The information on record with the Texas legislature indicates that he came to Texas with his owner, after the beginning of the Civil War.   Other records indicate that he fled the plantation upon learning of the Emancipation of the slaves.    A West Columbia  historian, Ms. Cora Williams, stated that because he knew where the plantation owner’s  money was hidden, he took enough to flee the plantation and get established in another state.   Another account indicates that he was given a sum of money from his father. In either event, he  made his way to Texas. 

 

Though he could neither read nor write, Brown was an extremely intelligent man. He purchased a  substantial amount of land in Brazoria County extending  from Brazoria to Cedar Brake (Danciger, Texas).  

Because the area had such large cedar trees, he decided to buy several hundred acres. It is reported that a companion pointed out that this acreage was poor farm land. However, Brown  countered that “he was not looking at the ground, but at the trees.”  Trees meant lumber which was always in demand. 

 

In fact, it was large trees (logs) which moved his house from the Main Street in East Columbia to its place of rest at the corner of Brazos Avenue and Brown Street in West Columbia.  In addition to owning one- third of the land in West Columbia, Brown also owned a cotton gin, grist mill, and a sugar mill. By 1910, he owned approximately 3200 acres in Brazoria County, including 200 in West Columbia. 

 

Documents show that in 1896, he deeded some of his property for churches and for schools for the education of Black children.   Brown died in 1920. However, his commitment to education was evident 

posthumously,  as the Charlie Brown School, bearing his name, was built in 1937.

A number of  different buildings graced the property between W. Bernard and Brown Street known as the Charlie  Brown School.  The present structure was built in 1956 and was used to educate Black students until  integration in 1965.  After integration, the school housed the 5th and 6th grades and was known as “Charlie Brown Intermediate School”.  In 2005, the campus was closed when CBISD combined the elementary school with the intermediate school in a new facility.  

 

Realizing the need to memorialize his legacy, the Charlie Brown Heritage Foundation was formed in order to do so.  The goal of the foundation is to reestablish after school programs, including both  educational and recreational for area youth.  Additional goals are to provide adult education, job training and other  programs.

Even though the Charlie Brown School was closed,  the Charlie Brown Heritage Foundation renews its original mission to revitalize the building and provide services to the community at that site.