Climbing the Family TreebyBrenda Brown Lasko

CLIMBING THE BROWN FAMILY TREE

by: Brenda Brown Lasko

Chapter 10

George Brown's Generation

The records show George Brown married Mary Helms on October 6, 1849 in Belmont Co., Ohio. Their story and those of their descendents would fill libraries if they were all recorded. They remained in Belmont County long enough to have 9 children before moving to Monroe County for a brief time on their way to Washington County to an area known as Scottstown. During their lives together, they would become the parents of 16 children, 12 of whom would survive to adulthood.

In 1860 census George and Mary Brown and their family of 8 children were living in Switzerland Township, Monroe County, Ohio. Somewhere after 1860, George Brown moved his family to Washington County as many others in his generation did. George's brother-in-law, Henry Fryman, husband of Mary's sister, Sarah, was living in the area and it is reasonable to assume this is how they found their way to this setion of Ohio. At this point in history we were at the beginning of the Civil War and in 1861 George enlisted in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. George, and at least two of Mary's brothers, served during the Civil War. It has been said that George enlisted to take the place of one of his sons who had enlisted. We cannot accept this story because none of his children would have been old enough to serve at the time George enlisted.

In 1863 the northwestern portion of Virginia broke away from the rest of the state. West Virginia was formed by this action and was a result of the question of slavery. Virginia had permitted slavery and Ohio was a free state. The Negroes from the South had fled for the safety of the west bank of the Ohio River for a long time. The underground railroad was well used in the Ohio Valley and many of the residents hid the run away slaves until they could get farther North.

When George departed for the war, Mary was left with 9 children in her care. The oldest was about 13 years old and several of the younger ones were no more than babies. Life must have been very difficult for a woman with such a large family to care for on her own. Even with the help of relatives who lived nearby and the older children, her days must have seemed endless. When George returned from the war, he and Mary completed their family and continued their lives in Washington County. George was active in Ludlow Township, serving as a trustee, and was on the board of education, before his death on October 4, 1879. Mary once again was left with several young children, the youngest of which was only 6 years old. She applied for a widow's Civil War pension to help support herself and the children. She lived 20 years after George died and was blind the last portion of her life. She died in 1899 and was laid to rest with George in the Ludlow Township Cemetery, Washington County, Ohio.

Some of George's siblings lived in both Belmont and Washington Counties. His brother, Abel Brown, remained in Washington County most of his life. Abel's wife, Clara Stewart, was the daughter of Jacob Stewart and Nancy Byrd. Their oldest child, Andrew Burton Brown was born October 18, 1862, and was my maternal great grandfather. Andrew came to Belmont County and remained there until his death in 1916. He was married twice, the first wife was Nancy Fryman, daughter of Henry Fryman and Sarah Helms, a sister of George's wife Mary Helms. This marriage ended in divorce. On March 29, 1899, he married Otia F. Baker, daughter of Daniel Baker and his wife, Sarah Helms, a niece of Mary Helms Brown and Sarah Helms Fryman. They had seven children, one of whom was my maternal grandmother, Winona. Winona was born on December 31, 1905, and married John Bellville, son of Jacob Bellville and Mary E. Fryman and had 6 children. John and Winona's daughter, Hilda Virginia, born September 2, 1925, is my mother. About 1957, the farm once owned by Abel in Washington County was bought by my father and his brother, Cecil, and we spent many summers there as I was growing up.

The children of George and Mary Brown lived their lives in several counties in Ohio. Some of them spent most of their time in Washington County and some in Belmont County. Most of them seemed to drift back and forth and even stopped for a time in Monroe County. In searching for them in the census records, you never knew where you would find them next. With relatives in several counties, it was easy for them to go back and forth. My family directly descends from two of these children, Leander and Charles Morton, and will be discussed in more detail later in the story.

The following are the children of George Brown and Mary Helms:

1. Orloth Brown was born in 1848 in York Township, Belmont County, Ohio. He married Mary Ann Haught on June 3, 1870, in Washington County, and they were the parents of 7 children. Orloth and Mary Ann lived in Washington County until about 1876 when they moved to York Township, Belmont County. Three of their children married children of Daniel Baker and Mary Helms. Daniel and Mary Baker were also the parents of my maternal great grandmother, Oda F. Baker, who married Andrew Burton Brown, son of Abel Brown and Clara Stewart. Orloth died in 1895 and for a time after his death, Mary Ann lived in Marshall County, West Virginia with two of her sons. This is where she is found in the 1900 census. Before 1910 she returned to York Township and remained there with her son, Norman, until her death in 1933. She and Orloth are both buried in the Powhatan Cemetery. The descendants of Orloth and Mary Ann number in the hundreds by this time and would require a story all their own to tell of them. Their children are:

1. Celeste Jane Brown, was born on March 30, 1871, in Washington County, Ohio. She married Brady E. Baker, son of Daniel Baker and Sarah Helms, on August 19, 1890. They were the parents of 14 known children. Celeste died in 1943 and Brady in 1950 and both are buried in the Powhatan Cemetery.

2. George M. "Hooker" Brown, was born on July 3, 1872 in Ludlow Township, Washington County. He married Agnes Louise Baker, daughter of Daniel Baker and Sarah Helms, on December 2, 1892. They were the parents of 9 known children. Agnes died in 1937 and George in 1960 and both are buried in the Powhatan Cemetery.

3. William Pitt Brown, was born on October 30, 1873, in Ludlow Township. He married Jennie Myrtle Baker, daughter of Daniel Baker and Sarah Helms, on February 8, 1898. They were the parents of 13 known children. One of their children, Clyde Hayes Brown, was a great help to me in tracing this family. He and his wife, Dellas Burge Brown, have been lifelong friends. Jennie died in 1944 and William Pitt in 1969 and both are buried in the Powhatan Cemetery.

4. Harriet B. Brown, was born on September 7, 1875, in Ludlow Township. She died on August 31, 1876.

5. James Robert Brown, was born on May 23, 1877 in Belmont County, Ohio. He married Myrtle Alice Dennis on September 24, 1900. Mrytle was the daughter of George Gallaher but was raised by the Dennis family and went by their last name. She had a twin brother named Burt Gallaher. Mrytle and James were the parents of 14 known children. Their son, Gilbert William "Doc" Brown, married Evelyn Rhodes and was well known for his artistic talent. He fashioned tools and weapons, such as tomahawks and knives, and decorated them with inlaid silver artwork. Some of his work in on display in Europe and in several well-known museums in the US. Doc's daughter, Carol Lee Brown Tokarz, cousin and dear friend, is one of the people who have helped me trace the descendants of this family and record the cemeteries in Belmont County. Myrtle died in 1952 and James in 1968 and both are buried in the Powhatan Cemetery.

6. Mary Louise Brown, was born on January 8, 1879 in Powhatan. She was married to Albert Gump and they were the parents of one known child. She then married Frank Wayne and they were the parents of one known child.

7. Norman Eugene Brown, was born on February 1, 1881 and never married.

2. Leander Brown was born on January 15, 1850, in York Township and is my paternal great grandfather. He married Celeste Patterson, daughter of Dr. William T. Patterson and Lucinda Noffsinger on April 13, 1871, in Washington County, Ohio. They were the parents of 9 known children and more details of their lives will come later.

3. Barbara L. Brown was born in 1852 in York Township. She married Conrad H. Bumgardner, son of John and Anna Bumgardner on May 11, 1871, in Belmont County, Ohio and were the parents of 3 children. They lived in Mead Township, Belmont County for several years. After 1900 Barbara and Conrad divorced and he married Mary L. Brown, daughter of Abel Brown and Clara Stewart. Mary did not live long after this marriage and following her death, Conrad married Ida Baker in 1909. Ida was from Marshall County, West Virginia and moved with Conrad to Ludlow Township in Washington County, Ohio. They were still living there during the 1920 census. The date and place of Barbara's death are not known.

1. Mary L. Bumgardner, was born in 1872 and married James W. Dunfee. Mary died in 1962.

2. George Everett C. Bumgardner, was born on September 22, 1880 in Mead Township, Belmont County, Ohio. He married Ottie M. Wallace. George died in 1962 and is buried in the Powhatan Cemetery.

3. Retta B. Bumgardner, nothing known of her.

4. Robert G. Brown was born in 1852 in York Township. Robert died before 1870 but the exact place and date of his death are not known. The information given to me from Mrs. James Brown states that Robert drowned early in his adolescence.

5. Nancy Jane Brown was born on May 22, 1854, in Belmont County. She married John H. Homan on January 3, 1878, in Belmont County, Ohio. They were the parents of 3 known children. For a short time they lived in Marshall County, West Virginia but returned to Washington County, Ohio before John's death in 1884. On December 12, 1885, she married John Epochs in Washington County, and they had one child who died shortly after birth. Nancy Jane died in 1895. Nancy and John Homan's children are:

1. Nina Homan, was born on May 1, 1875 in Washington County, Ohio. She married John Thomas and they were the parents of 2 children. She later married Bill Dunlop.

2 Thomas A. Homan, was born on September 27, 1878 in Washington County. He married Clara E. Baubles. They were the parents of at least 5 known children. Thomas died in 1929.

3. Estella B. Homan, was born on September 27, 1883 in Washington County. She married Alfred P. Goodwin and they were the parents of 8 known children. She then married Jess Carey. Stella died in 1964.

Nancy and John Enoch's child is:

1. Emmitt Enochs, was born and died in 1887.

6. Adaline Brown was born on February 16, 1856, in York Township. She married Joshua Haught on September 5, 1872, in Washington County, Ohio. They were the parents of 10 known children and lived in Washington County until after 1880. They lived in Marshall County, West Virginia until just before 1900 at which time they moved to Salina Township, Jefferson County, Ohio. Adaline died in 1907, Joshua in 1917, and both are buried in the Union Cemetery in Toronto, Ohio.

1. Harvey Haught, was born on October 1, 1873 in Ludlow Township, Washington County, Ohio. He married Francis Rowles on August 3, 1893 and they were the parents of 4 known children. Harvey died in 1957.

2. Mary Roberta Haught, was born on March 8, 1877 in Washington County, Ohio. She married Charles C. Christman. Mary died in 1919.

3. Clara Eveline Haught, was born on May 6, 1879 in York Township, Belmont County. She married Jack Ensinger in 1904. Clara died in 1935.

4. Charles Haught, was born on December 27, 1883 and died on April 8, 1884 in Marshall County, West Virginia.

5. Blanche Arizonia Haught, was one of a set of twins born on June 26, 1885 in Marshall County, West Virginia. She married William G. Armstrong on June 20, 1908. Blanche died in 1954.

6. Baby boy Haught, was the other twin born on June 20, 1908 and died 2 days later.

7. Normal L. Haught, was born on March 2. 1887 in Marshall County. He married Eva Grace Nixon on February 11, 1914 and they were the parents of at least 3 children. Norman died in 1964.

8. Albert Brady Haught, was born on September 29, 1889 in Marshall County. He married Margaret Ferley and were the parents of at least 2 children.

9. Baby boy Haught, was born on September 2, 1893 and died at birth.

10. Emma Vernice Haught, was born on September 4, 1894 in Marshall County. She married Ben Godwin. Emma died before 1964.

7. Rachel Pnina Brown was born in March of 1857 in York Township. She married Rufus William Woods about 1880 in Washington County, Ohio. Rufus was the son of Adaline Stewart, a sister to Clara Stewart who married Abel Brown. (I do not know the name of his father.) They were the parents of 7 known children. Rachel had a son, Thomas N. Brown, who was born before she married Rufus. This child died when he was less than 2 years old. Rachel and Ruff, as he was known, lived most of their lives in Washington County. They did live in Belmont County when their last two children were born and two of their older daughters married Wallaces while living in Belmont County. When my father was a child, his family used to visit the Woods family in Washington County. He told of the time when he first met them, when he was about 5 years old, and walked over to Rufus and said, "You're Aunt Ruff aren't you?" The family laughed over that mix up for years to come. In 1934 Rachel died, Rufus in 1940 and both are buried in Washington County.

1. Thomas N. Brown, was born on September 8, 1876 in Washington County, Ohio. He died on June 30, 1878.

2. Emma Mae Woods, was born on September 8, 1880, in Washington County. She married Lawrence Tucker Kester Wallace, son of William T. Wallace and Nancy Irwin, on May 12, 1900, in Belmont County. They were the parents of 8 known children several of whom died very young. Emma died in 1946.

3. Theodocia Evelyn "Docia" Woods, was born on June 13, 1882, in Washington County. She married Allen Grandville Thurman Wallace, son of William T. Wallace and Nancy Irwin, on May 2, 1902, in Belmont County. They were the parents of 5 known children. Allen died in 1913 and Docia married Christian Knutty and they were the parents of 4 known children. Docia died in 1981.

4. Estella F. Woods, was born on October 3, 1883, in Washington County. She died on June 6, 1904, just a few months before her 21st birthday.

5. Clara Woods, was born on August 26, 1887, in Washington County. She married Ernest Smith on March 17, 1908. It was from this family that my father and uncle purchased the Abel Brown property. Clara died in 1972.

6. Lydia Ann Woods, was born on May 23, 1889, in Washington County. She married William Schnieder on September 19, 1907, and they were the parents of at least 4 known children.

7. Lavene Dorsey Woods, was born on May 4, 1893, in Belmont County. She married Lloyd Tanner. Lavene died in 1981.

8. Mary Leila Woods, was born on December 31, 1895, in Belmont County. She married Joseph Scheider on January 9, 1914, and they were the parents of at least 2 known children. Mary died in 1926.

8. Albert Gallington Brown was born on December 19, 1858, in York Township. He married Martha Jane Bumgardner, daughter of John and Anna Bumgardner, on November 23, 1881, in Belmont County. (She was a sister of Conrad H. Bumgardner, who married Albert's sister Barbara.) They were the parents of 7 known children. Several of their children died very young but Albert lived to be 98 years old. For much of their lives Albert and Mattie lived in Mead Township, Belmont County, Ohio. I knew Uncle Bert when he was well into his 90's and lived with his niece, Jennie Brown Gray, daughter of Albert's brother Leander Brown. Martha Jane died in 1944 and Albert lived until 1957. Both are buried in the Powhatan Cemetery. Their children are:

1. Ottie Arizona Brown, was born on January 12, 1882 in Belmont County, Ohio, and married Mr. Leach. She died in 1948.

2. Charles Cleveland Brown, was born on October 18, 1884 in Belmont County. He died at age 6 in 1890.

3. Myrtle Bell Brown, was born in 1886 in Belmont County. She died when she was 3 years old, about 1889.

4. Jemimah Ellen "Jennie" Brown, was born on February 28, 1890 in Belmont County. She married Joseph Wesley Kiggins and were the parents of at least 5 known children. Jemimah died before 1920.

5. Elizabeth Lee "Lizzie" Brown, was born on February 26, 1893, in Belmont County. She married John Richard Piper and they were the parents of at least 4 known children. John died in 1941, Elizabeth in 1965 and both are buried in the Powhatan Cemetery.

6. Harold O. Brown, was born on January 17, 1896, in Belmont County. He died in 1924 and is buried in the Powhatan Cemetery.

7. William Dewey Brown, was born on November 15, 1898 in Belmont County. He died in 1985. Not much information on him at this time.

9. Charles Morton Brown was born in 1861 in York Township. He married Christina Haught, daughter of Elijah Haught and Anna Weaver, on April 27, 1890, in Washington County, Ohio. (I am not sure of Christina's parents but my research shows that this is probably correct.) They were the parents of 2 sons, Harry Lee and William Grover, who is my paternal grandfather. Christina died before 1900 and left Charles with the two small boys to raise. Christina was buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Washington County. Charles took the children and moved back to Belmont County and placed the boys with family members to raise. My grandfather was placed with Emaline Brown (Charles's sister) during his younger years. Life was not easy for such a small child without a mother. "Mort", as he was known, was a farmer and carpenter by trade. He built several homes in the Powhatan area and my grandfather and father both inherited his carpentry skills. He remained in York Township the remainder of his life, living with family members until his death in 1941. He is buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Their children are:

1. Harry Lee Brown, was born on June 2, 1891 in Washington County, Ohio. He married Flora Loy about 1913 and they were the parents of 5 known children. Harry died in 1969 and is buried in Holly Memorial Cemetery, near St. Clairsville, Ohio.

2. William Grover Brown, was born on August 2, 1892 in Shay, Washington County, Ohio. He married Bessie Leila Brown, daughter of Leander Brown and Celesta Patterson, about 1915 and they were the parents of 4 children. They are my paternal grandparents.

10. Emaline Brown was born in April of 1862 in Independence Township, Washington County, Ohio. She married David F, Brown, son of John Brown and Susannah Gates, in 1882 in Belmont County. They were the parents of 3 children and lived in York Township most of their lives It was in this household that my grandfather spent his childhood after his mother's death. The date of David's death is not known. Emaline died in 1929 and is buried in the Powhatan Cemetery. Their children are:

1. Harry Edward Brown, was born on July 15, 1883 in Belmont County, Ohio. He married Mary E. Boger on June 12, 1918 and they were the parents of 2 known children. Mary died in 1941 and Harry died in 1944.

2. Mary Ethel Brown, was born on December 6, 1886 in York Township. She married Mr. Fouty. Mary died in 1916.

3. Lydia Pearl Brown, was born on February 19, 1903. She married Mr. Greenwood. Lydia died in 1941.

11. Isaac Graham Brown was born on April 27, 1866, in Independence Township, Washington County, Ohio. He married Retta J. Bowersock on September 7, 1901, in Washington County. Retta had a daughter, Nellie Bowersock, before this marriage to Isaac. Nellie died in 1937 after an accident that left her bedridden. Isaac and Retta had 6 other children and lived their entire lives in Washington County. I remember them living at the end of the bridge in Bloomfield on the banks of the Little Muskingum River. Throughout the years, my grandparents and Isaac's family remained in contact. We used to visit there several times a year until Aunt Rett's death. Their daughter, Adaline, and husband, Oscar Cline, were favorites of mine as a child. It was always a special treat to visit them or have them at our house. Isaac Graham was a gentle man who loved a good debate about politics, according to my father. I can barely remember him as I was just over 4 years old when he died but I remember Aunt Rett well. She was a strong, jolly woman, who always made you welcome in her home. She was known as one of the best cooks in the country and my Grandfather told how farm hands were always glad to help on the Brown farm just to get a chance to sit at her table. Isaac died in 1951 and Retta in 1963. They are both buried in Washington County. Their children are:

1. Nellie M. Bowersock, was born on January 31, 1899, in Washington County, Ohio. She was Retta's daughter before her marriage to Isaac. Nellie was injured in a fall that left her bedridden and she died in 1937.

2. Warren Franklin Brown, was born on April 27, 1902, in Washington County. He was married 3 times. 1. Lillian Cunningham, 2. Edna Dierwager, 3. Virgie Cline. There were no known children to these marriages. Warren died in 1972.

3. Samuel Morton Brown, was born on October 9, 1906, in Ludlow Township, Washington County. He married Blanche Eleanor Lallathin on May 2, 1923 and were the parents of 8 known children. Their son, James, married Leona Jane Gibb and are the people who sent the family tree and family group sheets I mentioned in the beginning of this story. I am happy to say that after I began my original story I have had the pleasure to become acquainted with them and they have shared with me the gift of their years of work on the history of the Browns. Many of the details on the older generations would be missing without the information they supplied and I will forever be grateful for their help. Blanche died in 1981 and Samuel is living in Newark, Ohio.

4. Adaline Mary Brown, was born on March 18, 1906, in Ludlow Township. She married Oscar E. Cline on April 21, 1926, and they were the parents of 3 children. Adaline died in 1984. Oscar and Addie were special favorites of mine as a child.

5. Carl Ward Brown, was born on May 17, 1909, in Ludlow Township.

6. Donald Brown, was born on July 1, 1913, in Ludlow Township. He died shortly after birth.

7. George Wayne Brown, was born on February 6, 1917 in Ludlow Township. He married Mary Rebecca Brown, daughter of Philip Homer Brown and Leona Graham and they were the parents of one child who died before age 5. He then married Faye Leona Morris on November 24, 1947 and they were the parents of 5 known children.

12. Sarah Belle Brown was born on March 24, 1868, in Independence Township. She died just after her third birthday on April 17, 1871, in Washington County.

13. William Franklin Brown was born on December 11, 1870, in Independence Township, Washington County, Ohio. He married Sarah Enochs on February 21, 1896, in Washington County. They were the parents of 2 children. Sarah died just a few years after their marriage and the birth of the children. Her exact death date is not known and it is assumed that she died in Washington County. After Sarah's death, William married Mary Catherine Jones, daughter of Joseph Henry Jones and Martha Adaline Yocum, on April 22, 1905, in Belmont County. There were 5 children born to them and they remained in Belmont County the rest of their lives. William Franklin died in 1950 and Mary Catherine in 1971 and both are buried in the Grandview Christian Cemetery in Belmont County. The children of William Franklin and Sarah Enochs are:

1. William Rufus Brown, was born on June 14, 1896, in Independence Township, Washington County. He married Anna Cook and they were the parents of 5 known children. William died in 1985.

2. Fanny May Brown, was born on November 14, 1897, in Independence Township. She married Albert Clay and they were the parents of 5 known children.

The children of William Franklin and Mary Catherine Jones are:

1. Freeda Doan Brown, was born on January 27, 1907, in York Township, Belmont County. She married Charles Perkins and they were the parents of 2 known children.

2. Chester Franklin Brown, was born on February 3, 1909, in Belmont County. He married Marguarite White and they were the parents of 2 known children. He married Eleanor Sax and they were the parents of 2 known children. Chester died in 1988 in Akron, Ohio.

3. Everett Ralph Brown, was born on April 14, 1911, in Belmont County. He married Leona Mullens. Everett died in 1968 and is buried in the Grandview Christian Cemetery.

4. Florence Evelyn Brown, was born on March 2, 1914 in Belmont County. She married Hubert Black and they were the parents of 1 son. She then married Walter Wolfe and they were the parents of 3 known children.

5. Gladys Kathern Brown, was born on February 6, 1922 in Belmont County. She married Chalmer Hendershot and they were the parents of at least 1 child.

14. Lydia Ann Brown was born on May 23, 1873, in Independence Township, Washington County, Ohio. She married William W. Gorby on January 25, 1891, in Washington County. They were the parents of 6 children who were all born in Washington County. In 1916 William died and was buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Lydia then married William Enochs but no children were born to this marriage. Lydia died in Washington County in 1948 but the date of William Enochs's death is not known. The children of Lydia and William Gorby are:

1. Mason E. Gorby, was born on September 26, 1891, in Washington County, Ohio. He married Joe Matthews and they were the parents of 5 known children. Mason died in 1969 in San Angelio, Texas.

2. Sheridan L. Gorby, was born on November 9, 1892, in Washington County. He married 3 times and none of their maiden names are known. 1. Carmen, 2. Lupe, and 3. unknown. There was one daughter born to his first marriage.

3. William Guy Gorby, was born on July 1, 1905, in Washington County. He married Blanche Finnicum and were the parents of 6 known children.

4. Glenn W. Gorby, was born on June 14, 1909, in Washington County. He married a woman named Dorothy and they had 1 known child.

5. Mary Gorby, was born on November 9, 1910, in Shay, Washington County. She married Herbert Cline on July 20.

6. Gladys Gorby, was born on August 13, 1913, in Washington County. She died on February 4, 1920.

15. Grandville Brown died very young and nothing else is known of this child.

16. George Brown died very young and nothing else is known of this child.

The descendants of George and Mary Brown number in the thousands by now. The family was large, 16 children, and their offspring were prolific. I would be safe in saying most of their descendants still live within 100 miles of the place George and Mary lived and died. Many of my cousins have been a great help in my research and supplied me with more than information. They shared a part of their lives with me and I enjoyed the many stories I heard along the way. I can only hope a few of them were inspired to write their own books on the branches of this tree planted by George and Mary Brown.

Chapter 11

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