 Although some very early records refer to the falls as " Brown 's Falls " , leading historians to assume they were named after Joseph Brown , Park Ranger Kathy Swenson , writing for the National Park Service in 2009 states : " The over whelming evidence points to Brown ’ s Falls ( and creek ) being named for Jacob Brown , major general and commander in chief of the army from 1814 – 1828 rather than for Joseph R. Brown , teenage musician at Fort Snelling and later army sergeant ( 1820 – 1828 ) , fur trader , politician , editor , and inventor . However , I have not yet found a document that officially or specifically mentions Jacob Brown as the namesake . " Swenson explains " ' Browns Fall / Creek ' seems to be most associated with military maps and personnel while ' Little Falls / Creek ' seems to be favored by those without a strong military connection although there are exceptions . " 
