Happy Fathers' Day

 In memory of my father,

who taught us to treasure our family and our country.

My Father,

Delbert Keith Brown

 

My father with my brothers & me.

My Grandfathers:

Roy Jessie Brown, 1902 MS – 1956 MS

Nathaniel Gardner, 1882 NY – 1944 NY

 

My Great Grandfathers:

Jasper Pascal Brown, 1865 MS – 1950 MS

Thomas Kenneth Mark, 1879 OH – 1975 OH

Leopold Gartner, 1860 Poland – 1948 NY

Michael Coyle, b 1870 Ireland

 

My 2x Great Grandfathers:

Allen Moses Brown, 1836 MS – after 1870

Jessie Alexander Brumfield, 1838 LA – 1914 MS

William Mark, 1844 OH – 1915 OH

Augustus Ceaser Gruissy, 1840 OH – 1915 OH

Markusz S. Gartner, 1826 Poland- 1888 Hungary

Adolph Edelstein, b 1830

Patrick Coyle, 1841 Ireland – 1925 CT

Daniel Mullane, 1838 Ireland – 1930 Ireland

 

My [known] 3x Great Grandfathers:

Edward Stewart Brown, 1806 GA – 1856 MS

Wyatt Smith, 1809 LA- 1894 MS

Nathaniel Brumfield, 1799 LA – 1852 LA

Edwin Barksdale Alford, 1792 NC – 1878 MS

Abraham Mark, 1812 PA – 1872 OH

Isaac Ritter, 1823 – 1880 OH

Christian Gruissy, 1811 Swiss – 1870 OH

John Franklin Wolf, 1809 PA – 1883 OH

Mozes Gartner

Michael Coyle, b 1805 Ireland

Thomas Brady, d 1914 Ireland

Thomas Mullane, Ireland

Martin English, Ireland

 

My [known] 4x Great Grandfathers:

Moses Brown, 1777 NC – 1839 OH

Allen Spurlock, 1775 NC – 1864 MS

Jeremiah George Smith, 1773 SC – 1840 MS

William Jasper Fortenberry, 1772 SC – 1842 MS

John Brumfield, 1768 NC – 1834

Jacob Ott III, 1774 SC – 1836 LA

Jacob Alford, 1761 NC – 1824 LA

Philip Heffelfinger, 1787 , b 1776 Ireland

Johannes Ritter, Jr., 1771 PA – 1864 OH

John Fisher

Christian Gruissy, b 1792 Swiss

John Frederick Wolf, 1779 PA – 1872 PA

Abraham Burkholder

Pat Coyle, b 1776 Ireland

James Cunningham, b 1771 Ireland

John Gibney, b 1794 Ireland

My [known] 5x Great Grandfathers:

Edward Brown, 1730 – 1797 NC

William Traylor

Richard Dillon, 1745 VA – 1833 MS

John Faulkenberry, 1740 VA – 1815 SC

John Kennington, 1745 – 1814 SC

Charles Brumfield, 1745 VA – 1820 SC

William Stark Kelly, 1739 Ireland – 1826 TN

Jacob Ott II, 1755 SC – 1820 SC

Julius Alford, 1717 VA – 1771 NC

Jeremiah Smith, Sr., b 1755 

Michael Mowrey

Johannes Ritter, Sr., 1743 PA – 1816

Johann Jonas Wolf, 1739 PA – 1787 PA

 

My [known] 6x Great Grandfathers:

Moses Hollis, 1728 VA – 1794 SC

James Theopilous Dillon, b 1719 Ireland

Humphrey Lawrence, 1726 – 1772 NC

Jacob Faulkenberry, b c 1715

John Eubanks

John Watson Brumfield, 1714 – 1781 SC

William Durham, 1715 VA – 1793 NC

Jacob Ott I, 1725 Swiss – 1786

Casper Ott, b 1721 Swiss

James Alford, 1687 VA – 1730 VA

Moses Hollis, 1728 VA – 1794 SC

Heinrich Ritter, 1715 Germany – 1797 PA

Heinrich Keck, 1710 Germany – 1786 PA

Johan Jacob Wolf, 1694 Germany – after 1757

Johan Adam Dick, 1709 Germany – 1785 PA

 

My [known] 7x Great Grandfathers:

John Hollis, 1700 England – 1768 VA

Robert Lawrence, 1672 VA – 1744 NC

Thomas Ashley, c 1710 – 1790 NC

Henry Falkenberg, 1675 NJ – c 1759

Samuel Durham, d 1735

Benjamin Colclough, d 1722 VA

Melchoir Ott, 1699 Swiss – 1755 SC

Theodore Fitchtner

John Alford, 1645 VA – 1710 VA

Johannes Peter Wolf, Germany

Hans Jacob Orth, Germany

 

My [known] 8x Great Grandfathers:

John Lawrence, d 1700 VA

John Nicholls, b 1680 NC

Thomas Ashley, 1650 VA- after 1759

David Hicks

Hendrick Jacobs Falkenberg, c 1640 – c 1712

Hans Ott, 1699 Swiss – 1725 Swiss

 

My [known] 9x Great Grandfathers:

Robert Lawrence, d c 1707 VA

John Ashley, 1625 England – 1687 VA

Lambert Jochemse Van Valkenberg, 1616 Netherlands – 1685 NY

Sennick Broer

 

My [known] 10x Great Grandfathers:

John Lawrence, d 1639 England

Lambert Dryskens Van Valkenberg, c 1570 Netherlands – 1651 Netherlands

Arnold Jacobs, Netherlands

 

My [known] 11x Great Grandfathers:

Thomas Lawrence, 1539 – 1593 England

Andries Van Valkenberg, c 1540 Netherlands – 1609 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June Family Birthdays, June 1 -15

 Is your birthday coming soon? Happy Birthday!

Maybe you share your special day with someone in our family who came before. Look below and see. I posted this series back in 2011. This version has been updated with more information. I hope you find it as much fun as I do.

Even if it is not your birthday, look at the highlighted SURNAMES. Maybe you will see a name from your family & learn a little more about them.

Click on the links to learn more about the people & places.

1 June        

1891     Harry RITTER, son of Parson Scott Ritter & Abigail Amanda Hottenstein

1894    Eli Eddie BLADES b. in Louisiana, son of Eli B. & Morgana Blades. Married Annie Clotee Cutrer.

2 June        

1903     Hettie Muriel ELLZEY, daughter of William S. Ellzey & Amanda Adarene Fortenberry; wife of Willis Emmitt Gulledge

1940    Dale JOHNSON

3 June        

1807    Edwin SMITH b. in Mississippi, son of Jeremiah Smith & Joanna Dillon.

1855    Susan Penelope FORTENBERRY, born in MS; daughter of Alfred Fortenberry & Aderine Mary Faulk

1878    Anna May WOLF; daughter of John W. S. Wolf & Elizabeth Jane Anderson

4 June        

1755     Hans George OTT, born in SC; son of Casper Ott

1832    Matilda MILLAN

5 June        

1762    Jacob WOLF b. in Pennsylvania, son of Johann Jonas Wolf & Appollonia Dick. Married to Cornelia Knight. Daughter: Margaret Wolf. 

1783    Andrew WOLF, born in PA; son of Johan Friedrich Wolf 

1832     Thomas Sands BROWN; born in Ohio; son of James Brown 

6 June         

1931    Sally Louise SHEETS

1932    Gerald MAURER b. in Ohio, son of Elmer Maurer & Pauline Morrison. Gerald died the day he was born.

7 June        

1822     Aaron BROWN, born in MS; son of Moses Brown & Nancy Chandler Perkins

1856    William Edward FORTENBERRY, born in MS; Willis James Fortenberry & Louisa Blackwell

1858    Charles Sumner BROWN  b Iowa, son of Aaron & Elizabeth Brown. 

8 June        

1858    Patrick Hines ALFORD, son of Hines Berry Alford

1908    Ivy Regina MARK b OH, daughter of Thomas Kenneth Mark & N. Regina  Gruissy. She was my paternal grandmother. She married Roy Jessie Brown in 1927 in Ohio. She was the mother of seven children.  My father, Delbert K. Brown, was her oldest child. The family moved to New York State about 1941. My grandmother loved flowers & gardens. She collected milk glass. She loved spending time with her family. She lived 95 years. 

9 June        

1835    Benjamin Franklin RITTER, born in PA; son of Michael Ritter

1929    Dorothy June HURD b. in Michigan, daughter of Howard M. Hurd & Marian Lehman. Married Vern James Simons. 

10 June        

1724    Anna Maria WOLF b Germany, daughter of Johan Jacob Wolf & Anna Barbara Orth. 

1782     TWINS. Jonathan & David LAWRENCE; sons of John Lawrence & Mary Duke

1884    Henry Lucius ALFORD, b in MS; son of Needham Edwin Alford & Mary Luzina Stafford

1921     Earl Vernon ALFORD, son of Hugh Edwin Alford 

11 June        

1753    Johannes Theobald RITTER, b in PA; son of Heinrich Ritter & Maria Elizabeth Tutt

1849    Peter Alfred WOLF, b in PA; son of John Jonas Wolf & Sarah Ann Chronister; husband of Mary Elizabeth Adams; father of 5 children

1888    Adolphus Oliver SMITH, son of Adolphus Scott Smith & Julia Jane Simmons. Married to Grace Graham. Father of nine children.

12 June        

1928    Olivia Margaret SHAW, daughter of John R. Shaw & Mary Jeanette Mark.                     Married David Walter Foss. 

13 June        

1862    Mary Elizabeth GATLIN married William Franklin Ellzey, son of John Shaffer Ellzey & Saryntha Smith. They had eight children.

1897    Alva William BLADES

1912     Baxter Edwin BRUMFIELD, son of John Edward Brumfield & Ada Beatrice Fortenberry

14 June - - Flag Day        

1798    Isaac OTT was the son of Jacob Ott & Margaret Jackson. My 4x great uncle.

1835    William J. M. SMITH, son of Wyatt Smith & Euseba Fortenberry. My 3x great uncle. 

1836    Esther Barbara WOLF; My 2x great grandmother; daughter of John Franklin Wolf & Elisabeth Burkholder; second wife of Augustus Ceaser Gruissy I have copies of several letters between Esther & her daughter, N. Regina Gruissy Mark.

15 June        

1854    Sarah Louise FORTENBERRY

1883     Martin Edgar ALFORD, son of Needham W. Alford & Laura E. Brumfield

1884    Arthur Moses GARTNER b. in New York City, was the son of Leopold &                             Florence Gartner. My great uncle. 

1888     Grace Anne WOLF, son of Francis Jonas Wolf & Ida Virginia Spangler

To learn more about my family's branches

order & read the Books I have Written.

Our Browns Roots

&

Remembrances

Forget Me Not: Helen Mark, 2010 OH

 Helen Virginia Sampsel Mark

12 December 1921 OH – 8 January 2010 OH

Daughter of John Sampsel & Emma Lint

Wife of Ernest Miles Mark

 

Helen V. Mark, 88, of Wooster, died Friday, January 8, 2010 at West View Manor.

 

She was born December 12, 1921, daughter of the late John and Emma (Lint) Sampsel. Helen married her husband, Ernest Miles Mark on February 22, 1946. He preceded her in death in 1996.

 

She farmed with her husband for many years and was later employed by the Daily record driving a motor route. Helen was a member of the Old Stone Church, Woman’s Guild at the church and the Golden Friends at First Presbyterian Church.   

 

Helen is survived by her children, Carl (Nancy) Mark of Wooster, Naomi (Dennis) Evans of Cocoa, FL, Marita (Greg) Buchanan of Wooster, and Melvin (Lisa) Mark of West Salem; 12 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; and one great – great – grandson.

 

Along with her husband and parents, Helen was preceded in death by brothers, Prem, Johnny, Harold, Paul, Arthur, Floyd and Carl; and sisters, Emma Wilhelm, Fern Roman and Mary Sampsel.

 

Services will be held on Wednesday January 13, at 11:00 a. m. at McIntire Davis and Greene Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill, Wooster with Rev. John Fitch and Pastors Dan Bartkowiak and reic Fairhurst officiating. Interment will follow in the Wooster Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6 – 9 p. m.

Source: Newspapers.com

The Tribune, Coshocton, OH

10 Jan 2010, page 4

 

 

 

Never Underestimate a Library

 

Genealogical research can certainly be done from your home. There are many websites with information. However, do not overlook libraries. I have traveled to marvelous state, county and town libraries in the areas where my ancestors lived. Those libraries are filled with treasures for genealogists.

I live in New York State, near our Capital. Over the years that I researched my book, ‘Our Brown Roots,’ I traveled west to Ohio and south to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana. I visited archives, town halls, cemeteries and libraries. I met friendly, helpful people and learned something new at every location.

Do you think everything is digitized? No. Small rural libraries that stand in the town where your ancestor farmed may have unique reference materials that are not available online. Those libraries often contain local histories that can teach you how people lived when your ancestor was working and raising a family.

• In the Fairfax Regional Library, VA I learned that John Hollis, my 7^th great grandfather, was in the French & Indian War, serving under Col. George Washington.
• In the Hudson Area Library, NY I found school yearbooks for my father and his siblings with photographs of their young faces.
• In Washington Parish Library, LA I found a binder of obituaries. They had been clipped from local newspapers, alphabetized and photocopied. Names from 3 of my family branches were included. These are not on Newspapers.com.

 

Those are just 3 examples of libraries and discoveries. While visiting those libraries I also went to the cemeteries and town halls. I walked around in the towns where my ancestors lived.

Now that ‘Our Brown Roots’ is in print I am beginning to write letters to those libraries. In my letters I recognize the many resources available in those libraries. I thank “all of you who provide historical and genealogical resources to your patrons.”

With my letters I am sending those libraries a copy of my book. Since those libraries stand where my family lived/lives I am hoping my book will help others to learn about our shared family.

These are some of the Libraries I have visited & am writing to

 [with links to my blog posts]:

Hudson Area Library

51 North 5^th Street

Hudson, NY 12534

Fairfax Regional Library

Virginia Room

10360 North Street

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Founders Hall Library

100 North Tryon Street

Suite 290

Charlotte, NC 28202

 

York County Library

138 East Black Street

Rock Hill, SC 29730

 

Orangeburg County Library

1645 Russell Street

Orangeburg, SC 29115

 

Lancaster County Library

313 South White Street

Lancaster, SC 29720

 

Pike – Amite – Walthall Library System

1022 Virginia Avenue

McComb, MS 39648

 

Washington Parish Library

825 Free Street

Franklinton, LA 70438

The York County Library in SC sent me this nice note when they received my book:

Your wonderful book "Our Brown Roots" arrived at our library this week.  Thank you very much for your kind donation to our collection and I'm very pleased we were able to help you with your research. Congratulations on completing such a nice study on your families!  I will get the book cataloged and added to our collection for other researchers to enjoy. Best wishes to you as you continue your genealogical journey!

Thanks again, John Skardon

You can contact Troy Book Makers for a copy.

 

 

 

 

May Family Birthdays, May 16 - 31

 Is your birthday coming soon? Happy Birthday!

Even if it is not your birthday, look at the highlighted SURNAMES. Maybe you will see a name from your family & learn a little more about them.

Maybe you share your special day with someone in our family who came before. Look below and see. I posted this series back in 2011. This version has been updated with more information. I hope you find it as much fun as I do.

Click on the links to learn more about the people & places. Note: I do not include living individuals here. 

16 May    

1840    Augustus Ceaser GRUISSY, son of Christian Gruissy & Mary Grorisclauss. Married three times. Made & sold homemade medicines. Died in 1915. He was my 2x great grandfather. 

1885    Mary Ann Levina RITTER, daughter of Amos Ritter & Emma Levina Smith

17 May        

1881    Harvey Johnson ALFORD b. in Mississippi, son of Needham Edwin Alford &                 Mary Luzina Stafford. 

18 May        

1769    Aaron BROWN, son of Edward Brown; He was born in NC & died in OH

1777    Johan J. RITTER, born in PA; son of Casper Ritter

1817    Ninetta WOLF, daughter of John Frederick Wolf & Esther Barbara Shaffer

1869    Felder Herman FORTENBERRY

1874    Ellen MULLANE b. in Ireland, daughter of Daniel Mullane & Brigid English

1878    Ada Lavina MESSMORE

1887    Caldwell Wellman ALFORD

19 May        

1885    James Frederick DICKSON

1891    Rudolph Henry WOLF, son of Charles Albert Wolf

1911    J. Arthur WOLF b. in Pennsylvania, son of Jonas Hankey Wolf & Una Garber

20 May         

1833    William G. FORTENBERRY, son of Calvin Kennington Fortenberry

1841    Patrick COYLE b. in Ireland, son of Michael Coyle & Mary Cunningham.                         Married Margaret Brady in 1870 in Ireland. Parents of 11 children. Patrick was my 2nd great grandfather.  He came to the USA in 1885.

1887    Elmer William RITTER

21 May        

1884    Gertrude Idella WOLF b. in Ohio, daughter of Joseph Wolf & Anna Eliza Kohr.                 Married Clarence Fry.

22 May        

1898    Lucia Jane SMITH, daughter of Adolphus Scott Smith & Julia Jane Simmons.                     Married Jere Gardenhire.

23 May     

1822    Elisha BRUMFIELD b. in Louisiana, son of Willis Brumfield & Nancy Virginia                 Holmes. Married Salena Arvozena Jane Warner. Elisha died in 1860.

1838    Benjamin Calvin FORTENBERRY, son of Gasua Chapman Fortenberry 

24 May        

1814    Elisabeth BURKHOLDER, born in PA; daughter of Abraham Burkholder; wife of John Franklin Wolf. She was my 3x great grandmother.

1856    David MARK, born in Ohio; son of Abraham Mark & Mary Isabella Heffelfinger; husband of Mary Ann Clason

1858    Wyatt FORTENBERRY

1915    Owen Andrew MARK b. in Ohio, son of Thomas Kenneth Mark & N. Regina Gruissy. Married Blanche Bowers. Father of twin sons: Danny & Denny. Owen served in World War II. He was a farmer in Ohio for many years. He was my grand uncle.

25 May        

1880    Martin RITTER, born in Ohio, son of Amos Ritter and Emma Smith

26 May        

1757    Anna Catherine RITTER

1796    Theophilous DILLON b. in North Carolina, son of Richard Dillon & Anne Lawrence. Married Peggy Pearson. 

1844    William MARK, born in Ohio; son of Abraham Mark & Mary Isabella Heffelfinger; married twice. He served in the Civil War. He was my 2x great grandfather. 

1862    Eslie D. RITTER

1913    Viola Cathern MARK, daughter of Thomas Kenneth Mark & Nancy Regina Victoria Gruissy

1922    John J. BRADY

27 May      

1829    Hollander Elizabeth MORRIS b. in Mississippi, daughter of Benjamin Morris                 & Hollander Smith. Married Benjamin Blades. Mother of seven children.

1891    John H. SCHILLING

28 May        

1758    Christina WOLF

1784    Joseph BALLIET b. in Pennsylvania, son of Jacob Balliet & Barbara Ritter  Married Susan Green. Son: Stephen Balliet. 

29 May        

1926    Glenn Rollin MARK b. in Ohio, son of Eslie Guy Mark & Golda Mae Warner.                 Married Eva Lena Moseley. Child: Glenna Mark.

30 May        

1917    Clarence William MARK b. In Ohio, son of Thomas Kenneth Mark & N. Regina Gruissy. Married Lavon E. Moyer. My Grand Uncle Clarence was a great help with my genealogical research. He had notes on our family, reaching back a few generations, that he shared with me. A soft spoken gentleman, he always took the time to answer my questions about our family. He died in 2006. 

1937    John Eugene JOLLIFF

31 May        

1883    Lillian ELLZEY

1884    Sallie Joy BRUMFIELD b. in Mississippi, daughter of Jessie Alexander Brumfield & Martha E. Alford. Married Joseph Ed Brumfield. Children: Alex, Philip, Donald & David. 

To learn more about my family's branches

order & read the Books I have Written.

Our Browns Roots

&

Remembrances