Clara Brown, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetClara Brown
American former slave, community leader, philanthropist
Date of Birth: 01-Jan-1800
Date of Death: 01-Jan-1885
Profession: midwife
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn 
About Clara Brown
- Clara Brown (c.
- 1800–1885) was a former slave from Virginia who became a community leader, philanthropist and aided settlement of former slaves during the time of Colorado's Gold Rush.
- She was known as the 'Angel of the Rockies' and made her mark as Colorado's first black settler and a prosperous entrepreneur.
- Brown was born in Virginia in 1800.
- She married another slave when she was eighteen and together they had four children.
- In 1835, Brown's family was broken apart when they were all sold to different slave owners; Clara was sold to a plantation owner in Kentucky.
- When Brown was 56 years-of-age, she received her freedom and required by law to leave the state.
- She worked her way west as a cook and laundress to Denver, Colorado. Brown settled in the mining town now called Central City, Colorado where she worked as a laundress, cook, and midwife.
- With the money she made, she invested in properties and mines in nearby towns.
- Known as "Aunt Clara" for her emotional and financial support, Brown was a founding member of a Sunday school, made her home available for prayer services and generously supported the community. At the end of the Civil War, Brown could freely travel and liquidated all of her investments to travel to Kentucky to find her daughter.
- Although she was unsuccessful, she paid the way for 16 or more relatives and others who were former slaves to move to Colorado.
- Finally, in 1882 she reunited with Eliza Jane and Eliza Jane's daughter.
- In 1885, the last year of her life, Clara Brown was voted into the Society of Colorado Pioneers for her role in Colorado's early history.
Read more at Wikipedia