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Mary E. Brown

Mary E. Brown

Female Abt 1858 - Aft 1879  (~ 21 years)

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  • Name Mary E. Brown  [1
    Born Abt 1858  , , Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Female 
    Group Asa Clark Brown Extended Family 
    • Asa Clark Brown's extend family and spouses
    FamilySearch ID L8SJ-WLN 
    Link to FamilySearch Tree https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=L8SJ-WLN 
    Census 5 Jun 1860  Fallston, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    • Mary E. Brown, age 2, born in Pennsylvania.
    Census 1865  Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    • Mary
    Died Aft 30 Jun 1879  [1
    Story 2 Jul 1898  Skagway, Alaska, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Alaska Gold Rush 
    • L. N. Lowell, formerly of Milwaukee, started for Alaska a year ago this spring, and reached Skaguay [sic] about the beginning of July last. He had had experience as a hotel and restaurant man, and concluded, instead of going to Dawson City, as he had started out to do, to stop at Skaguay and open a hotel. He struck a bonanza. His wife, who accompanied him, writes to her sister, Mrs. Frederick Puhler of this city, under date of April 9, as follows:

      "I never felt so lonesome in my life and I never worked so hard in my life, but I never was so happy in my life. The money comes in so fast we actually don't know what to do with it. It is a little better now since a bank has been opened we can trust to put in our money, but before that I was in constant terror. We had gold money, paper money, silver money and gold dust hidden in every nook and corner of the house. Loren tore up a plank from the kitchen floor, and we had over $5,000 in all kinds of money hidden there. It was an awful anxiety to have the stuff lying around like that, and it worried us more than the hard work we were doing. The place was full of people, dead broke and hungry, and they would cut one's throat for a dollar. We got a chance in December to send over $6,000 to Seattle, and we felt awfully relieved when we got the notice of credit from the bank. You don't know who to trust here. I hardly trust myself, and I keep an eye on Loren, I can tell you. Everybody is on the make, and you'd get done out of your eye teeth if you didn't watch out.

      "The transportation companies think they run things, but they are thieves and swindlers and liars, every one of them. They are getting thousands of people to come to this awful country who will never get home. Their charges are awful. Loren bought fifty tons of flooring in Seattle. It was over a month getting here, and some of it was damaged getting it ashore. But we have no kick coming. We paid $6 a barrel for flour in Seattle; it costs $6 a barrel to ship it, and Loren sold it for $42.50 a barrel before it left the dock. I managed to get half a barrel that had been broken open, and I am glad the stuff is gone--it wouldn't even make doughnuts or pancakes.

      "We are just everlastingly fixed here to make money. I have heard of bonanzas, but I never dreamed we would strike one. We have got the 'bon ton' restaurant and hotel in the place. It would not be much for Milwaukee, but it's the thing here. I send you an outside and inside view by this mail. We keep things neat and clean, and my cooking is something like the people got in God's country. We have six tables in the restaurant that will hold six people each, and there is not a vacant seat from 6 o'clock in the morning until 12 o'clock at night. Then we have a lunch counter in the rear that is kept running all night. Lunches run from 50 cents up, and meals from $1 up. For a good square meal, with two kinds of meat, potatoes, canned corn or tomatoes, beans, bread, pie or pudding, and coffee or tea, we charge $1 now, but two months ago we got $1.50 or $2. There has been money in it, but there is a good deal of competition now, and prices are coming down.

      "You ought to see the people that come here to eat. Most of them are nice, strong, healthy young fellows, as polite and nice as if there were at home. But there are 'bums' and 'toughs' and gamblers--the looks of them make me shiver. The gamblers thought they could run the town, but they got left. They are as meek as lambs now. But the women! oh, dear! oh dear! I pity them from the bottom of my heart. They don't get their breakfast until 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon. They come in bunches of four or five or more, and they get the best we have. I wait on them myself lots of times, and you wouldn't know if you didn't know. Poor things!"
    Notes 
    • (Research):On 1865 Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN census, an Emma is listed right after Mary, could this be the middle name of Mary, or is this an additional child?
    Person ID I67  Legacy Sample Program
    Last Modified 15 Nov 2016 

    Father Joshua Marsden Brown,   b. 30 Sep 1833, Tionesta, Venango, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Sep 1911, Henrietta Township, Hubbard, Minnesota, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Mother Nancy Jane Goodhue,   b. Abt 1837, , , Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 3 Jul 1879  (Age ~ 42 years) 
    Married 31 Jan 1856  New Brighton, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
    Marriage entry
    Marriage entry
    From the Brown family bible
    Migration Abt 1857  , , Minnesota, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • Came to Minnesota about 1857.
    Alt. Marriage 29 Jan 1858  New Brighton, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • They possibly came to Minnesota in 1857, thus making the 1858 marriage date a possible problem...
    Marital Separation 15 Oct 1875  [1
    Divorced 16 Aug 1879 
    Family ID F24  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Lorin Lowell,   d. Aft 30 Jun 1879 
    Married Bef 30 Jun 1879  [1
    Last Modified 15 Nov 2016 
    Family ID F64  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - Abt 1858 - , , Pennsylvania, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 5 Jun 1860 - Fallston, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1865 - Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsStory - Alaska Gold Rush - 2 Jul 1898 - Skagway, Alaska, United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S132] Minnesota, Hennepin County - Divorce Decrees, Minnesota. Hennepin County., 9849, Nancy J. Brown vs. Marsden Brown, 30 Jun 1879 (Reliability: 3).
      STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF HENNEPIN. District Court, Fourth Judicial District.  Nancy J Brown  Pltf against  Marsden Brown  Deft. The State of Minnesota, to the above named Defendant: You Marsden Brown are hereby summoned and required to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action which is hereto attended and hereby sumned upon you and to serve a copy of your answer to the said Complaint on the subscriber, at his office in Minneapolis, in the County of Hennepin, and State aforesaid, within thirty days after the service of this summons on you, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the said Complaint within the time aforesaid, the plaintiff in this action will apply to the court for the relief demanded in the complaint. Dated June 30 A. D. 1879.
      ---
      State of Minnesota County of Hennepin. ___ | M___ | ___ | duly swear ___ | ___ | and say that at Minneapolis Minn on the 2nd day of July 1879 he served the ___ | ___ | ___ | complaint upon the ___ | defendant Marsden Brown by delivery to him a true | ___ | copy of | ___ | ___ | ___ | personally ___ |___ |___ |to be ___ |___ |defendant.
      ---
      State of Minnesota County of Hennepin.  Nancy J. Brown  Pltf against  Marsden Brown  Deft. The plaintiff Nancy J Brown complaines of the defendant Marsden Brown and alleges that they  were married at New Brighton Beaver County Pennsylvania on the 29th day of January 1858 ; that ever since the marriage they have lived and cohabited together as husband and wife until  October 15th 1875  or about that time; the issue of said marriage is  Mary E., the wife of Lorin Lowell aged twenty one years; Emma J. wife of Frederick Puhler aged eighteen years; W C Brown sixteen years of age ; said  plaintiff and defendant have been residence of the State of Minnesota twenty two years before the commencement of this action ;  the age of plaintiff is forty two years ;  the age of defendant is forty six years ; the defendant has been guilty of habitual drunkenness for the space of one year and has been habitually drunk for the space of one year | ___ |  ___ | ___ |the  ___ |of the complaint and the service upon the defendant; and on or about October 15 1875 plaintiff left defendant on account of said drunkeness and  ___ | ___ | ___ |; and  ___ |that he has been a drunkard for the period of eight or nine years.
      Plaintiff still further  | ___ |that previously to her leaving the defendant on or about October 15 1875 that defendant treated her in a cruel and inhuman manner; that the defendant neglected to provide for the plaintiff and her family the  | ___ |of life though he was able to do so and plaintiff was obliged to Support the family and he spent his earnings in intoxicating liquor and other dis__otions; and at the time the said plaintiff left defendant on or about October 15 1875; defendant committed assault and battery upon the plaintiff by striking her with his fists and has often threatened to take  | ___ | life of the plaintiff and to such a degree has this habitual  ___ |gone that it is impossible for the marriage relation to exist and that the plaintiff is afraid that defendant will take her life.
      Whereupon plaintiff demands judgement and  ___ |of the court that the marriage  ___ | ___ |between the plaintiff and defendant be dissolved and that they be forever divorced and the custody of the minor child be awarded to the plaintiff and such other relief or  ___ |be  ___ |and equitable. Minneapolis June 30 1879.
      ---
      State of Minnesota, County of Hennepin. Nancy J Brown came before me personally, and being duly sworn, doth say that she is the plaintiff in the above entitled action; that the foregoing complaint is true of her own knowledge, except as to those matters therein stated on his information and belief, and as to those matters that he believes it to be true.
      Subscribed and Sworn to before me, on this 30 day of June A. D. 1879.
      ---
      State of Minnesota County of Hennepin. Nancy J Brown against Marsden Brown Deft
      State of Minnesota County of Hennepin. I |___| ___ |  ___ | ___ |says that he is the attorney for the plaintiff that a copy of the summons  | ___ | and is copy of the complaint | ___ | ___ |was served upon the defendant Marsden Brown personally at | ___ | ___ | on the 2d day of July 1879 and that | ___ | ___ | ___ |days have | ___ | and no answer | ___ | nor notice of appearance has been received by said plaintiff's attorney | ___ |said plaintiff nor copy of | ___ | ___ | ___ | and | ___ | asks that judgement be given to the plaintiff. Subscribed & sworn to before me this 15th day of August 1879.
      ---
      State of Minnesota Hennepin County. Nancy J. Brown vs. Marsden Brown. Aug. 16 1879.
      Nancy J. Brown |___| I am plaintiff in this action & wife of deft; we were married in January 1858; we lived together as husband & wife until October 1874; I have been a resident of this state 23 years; my age is 42 years & deft 46; we have two children under 21 years of age: Emma J Poo- is over 18 & married; Wm C. Brown is the youngest & is 16 yrs old; he lives with me; Defendant is a drunkard; he has been drinking very hard for about Eight years steady & has been in the habit of getting drunk whenever he could get money enough to get liquor; he has furnished no such part for the family during that time; I have been obliged to support the family myself; he has been drunk for all last year every time he could get money enough. In November 1874 he came home drunk & brought with him a woman & wanted her to stay & allow him to sleep with her; I was not willing and he pulled me out of bed & threw me up against the wall; When he came home drunk he was very crazy; he threatened to kill me & I was afraid he would do it. I left him in November 1874. Since which time I have not lived with him.
      L. N. Lowell s____. I know pltf & deft & |___|for four years; during that time when defendant could get any money with which to purchase liquor he would get drunk. He has not furnished any support for his family during |___| time; he has been a habitual drunkard for more than one year.
      ---
      State of Minnesota County of Hennepin. Nancy J Brown pltf against Marsden Brown Deft. Aug 16th 1879.
      The |___| |___||___||___||___|at the above specified time A. H. Young |___| of the plaintiff appeared and defendant made no |___|. It appears by the |___|of Summons that Summary and copy of complaint were served upon defendant July 2nd 1879. Personally and that he did not appear and answer in the action. To Support the complaint the plaintiff testified and Loren Lowell.
      The court finds the following facts that plaintiff and defendant were married 29th day of January 1858 and lived together until November 1874 and sinse then have not lived together as husband and wife and that they have been residence of the State for twenty two years next preceding the commencement of |___| action, that plaintiff is forty two years old and defendant forty six years of age and that all the children are above age except W. C. Brown who is sixteen years of age and |___| court finds that defendant has been guilty of habitual drunkenness for more than one year next preceeding the filing of the complaint.
      Conclusions of Law
      The court finds that the plaintiff is entitled to a divorce from the defendant on the ground of habitual drunkenness for the space of one year next preceeding the filing the complaint |___| and that the plaintiff is entitled to the care and custody of the minor child W. C. Brown until he is of full age and the clerk is directed to enter judgement accordingly. A. H. Young.
      ---
      State of Minnesota County of Hennepin. District Court Fourth Judicial District
      Nancy J. Brown Pltf against Marsden Brown Deft. Decree of Divorce.
      The above entitled cause being regularly on the calendar of the above named court for Special Term held at the Court House in the City of Minneapolis in said County of Hennepin, and the court having duly heard and concluded same and made and filed its findings of fact and law wholly it appeared that the plaintiff is entitled to the Judgment of this Court dissolving the marriage relation between the Plaintiff and defendant above named and to the care and custody of W. C. Brown the child of said plaintiff & Defendant.
      Now therefore in presence of said decision and on motion of J. Guilford Esq. attorney for the plaintiff it is hereby adjudged and decreed that the marriage existing between the Plaintiff above named and the defendant above named be and the same hereby is dissolved and the said Plaintiff, Nancy J. Brown and the said Defendant, Marsden Brown forever divorced and freed from the obligations thereof; and it is hereby |___| judged and decreed that the said Plaintiff, Nancy J. Brown have the care, custody and Education of the child, W. C. Brown, free from all interference on the part of said Defendant Marsden Brown. By the Court J. A. Evol___  August 16th 1879 .

    2. [S140] Pennsylvania, Beaver, Fallston - 1860 Census, United States, Bureau of the Census, (8th Census, 1860. Washington, D.C.: The National Archives), Fallston, FHL Film #805071, Folio 213, DN 943, Family 895 (Reliability: 2).
      Age 2, born in Pennsylvania

    3. [S140] Pennsylvania, Beaver, Fallston - 1860 Census, United States, Bureau of the Census, (8th Census, 1860. Washington, D.C.: The National Archives), Fallston, FHL Film #805071, Folio 213, DN 943, Family 895 (Reliability: 2).

    4. [S141] Minnesota - 1865 State Census, Minneapolis, Ward 7, #594 (Reliability: 2).

    5. [S191] District of Columbia, Washington - Evening Star, District of Columbia. Washington., Mary E. Lowell, "A Paying Business," 2 Jul 1898, p. 10, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed 15 Nov 2016). (Reliability: 3).
      L. N. Lowell, formerly of Milwaukee, started for Alaska a year ago this spring, and reached Skaguay [sic] about the beginning of July last. He had had experience as a hotel and restaurant man, and concluded, instead of going to Dawson City, as he had started out to do, to stop at Skaguay and open a hotel. He struck a bonanza. His wife, who accompanied him, writes to her sister, Mrs. Frederick Puhler of this city, under date of April 9, as follows:

      "I never felt so lonesome in my life and I never worked so hard in my life, but I never was so happy in my life. The money comes in so fast we actually don't know what to do with it. It is a little better now since a bank has been opened we can trust to put in our money, but before that I was in constant terror. We had gold money, paper money, silver money and gold dust hidden in every nook and corner of the house. Loren tore up a plank from the kitchen floor, and we had over $5,000 in all kinds of money hidden there. It was an awful anxiety to have the stuff lying around like that, and it worried us more than the hard work we were doing. The place was full of people, dead broke and hungry, and they would cut one's throat for a dollar. We got a chance in December to send over $6,000 to Seattle, and we felt awfully relieved when we got the notice of credit from the bank. You don't know who to trust here. I hardly trust myself, and I keep an eye on Loren, I can tell you. Everybody is on the make, and you'd get done out of your eye teeth if you didn't watch out.

      "The transportation companies think they run things, but they are thieves and swindlers and liars, every one of them. They are getting thousands of people to come to this awful country who will never get home. Their charges are awful. Loren bought fifty tons of flooring in Seattle. It was over a month getting here, and some of it was damaged getting it ashore. But we have no kick coming. We paid $6 a barrel for flour in Seattle; it costs $6 a barrel to ship it, and Loren sold it for $42.50 a barrel before it left the dock. I managed to get half a barrel that had been broken open, and I am glad the stuff is gone--it wouldn't even make doughnuts or pancakes.

      "We are just everlastingly fixed here to make money. I have heard of bonanzas, but I never dreamed we would strike one. We have got the 'bon ton' restaurant and hotel in the place. It would not be much for Milwaukee, but it's the thing here. I send you an outside and inside view by this mail. We keep things neat and clean, and my cooking is something like the people got in God's country. We have six tables in the restaurant that will hold six people each, and there is not a vacant seat from 6 o'clock in the morning until 12 o'clock at night. Then we have a lunch counter in the rear that is kept running all night. Lunches run from 50 cents up, and meals from $1 up. For a good square meal, with two kinds of meat, potatoes, canned corn or tomatoes, beans, bread, pie or pudding, and coffee or tea, we charge $1 now, but two months ago we got $1.50 or $2. There has been money in it, but there is a good deal of competition now, and prices are coming down.

      "You ought to see the people that come here to eat. Most of them are nice, strong, healthy young fellows, as polite and nice as if there were at home. But there are 'bums' and 'toughs' and gamblers--the looks of them make me shiver. The gamblers thought they could run the town, but they got left. They are as meek as lambs now. But the women! oh, dear! oh dear! I pity them from the bottom of my heart. They don't get their breakfast until 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon. They come in bunches of four or five or more, and they get the best we have. I wait on them myself lots of times, and you wouldn't know if you didn't know. Poor things!"
      Republished in both the Milwaukee Sentinel and Washington D.C.'s Evening Star.

    6. [S73] Letter - from Mabel Hilton to Virginia Larsen - 9 October 1957, Hilton Mabel, Everett Washington.

    7. [S133] Personal knowledge of Mabel Claire Brown Hilton, Mabel Hilton, (9 Oct 1957) (Reliability: 2).
      31 Jan 1856; Breighton, Beaver, Pennsylvania

    8. [S84] Brown - Asa Clark Brown Family Bible, (Hartford: Connecticut, 1850).

    9. [S134] BROWN - Asa C. Brown family bible, (Originally in possession of Evelyn Sites. Passed to Geoffrey D. Rasmussen in Apr 2000, Published in 1850)) (Reliability: 2), 23 Apr 2000.
      31 Jan 1856; New Brighton, Beaver, Pennsylvania
      From the Brown family bible

    10. [S135] Minnesota, Ramsey, Saint Paul - The Saint Paul Globe, Minnesota., "Minneapolis News," 3 July 1879, p. 3, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 Jul 2016). (Reliability: 3).
      Nancy J. Brown has brought suit against her husband, Marsden Brown, on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment and habitual drunkenness. The parties have been married twenty-two years, and the complainant says that since 1875 Brown has failed to support her or his family, and that he has several times threatened to take her life, and she therefore prays for a divorce.