Suches in Union County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Homesite of Joseph Emerson Brown
Joseph Emerson Brown (1821-1894), born in Pickens District, South Carolina, moved to Union County, Georgia, as a boy. The old Brown home was on the present site of the Woody Gap School, opened in 1941 for mountain students. Brown worked on his father’s farm until he was nineteen, when he went to school in South Carolina. Returning to Georgia, he settled in Canton as head of the local academy. Admitted to the bar in 1845, Brown entered Yale Law School, practicing in Canton after graduating.
In 1849, Brown became a State Senator. He was elected Governor, 1857, as the Democratic compromise candidate and reelected 1859, 1861, 1863. During the Civil War, Brown’s extreme states’ rights views conflicted with President Davis’ efforts to centralize the Confederate government. After the war, Brown, unpopular for affiliating with the Republican Party and advocating submission to Reconstruction, was defeated in the U.S. Senate race of 1868. Appointed Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, 1868, he remained on the bench until in 1870 he became President of the Western & Atlantic Co. After Georgia regained home rule, Brown returned to the Democratic party and was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1880. Reelected, he served until 1891.
Erected 1964 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 144-6.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 34° 41.529′ N, 84° 1.395′ W. Marker is in Suches, Georgia, in Union County. Marker is on Georgia Route 60, 0.1 miles north of Hello Road. The marker stands in front of the Woody Gap School, "Georgia's Smallest Public School.". Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3736 Highway 60, Suches GA 30572, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Trahlyta’s Grave (approx. 5.9 miles away); Blood Mountain (approx. 6.7 miles away); The Appalachian Trail in North Georgia (approx. 6.7 miles away); Byron Herbert Reece (approx. 8.9 miles away); "Gold Diggers' Road" (approx. 8.9 miles away); Hogpen Gap (approx. 10.7 miles away); Consolidated Gold Mines (approx. 11 miles away); Dahlonega Mustering Grounds (approx. 11.1 miles away).
Also see . . . Joseph E. Brown 1821-1894.
New Georgia Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on July 21, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,305 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 20, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 4. submitted on April 3, 2020, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.