JAMES BROWNLIE a grocer of Vallejo was born in the village of Carluke, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 15th day of August 1836. In 1858 he left his native shores for California, arriving in the month of July of that year, when he settled in Vallejo, but shortly after removed to Benicia, where he was employed by the Pacific Mail Co. to repair the old steamship “Oregon.”  After three months he started for the Klamath river, in Humboldt county, and engaged in mining, but in four months returned to Vallejo, and worked at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner, which he continued until 1869, when he established his present business.  In March 1869, Mr. Brownlie married Miss Mary Howie, the daughter of Peter McMillen, of Campbelltown, Scotland, having issue one son, John Alexander.

History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley  & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879 pp 336