Early pioneer families of Daviess County: The Browns #3

There are at least three Brown families I have come across (so far) who were early pioneers of the county (prior to 1850). They include the John Bridges Brown and Hannah Hill family, and the William Brown and Sarah Kincaid family. We learned about both families in previous articles. The third family is the following.

The Browns #3

Samuel Coombs Brown was born in 1787 in Loudon County, Va., the son of Henry Brown and Abigail Coombs. In 1799, the family moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, floating down the Ohio River on a flat boat. It was a time when there was only one log cabin at Portsmouth, according to a story told to family members by Samuel’s sister, Mary.

Samuel married Elizabeth “Betsy” Cox in Augusta County, Va., in 1810. She was the daughter of Philip Cox [1763-1841] and Anna M. Wiseman. Samuel enlisted to serve in the War of 1812 on May 3, 1813. He is listed as a Pvt US Infantry. He stood 6 feet 1 inch; age: 26, eyes: dark, hair: dark, complexion: fair. Occupation: laborer, Washington Co. Virginia; Honorable discharge at Chillicothe [Virginia] on June 9, 1815.

From 1820-1830, they lived in Pike County, Ohio, but by 1840, this family had settled in Daviess County. Their children were:

1. John A., born 1811, married Nancy A. Ninemeyer in 1834 in Ohio. Their children were: Andrew; William; Mary Ann; Elizabeth; Matilda J.; Nancy A; and George W.

In Jan. 1848, gold was discovered while workers were constructing a saw mill along the American River northeast of present-day Sacramento. It was found along the banks and beds of the streams, although later prospectors learned that sometimes digging several feet deep was needed before any was found.  Gold was sometimes found in dirt and clay, but generally one found that the clay paid the best. If there was no clay, then it was found down on the rock. Most all of the lumps or bigger chunks of gold were found on the rock as well as most of the fine gold.

Prospectors learned that gold would also be found when they would try the dirt with a pan. Sifting through the dirt and little rocks until the little gold nugget was found, this was called prospecting.

John heard about the gold, dreamed of its riches for his family and decided to leave his wife and children in Daviess County, to head for California in search of its rewards. After he arrived, however, he found that it was not all good. The miners’ diet was poor, with the result that many suffered from disease, particularly scurvy. The majority of men who arrived met with bad success and because of the bad diet and poorness of the men, thousands died. Some gave up and begged their way back home.

For those who found any gold, it was such a small amount that it was never enough to carry them back to their families. It has been estimated that probably one half of those who arrive in California never were able to go back to their families. The disappointments, disease and death were all around when John arrived. In 1849, John succumbed to disease, and died in California. He was 38.

2. Catherine, born 1814, married Daniel Ninemyers. Their children were: John; William; Andrew; Daniel; Catherine and Elijah. Newspapers across the state published the accounts that in Daviess County on March 28, 1848, “Jacob Grooner, Harvey M’Cully, Daniel Ninemires and Wm. Baily were killed by the caving in of a bank upon them. They were building a dam across Grand River, and had dug far into the bank, some 12 feet deep for one side of the dam, and were engaged in putting in the dam timbers.” Catherine died before 1850, thus leaving their children orphans.

3. Sarah, born 1816. Married Jesse Ninemyres/Ninemires. Their children were: Andrew; Samuel J; Elizabeth “Eliza”; David; Jessie J; Jacob; John; Dana; Elizabeth; Phillip D; and Rebecca. The majority of their children lived in the Gallatin/Pattonsburg area with the exception of Phillip and Jessie J. who both died in Kansas. Sarah died Aug. 17, 1877, in Daviess County, and is buried with her husband at Waters Cemetery in Daviess County.

4. David, born 1818, David married Barbara Youtsey in 1846. He died in 1871 in Daviess County. In the 1870 census, their children included John P; David; Amanda J; Lewis; Thomas; and Willis. Also living with David and Barbara in 1870 is Elizabeth Brown, age 92, David’s mother. David’s son, John P., married Elizabeth J. Burge in 1874. That’s the last we know about John and Elizabeth.

Family legend has it she “stepped” off a running train, not sure if it’s true. No “legend” on John he is just gone, too. They left behind three children. If anyone knows anything about this couple, please contact me. This is a ‘brick wall’ for a family member who is researching this family.

5. Phillip C, born 1820, Phillip married Mrs. Adaline Reid in 1858 in Daviess County. They later divorced in 1858. Their children were: James; George; Lewis; Ellen; John; Frances; and Martin. Phillip died in 1876 in Daviess County and is buried at Waters (Haver) Cemetery.

6. William, born 1822. In 1850, 28 years old William lived with his mother, Elizabeth Brown, and his brothers, James and Phillip, sister, Rebecca Brown Hughes, and her daughter, Elizabeth Hughes, and orphaned, Elijah Ninemires, son of Catherine Brown and Daniel Ninemier/Ninemire/Ninemyre. Nothing more has been found on this William.

7. Rebecca, born 1824, married James Hughes in 1839 in Daviess County and had at least one daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in 1841. In the 1850 census, Rebecca and Elizabeth Hughes is living with her mother, Elizabeth Brown, and some of Rebecca’s siblings. I’ve ‘lost’ Rebecca after that census.

8. Samuel, born 1825, married Elizabeth Keller in 1844 in Daviess County. After Elizabeth died, he married a lady whose first name is listed on the 1860 census as “Missouri.” Samuel and Elizabeth’s children were: Elizabeth, John, Obediah, and Francis. Samuel and Missouri’s children were: Nathaniel, Henry, and Charles.

Samuel farmed; real estate in 1860 was valued at $2,000. The last time he is found in the census is 1870. His real estate is valued at $6,000 and personal estate at $1,000. Samuel was a Union supporter for the Civil War. You can tell that by the substantial growth of his real estate value after the war (1870). [On an average, Confederate supporters lost a lot of real estate and personal value during the war. That loss shows up on the 1870 census.] Samuel died at Jameson in 1877 and is buried at Waters/Haver Cemetery in Daviess County.

9. Elizabeth, born 1825.

10. James, born 1830. Some researchers say that this James married Phebe Frost or Forrest, in Daviess County, in 1855. Because of census discrepancies, this would take more research before I could confirm.

Samuel C. died in 1849 in Daviess County. Elizabeth died between 1870-1880.

One of the reasons why researching common names is harder is the naming patterns which seem to have started in England in 1700-1875. There are several variations, but generally they are as follows:

1st son — father’s father

2nd son — mother’s father

3rd son — father

4th son — father’s eldest brother

1st daughter — mother’s mother

2nd daughter — father’s mother

3rd daughter — mother

4th daughter — mother’s eldest sister

All this confusion is time consuming for the researching when trying to connect the correct set of children to go with the correct parents. Brothers named their sons and daughters the same names. One more reason why it is imperative that today’s families write down their lineage the way they know it [start with yourself and go backwards]. It is also important to label your pictures. Years from now, it will be a goldmine of correct information for future researchers. You may not have anyone now who cares about it, but I guarantee you that one day, someone will want to know. A classic example is the researcher previously mentioned. They have old pictures but no one has a clue as to who they are.