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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., May 28, 1942, page 1

OLD KLICKITAT ARCHIVES TELL STORY OF JOSHUA BROWN

In a nearly forgotten grave in Goldendale's I.O.O.F cemetery lie the remains of a pioneer who at his death 72 years ago left all his worldly wealth in a perpetual fund for Klickitat county schools.
The man was Joshua Brown, founder of this county's unique Joshua Brown School Fund. Though many today know of the fund that bears his name, few if any living remember the man. The fund he left to the county schools today amounts to $2765.21. Complete records are not available but county officials believe that the fund was once slightly larger.
In the years since the fund was officially established by act of the Washington Territorial legislature back on Nov. 2, 1875, the money has been loaned and reloaned. It is impossible to know accurately the amount of interest money from these loans that has accrued to the county schools. The figure is not less than $5,000 and perhaps nearer $10,000.

LIVED NEAR RIVER

Little is known today of Joshua Brown, the man. He owned a ranch in the Chamberlin Flat community. That much is known. He died on December 13, 1870. In the dusty archives of the county clerk's office inside the covers of a probate ledger written in longhand is the last will and testament of Joshua Brown. The will was recorded Dec. 24, 1870. The text follows:
" I, Joshua Brown, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, Blessed Be Almighty God for the Same, do make and publish this, my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say: First I give and bequeath all my property or the cash value there of to the public school fund of Klickitat County Washington Territory provided the cash proceeds of said property shall be constantly loaned at the usual rate of interest and only the interest upon the money be used so as constitute this an irreducible school fund. Provided further that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my property and further I appoint John Burgen, of Klickitat county, my administrator to settle in a legal manner all of my business affairs. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 24th day of Oct. in this year of Our Lord 1870."

BURGEN ADMINISTRATOR

The will was witnessed by S.H. Jones and Levi Arnsworthy. John Burgen, the administrator, was himself a prominent pioneer of the county. Private records show Burgen was bonded for $6,000 cash as Joshua Brown's administrator, indicating the estate to have been about $3,000 value.
According to the Territorial act establishing the Joshua Brown school fund the county treasurer, county auditor, and school superintendent are set as board to administer the fund and approve all loans made. Each loan made must be on unincumbered real estate worth twice the amount of sum loaned.
Only loan loss on record is a $169.00 sum loaned on a personal note April 23, 1894. Although the note is still being carried on the records of the county treasurer it is probably uncollectible since the man who borrowed it is now dead.

NONE NOW LOANED

Just at present no part of $2765.21 fund is now out on loan. According to the law the money is to be loaned whenever available on real estate that passes inspection of the board.
In 1911 the board of county commissioners composed of C.O. Barnes, William Morginson and F.W. Sanders decided to exhume the body of Joshua Brown from its grave at Chamberlan Flat and bury it in Goldendale's I.O.O.F. cemetery.
A campaign was started in the county schools at that time to raise funds for a permanent and appropriate monument for the Klickitat pioneer. School children contributed 10¢ each. The stone purchased with this money now marks the grave of Joshua Brown.

WAS 35 YEARS OLD

One story concerning Joshua Brown is that he came west as a young man hoping to recover from tuberculosis. Whether this story is true or not no one seems to know. It is known however that he was only 35 years of age when he died.
Information contained in one of the county commissioner's journals shows that Joshua Brown was born May 25, 1835 and died Dec. 13, 1870. The story is that when Joshua Brown's grave was opened in 1911 preparatory to removing the body to Goldendale buttons were found in the sand indicating he had been buried in the uniform of the Union army soldier.