this plan, the company have bought and are improving 4,980 acres, a large portion of which is already sold to colonists, and through the workings of this colossal scheme, Madera has felt a great impetus in her growth, and a large increase in her population. The John Brown colony have also placed upon the marked 10,000 acres in Antelope valley, situated in the northern part of Los Angeles County. This valley, being at an elevation of 2,300 feet, is better adapted to the deciduous fruits, but the colonization is being carried out on a similar plan. To the successful carrying out of this stupendous enterprise Mr. Brown is devoting all his attention, and to him is justly due the credit for much of Madera's present growth and prosperity. (Source: Memorial and biographical history of the counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California. Chicago; Lewis Publishing Co., 1891, p. 798).