brown was elected as a republican to the forty-fourth congress (march 4, 1875 – march 3, 1877). he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1876. he resumed the practice of law in hutchinson, kansas. register of the united states land office in larned, kansas from 1883 to 1885. he moved to el reno, oklahoma, in 1892. probate judge of canadian county 1894-1898. he died in kansas city, missouri on march 3, 1916. he was interred in lawrence cemetery, lawrence, kansas.