Joseph A. Brown was the Leader of the original 1st Nebraska Volunteer Infantry’s Regimental Band. He was born in Baden-Wurtemburg, Germany in 1837 and immigrated to the US in 1849-1850. According to the 1860 US Census, Brown married Adelphena ___ from Missouri, and had a daughter Josephine who was born in 1859. At the time of the census the Browns were living in Omaha, and Joseph was employed as a musician.
Joseph Brown enlisted in the 1st Nebraska Infantry in June 1861, and was appointed Leader of the Regimental Band. He and the rest of the band were mustered out of service in August, 1862. That appears to end Brown’s military duty.
Next, Joseph Brown shows up in Bozeman, Montana in the 1870 US Census working in the Spieth and Krug Brewery. In 1890, Brown applies for an Invalid Pension listing Montana as the state of application, and with his service listed as Principal Musician Band,1st Nebraska Infantry.
At this point I don’t know what happened to Brown’s wife or daughter.
Joseph Brown seems to have lived out the remainder of his life in Montana, often working as a placer miner and boarding in Gardner Park and Chico in Missoula County. The date of his death has not been verified as there are several Joseph Brown’s that worked as miners in various Montana locales. But it seems likely that his death occurred about 1916.
The news of today is: I found Joseph Brown’s grave marker using Billion Graves and Find a Grave. It’s located in the Florence-Carlton Cemetery across the road from Old Carlton Church in Missoula, Montana.
This is a GREAT find!
1st Nebraska Volunteers Brass Band 