Alexander was one of the first white men to come from Madison County,Virginia, to Missouri as settlers. He settled as a young man in St.Louis, Missouri, where he met and married the young widow, Rebecca M. Swazee-Martin. After coming to Oregon, he joined the men going to California in 1849, for the gold rush. He eventually came back to Oregon, with some gold, but he died 3 weeks later. When he had returned from California, he was afraid someone would steal the gold, so he and his 3 year old daughter, went into the woods, and buried the box. It was never again found. Alexander built a landing for the boats on the river to stop at, along his property. All the boats stopped, and he always had company. He had promised Rebecca, he would send for her two children, but he never did.

Alexander Monroe Brown was born in Westmorland County, Pennsylvania in 1802. He was married on April 11, 1830 in St. Louis, Missouri to Rebecca Malinda Swazee. Alexander Brown's home was on the river. With his wife Rebecca, he took out a Donation Land Claim of 626 acres, settling on it in January 1848. Alexander died February 4, 1855/6, and his wife was named administratrix of the estate. The widow, Rebecca (Swazee) Brown, was married on May 25, 1857 in Multnomah County to Ira Patterson. She petitioned the Land office for a change in the half of the claim allowed to her, as the house had burned, been rebuilt on what she thought was her portion, but was in fact the heirs-at-law's. She sold a portion of the claim in 1861, and died February 21, 1875. They had six children: The heirs-at-law, named in 1861 were: Amanda Melvina Brown, born March 22, 1838 in Iowa. She was the wife of E. J. Ricketts, and at the 1860 census they had 2 children both born in Oregon: Simon Ricketts, aged 3; Melinda Rickets, aged 1. She died August 12, 1922 and was buried at Manor, Clark County, Washington. Alexander M. Brown, born January 22, 1840 at Peoria, Illinois. James W. Brown, born about 1840, probably in Iowa. He died in 1899. Julia Ann Brown, born 1843 in Iowa. She died 1906 in Clark County, Washington and was buried at Woodland. She married John Tooley, Nancy Jane Brown, born 1847 in Multnomah County. Sarah Rebeckah Brown, born 1849 in Multnomah County.