Brown Family Research - Paternal Ancestors - Segment 5

 

Oliver Martin Brown and Harriet Elizabeth Wilson

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Early Life

Oliver Martin Brown was born June 6, 1866, in Perry Co., IN. Oliver was the eldest of the three sons born to Samuel and Sarah Francis Craven Nelson Brown. Since both Sam and Sarah had been previously married and had fair sized families, the Brown household may have been quite crowded.

Samuel died when Oliver was very young (about 8), and Sarah subsequently married a man named Mathias Beard. During those early years, Oliver attended a Methodist church and became a Christian.

Marriage and Family

As a young man, Oliver is said to have earned a living in the timber business. It was then that he went to work for Joseph C. Wilson. Wilson was a man of some means and gave employment to a number of young men. While working for and boarding with Wilson, Oliver met Harriet Elizabeth Wilson (known variously as Hattie or Lizzie), Wilson's daughter. Oliver, who was over six-foot tall and had clear blue eyes, was quickly attracted to the short, gray-blue-eyed Elizabeth. Lizzie had many suitors, but over a period of time, he won her hand. Lizzie was the third child of Joseph and Isabella Wilson. Lizzie had been born in DuBois Co. on October 27, 1873. A very short time afterwards (five days according to one oral tradition), Bell was killed in a train accident.

On March 2, 1890, Oliver and Lizzie married. The location is uncertain, though oral tradition again places the event in IN. Shortly after the ceremony, the young couple, Joseph Wilson (who had remarried to Bell's sister, Nancy) and other members of the family moved from IN to KY. Tradition attributes this decision to relocate to a desire to "follow the timber".

Oliver and Hattie's first son, Willie Albert, was born on December 21, 1890.[1] It is believed that this occurred in the little town of Glendean, KY, in Breckenridge Co. From there, the families would move southward, finally settling in the Cromwell community in Ohio Co. Carl was born March 3, 1896.[2] He was followed quickly by Otto in January 1898.[3]

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[1] Willie Albert Brown, born December 21, 1890 in KY, died November 13, 1864 in Ohio Co., KY, married Cliffie Delilah Ferguson August 12, 1912. It is said that their daughter Annie Glendean was named for the small town in which Willie Albert was born. Shirley Burris says that her father's (Willie Albert Brown) birth certificate (obtained in 1942) lists Mentor, Dubois Co., IN as his place of birth, whereas many of the other records list KY. Willie Albert's death certificate 26409, death volume 64 and volume 53.

[2] Carl Alvie Brown, born 3/3/1896 in KY, died 1/5/1943, married Naomi Raymer. Carl fought in WWI with the 128th Infantry, 32nd Division; he was a waggoneer. He died January 5, 1943, in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis, TN, after a 56-day stay for an intestinal obstruction. He was buried at the Baptist Church (unnamed in his death certificate) in Prentiss, Ohio Co., KY. At the time of his death, they were living in Greenbriar in Robertson Co., TN. His SSN was 410-28-8305.

[3] Otto Martin Brown, born 6/1898, died November 23, 1981, in Louisville, KY (death certificate 29970, death volume 81 and volume 060), married Elta Raymer. He was buried in the Slaty Creek Cemetery, Ohio Co., KY.

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The 1900 census lists Oliver’s occupation as a teamster. Being a teamster meant that Oliver had to be a good handler or horses. His children would later tell of an old black horse that he owned named Babe. The horse was a favorite of the kids and grandchildren.

Their first girl, Floy B., was born October 30, 1901.[4] She would be followed by Willis T. on October 5, 1904.[5] Iva on April 13, 1907.[6] The final child, Myrtle, was born on November 15, 1909.[7]

The April 2, 1915, Hartford Republican reported that Oliver had been reimbursed for $15.55 for 15 days and ½-hour labor for grading the roads in the Prentiss District plus $51.25 for 10 days’ use of his teams.

On July 26, 1918, the Hartford Republican reported that the Cardwells visited with the Browns.[8]

The January 31, 1919, edition of the Hartford Republican reported that Oliver and Lizzie were visited on Tuesday night the 28^th by their daughter, Floy Raymer, and her husband, Cefus, from nearby Hartford. On August 2^nd that year, the Hartford Republican reported that Oliver’s younger brother Lon (Alonzo), his wife, son, and daughter had come from Evansville, IN for a visit. On December 19^th that year, the Hartford Republican would report that Oliver was “on the sick list”.

On April 14, 1922, the Hartford Republican reported that the Browns had been visited by their son, Carl, and his wife, Naomi Raymer, on Sunday the 9^th.

The May 12, 1922, edition of the Hartford Republican reported that son Willie, along with wife Cliffie and the children (Shirley and Adril), had visited Oliver and Lizzie on the preceding Sunday (May 7^th). It’s not clear why this would be news, as they lived in the same community. On November 10^th, the same paper would report that Oliver had been seriously ill but was now doing much better.

As Oliver aged, he had a full head of gray hair, which was very wavy. Elizabeth's dark hair was almost untouched by gray even when she died. By late life, both would wear glasses.

Decline and Death

On October 13, 1939, Oliver experienced problems that were later diagnosed as an intestinal obstruction. After attempts at resolution over about a four-day period in the local hospital, he was transported and admitted to the Owensboro City Hospital in nearby Daviess Co., KY on about the 21^st. With his condition steadily worsening, his Doctor operated on the 26^th, performing an enterostomy

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[4] Floy B. Brown, born 10/30/1901, died April 23, 1990, in Jefferson Co., KY. She married Cefus Raymer. The 'B' in Floy's name was said to not stand for anything. Her SSN was 400-30-7993.

[5] Willis T. Brown, born 10/5/1904, died 10/6/1971 in Ohio Co., KY, (death certificate 26723, death volume 71 and volume 53), married Agnes Marie Raymer, born 2/14/1910. The 'T' in Willis' name did not stand for anything. His nickname was Mandy.

[6] Iva Brown, born 4/13/1907, married John Frizzell, born 6/20/1901, died 8/6/1964.

[7] Myrtle Brown, born 11/15/1909, married Edward Railey, died January 31, 1978.

[8] Lizzie was the stepdaughter of Nancy Wilson Cardwell. The paper incorrectly lists her as the ‘daughter’ of the Cardwells.

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and severance of adhesion. The Doctor reported that he found “an obstruction of the terminal ileum in the left inguinal hernia”. In spite of the surgery, the 73-year-old Oliver died at 11 pm on October 27^th of broncho pneumonia.[9] He was buried on October 28^th in the cemetery at the Slaty Creek Baptist Church in the Prentiss community in Ohio Co.[10]

Sometime after Oliver’s death, Hattie moved to Louisville, KY to be near daughters Floy and Myrtle. She lived with Myrtle at 565 E. Adair Street just north of the Standiford Field airport and the Fairgrounds on land that is very close to the present-day (2012) rollercoaster. In the fall of 1956, the 83-year-old Hattie came under a doctor’s care for what was ultimately determined to be stomach cancer.[11] She died at her home, also at 11 pm, on Sunday, December 9^th.[12] She was buried back in Ohio Co. next to Oliver at the Slaty Creek Cemetery.[13] The couple shared a tombstone just as they shared life. The inscription reads, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”.

End Notes and References

1. 1900 Ohio Co., KY census, Cromwell precinct, page 82. The couple has been married for 11 years, and all their children are living. Oliver is listed as a teamster who has been unemployed for four of the last twelve months. Hattie can neither read nor write. The Brown's do not own their home but rent. The property is listed as a house rather than a farm.

·         Oliver, head, born 6/1868, age 31, born Ind., father born Ind., mother born IN

·         Hattie, wife, born 10/1873, age 26, born Ind., father born Ind., mother born IN

·         William, son, 12/1890, age 9, born KY, father born Ind., mother born IN

·         Carl, son, born 3/1896, age 4, born KY, father born Ind., mother born IN

·         Otto, son, born 6/1898, age 2, born KY, father born Ind., mother born IN

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[9] Oliver’s death certificate Volume 49, number 24480, Daviess Co., KY, October 27, 1939.

[10] Ohio Country Messenger, November 3, 1939, page 1. Oliver M. Brown Is Called by Death, Oliver M. Brown, age 73, died at the Owensboro City Hospital, Friday, October 27. Death was due to internal obstructions, of which he had been ill for ten days. Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wilson on March 2, 1890. He was a member of the Methodist Church, having professed faith with that denomination when he was a youth. He was known as a good husband, father, and neighbor. He was a successful farmer in the Prentiss community. Survivors include his wife, three daughters, Mrs. Cefus Raymer and Mrs. John Frizzel, Prentiss, and Mrs. Edward Railey of Detroit, Michigan, four sons, Willie, Otto and Willis, Prentiss and Carl of Green Brier, TN; twenty-three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; one brother, Lon Brown of Evansville, IN. Funeral services were conducted at Slaty Creek Baptist Church at 2pm Saturday, October 28. The Rev. Meadows was in charge. Interment was in the church cemetery.

[11] Her grandson, Adril Brown, would succumb to the same disease.

[12] Hattie Elizabeth’s death certificate number 25698, death volume 56). December 9, 1956, Jefferson Co., KY.

[13] Ohio County News, December 14, 1956, page 3. Mrs. Elizabeth Brown Dies in Louisville, Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, 83, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, December 9, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Railey, in Louisville. Mrs. Brown was born October 27, 1873, in DuBois County, Indiana, the daughter of Joseph and Bell Fitch Wilson. She was a member of the Slaty Creek Baptist Church. She married Oliver Martin Brown, who preceded her in death. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Floy Raymer and Mrs. Edward Rally, of Louisville, and Mrs. Iva Frizzel, Prentiss; three sons, Otto Brown, Louisville, Willie and Willis Brown, both of Beaver Dam; a brother Willie Wilson, Arkansas; a half-sister Mrs. Belle Douglas, Norwalk, Ohio; two half-brothers, Clark Wilson, Missouri and Henry Wilson, Bowling Green; 24 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Slaty Creek Baptist Church by the Rev. E. H. Macklroy, pastor of the Highland Park Baptist Church, Louisville. Burial was in the church cemetery. Grandsons were pallbearers. The body was returned to the Casebier Funeral Home in Beaver Dam.

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        2. 1910 Ohio Co., KY census, page 88. The family rents its home, lives on a farm, all seven kids are living,                 and Oliver is self-employed.

·         Oliver, head, age 47, born Ind, father born?, mother born IN, cannot read

·         Lizzie, wife, age 36, born Ind, father born Ind, mother born IN, reads

·         Willie, son, age 20, born KY, father born Ind, mother born IN, reads

·         Carl, son, age 14, born KY, father born Ind, mother born IN, reads

·         Otto M., son, age 12, born KY, father born Ind, mother born IN, reads

·         Floy, daughter, age 8, born KY, father born Ind, mother born IN, cannot read

·         Willis T., son, age 6, born KY, father born Ind, mother born IN, cannot read

·         Iva, daughter, age 3, born KY, father born Ind, mother born IN, cannot read

·         Myrtle, daughter, age 3, months, born KY, father born IN, mother born Ind, cannot read

3. 1920 Ohio Co., KY, census, page 70. The Browns own their own home, mortgage-free. Willie Albert Brown is two houses away.

·   Oliver Brown, age 56, cannot read or write, born KY, father born KY, mother born KY, occupation _________________

·         Lizzie, age 46, can read and write, born KY, father born IN, mother born IN

·         Carl, age 24, can read and write, born KY, father born KY, mother born KY

·         Otto, age 22, can read and write, born KY, father born KY, mother born KY

·         Willis, age 15, can read and write, born KY, father born KY, mother born KY

·         Ivy, age ___________, can read and write, born KY, father born KY, mother born KY

·         Myrtle, age 10, can read and write, born KY, father born KY, mother born KY

4. Oliver's family:

·         Samuel Brown, born between 1823 and 1826 in IN and died June 7, 1873, in Bristow, Perry Co., IN. Married Sarah.

·         Sarah Francis Craven Nelson, remarried in May 1875 to Mathias Beard. She died in May 1895 in Mentor, Dubois Co., IN.

1.      Oliver Martin, born June 6, 1866, in Perry Co., IN

2.      Alonzo (also known as Lon), born in IN in 1867. In 1939, when Oliver passed away, Lon was living in Evansville, IN. He died in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN on November 18, 1942.

3.      Samuel, born in 1870 in IN. Samuel is most likely the key to finding the full story on the Brown's in IN and their migration to KY. Samuel married Bell Grant. By tradition, she was a 'loose' woman. Samuel caught her and a lover, killed the lover, and then burned his body. After discovery, Samuel was said to have been sentenced and executed. The scandal seems to have greatly shamed many of the members of the Brown family and caused them to refuse to discuss the particulars. Some of my great-aunts knew the story but stubbornly carried the secret to their graves.

            5. The family of Joseph C. Wilson.

•         James A., born 1869 in IN.
•         Willie Alonzo, born June 1872 in IN, died of pneumonia in Hot Springs Co., Arkansas, in the town of Malvern on May 13, 1961. In about 1891, he married a woman named Fanny. Together they had at least three children: May, born 1893, James, born 1898, and a third, who died prior to 1900. Harriet Elizabeth's son Willie Albert Brown was named after him. In 1900, Willie Albert and Fannie were still living in Ohio Co., KY, near Oliver and Elizabeth.

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·         Willie Alonzo’s death certificate lists his occupation as ‘sawmill operator’. He is buried in the Harp Cemetery in Malvern. His middle name is sometimes spelled ‘Alanzo’.

·         Hattie Elizabeth, born October 27, 1873, in DuBois Co., IN, died December 9, 1956, in Jefferson Co., KY (certificate number 25698, death volume 56). Married Oliver Martin Brown on March 2, 1890.

 

Areas for Further Research

1. Check the 1890 IN marriage records, Dubois, Crawford, and Spencer Co.
2. Check Louisville papers for Elizabeth's obituary.
3. Check Ohio Co. real estate records, post-1890.
4. Check Ohio Co. tax records, post-1890.
5. Check Breckenridge Co., KY tax and real estate records, 1889-1890.
6. Check Ohio Co. court records, post-1890.
7. Find a death certificate or an obituary on Lon (or Alonzo) Brown in Evansville, IN.
8. Check DuBois Co., real estate and tax records to determine date of departure.
9. Did Oliver or Lizzie have wills?