John Brown was born 15 September, 1838 in Upper Canada and baptized on 10 February, 1839 at the St. Thomas Church in Belleville along with his sister Mariette/Margaret.
Source: Mariette Ann and John Brown, baptized 10 Feb 1839. 7-B-3 St. Thomas’ at Belleville, Anglican Diocese of Ontario, Kingston, Ontario, Mariete Ann, born on the 21st of June 1837 & John, born the fifteenth of September 1838, children of George Brown of Rawdon & Esther his wife were baptized on the 10th day of February 1839 by me, _______Parents – Sponsors.
John Brown was living with his parents, George and Esther Brown, in the 1861 Canadian Census. John would be a great greatuncle to me and brother to Richard Brown my great grandfather.
Line 5, George Brown, Farmer crossed off Merchant written above, born in Ireland, Religion Church of England, age 57, male, married, House: Frame, 2 stories, 1 family living in-house. Ester Brown, born in Ireland, Church of England, age 49, born about 1812, Female, married. John Brown, born Upper Canada, Church of Eng., age 21, male, single. Matilda Brown, born Upper Canada, Church of Eng, age 17, female, single. Richard Brown, born Upper Canada, Church of Eng., age 15 male, attending school. Ester M. Brown, born Upper Canada, Church of Eng., age 13 female, attending school. Isabell Brown, born Upper Canada, Church of Eng., age 10, female, attending school.
Line 12, Jeremiah Brown (not Jesse), Farmer, born Upper Canada, Church of Eng., age 25 male, single, log house, single story.
Source: George Brown Family, 1861 Canadian Census, Plympton, Lambton Co., Ontario, Page 21,
He married a Lydia Holling, born about 1841 in England, on 23 October, 1861 in Lambton Co., Ontario.
Source: Ontario, Canada Marriages 1801-1928, John Brown and Lydia, 25 Oct. 1861, John Brown, BP Rawdon, Residence Plympton Twp., 23, born abt 1838, father George Brown, mother Esther, Spouse: Lydia, age 20, born England, residing Plympton, father John Holling, mother Sarah, Marriage 25 Oct. 1861, Lambton.
George Brown and his sons appeared in the Lambton gazetteer of 1864-65.
County of Lambton Gazetteer, Wyoming 1864-5, Ontario, Sutherland Bros, Ingersoll, C.W., pg. 118 to 121, published 1864.
pg. 119 Wyoming: The Post Office was established in 1856, Geo. Brown, sen. postmaster.
pg. 120 Brown, Geo., sen. postmaster
Brown, Geo., jun, oil refiner
Brown, Jno., oil refiner
Brown, Richard, assistant postmaster
Brown, Wm. cooper.
Clement, H.B., oil refiner
King, E.N. telegraph operator
John and Lydia Brown are living in Petrolia in the 1871 Canadian Census. It is unclear the relationship of the other men in the household, the Holling is probably a brother?
Line 5, 94, 121, Brown, John, M. 32, born O, all E. Meth, Irish, Will Driller, M. Brown, Lydia, F, 30, born England, English. Brown, William J., M, 7, , born O, Irish, going to school. Brown, Joseph E., M, 1, born O, Irish. Brown, Louisa Maud, F, 4, born O., Irish. Whitty, William, M, 20, born O, C. of England, English, Well Driller. Holling, William, M, 26, born O, E. Meth., English, Well Driller. Wolsey, Daniel, M, 24, born O, E. Meth., English, Engineer.
Source: John Brown Family, 1871 Canadian Census, Petrolia, Lambton Co., Ontario, pg. 31, Dist. 4 Lambton, SD D Petrolia No. 1 Div. 1.
John and Lydia Brown continued to live in Lambton County and were there in 1881.
Line 4, 23, 213, Brown, John, M. 43, b. O, Ch of E., Irish, oil operator, M. Brown, Lydia, F, 40, born England, Ch of E., English, M., Brown, William John, M, 17, all born O, All Ch of E, Children Irish, Brown, Louisa Maud, F, 14. Brown, Joseph, Edwin, M, 10, in school. Brown, George Frederick, M, 7, in school, Brown, Catherine Lydia, F, 3, in school.
Source: John Brown Family, 1881 Canadian Census, Enniskillen, Lambton Co., Ontario, Dist, 179, SD D, pg. 47.
John Brown migrate with his family to Manitoba and was living there in the 1891 Canadian Census.
Line 18, W 2/3, 94, Brown, John, M, 52, M, Ont, parents born Ireland S.D., Farmer, 1 employee. Brown, Lydia, F, 50, M, W, England, parents born England. Brown, Louisa M, F, 24, D, all born Ont.Brown, Joseph E., M, 21, S. Brown, George, F, M, 17, S, Brown, Kattie L, M, 13, D, Line 24, M 2/3 W 1/2, 95, Brown, William J. M, 27, Farmer, all can read and write.
Source: John Brown Family, 1891 Canadian Census, Blanchard, Marquette, Manitoba, pg. 12, Dist#7, SD D, 31 April, 1891, John Huston.
Note: Blanchard is west of Strathclair.
Blanchard is west of Strathclair – Taken from 1901 Census Map for the District of Marquette Northwest of Brandon.
In the 1901 Canadian Census, John and Lydia are still living in Blanchard, Marquette, Manitoba.
Line 22, 83, 87, Brown, John, M, Head, M, Sept. 15, 1838, 62, b. Ontario, Irish, Religion SDA, Farmer, all can read and write. Brown, Lydia, F, Wife, M, Dec 4, 1840, 60, England 1843, English. Holling, William, M, visitor, M, Aug, 9, 1865, 55, Ont., English. Line 25, 84, 84, Brown, William, J., M, Head, M, June 2, 1863, 37, Ont., Irish, farmer. Brown, Mary E, F, Wife, M, April 18, 1876 24, Man., Irish.
Source: John Brown Family, 1901 Canadian Census, Blanchard, Marquette, Manitoba, pg 8, Dist # 9, SD D-4, Twp. 13 & 14 R 22W, John Armstrong
A big change has taken place by 1910. John and Lydia Brown are living with their son George and his family. The family has migrated to Oregon. Also, brother William is with them along with his wife and son.
Line 55, 36, 36, Brown, George F., Head, M, W, 305 M1, 15, Can Eng., Eng. English, 1899, Al, English, Gardner, Truck Famer, A.A. Brown, Emma R., wife, F, W, 30, M1 15, 3, 2, Can Eng.Brown, Elmer, G, son, M, W, 12, S, Can Eng., Eng Eng, 1900, English, Nurse, CW. Brown, Ellen M, Daughter, F, W, 2, S, Oregon. Brown, John, Father, M, W, 69, M1, 48, Can, Irish. Brown, Lydia, A, Mother, F, W, 65, M1, 48, 5, 2, Eng, Eng. Line 61, 37, 37, Brown, William J. Head, M, W, 46, M2, 12, Ean, Eng., truck farmer. Brown, Nellie, E, Wife, F, W, 33, M1, 12, 1, 1, Can Eng. Brown, Lester M, Son, M, W, 6, S, Oregon.
Source: George F. Brown Family, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Fairmont, Benton Co., Oregon,SD #1, ED 5, Sht# 2B #5446, April 8-19, 1910, Bert, L. Davis.
John, Lydia and other members of the family became Seventh Day Adventists.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church
Church Membership for John Brown and Family About 1912
1. John Brown, Record page 1, Feb. 6, 1910, Dismissed by Death Dec. 18, 1912, Minutes 1
2. Lydia Brown, Record page 1, Feb. 6, 1910, Dismissed by letter Nov. 17, 1912
3. W. J. Brown, Record page 1, Feb. 6 1910, Dismissed by letter Nov. 17, 1912
4. Nellie Brown, Record page 1, Feb. 6, 1910, Dismissed by letter Nov. 17, 1912
17. G. F. Brown, Record Page 2, Received by Letter [ 191]
18. Emma Brown, Record Page 2, Received by Letter [191]
John Percy Clement (1880-1975) a descendant of John’s sister Matilda Brown Clement, visited his Uncle John and Aunt Lydia (Holling), probably in 1908. He wrote the following about them, per cousin B. Hayes.
My Uncle John, mother’s brother and Aunt Lydia from Manitoba had settled near Albany, Oregon, so I decided to pay them a visit. Early in February I went by train down there and spent a week with them. They were very religious and belonged to the Seventh Day Adventists. They kept Saturday to the Sabbath and believed that Jesus would return to Earth during their life time. A married son lived with Uncle John and Aunt Lydia and they were all strict vegetarians and drank neither tea nor coffee, Not being used to their diet I found it very trying and although I enjoyed the visit I was glad to take [the] train back to Portland about a hundred miles distant. The first thing I did after stepping off the train was to go to a restaurant and order a large juicy steak with all of the trimmings. and lots of coffee. I also got my pipe out and thoroughly enjoyed a smoke which I had not indulged in for a week. I think that I never enjoyed myself to such an extant as I did during that first week in Portland.
John Brown died the 18th of December, 1912 and is buried in the I.O.O.F Cemetery in Eugene. It is now called the Eugene Pioneer Cemetery in Eugene, Lane Co., Oregon. Find A Grave has a memorial for both him and Lydia but no tombstone photo.
UPDATE 11/13/2015: John Brown’s Obituary notice appeared in the local paper:
Died: John Brown, 12/18/1912 Eugene Daily Guard Newspaper
At the home of his son on the river road, seven miles north of Eugene, December 18, 1912, at 2:30 a.m. John Brown, aged 74 years, two months and three days. He was born in Canada and came to Oregon a number of years ago, settling at Albany, and arriving in Eugene about two years ago, living since then with his son on the river road. No arrangements for the funeral have yet been made.
John and Lydia had the following children:
- William John Brown was born 2 June, 1863 in Ontario. As we have seen William lives with his family and also makes the migrations to Manitoba and then to Oregon.
William’s marriage has been puzzling. There are several possibilities at the Manitoba Vital Records online search: 1. Henneker, Mary Maud, 11/10/1893 in Blanchard, Manitoba and then a 2. Mary Ellen Alcock, 10/29/1895 in Gladstone, Manitoba. In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census William John states he has been married twice and has been married to Nellie E. 12 years which means the marriage was about 1898? Since these are index only more would need to be done to determine if any of these are correct or not. The problem is as we go through the years and the census, the name of his wife changes from Mary E. to Nellie E.
In the 1901 Canadian Census he is with the family in Winnipeg on Line 25, 84, 84, Brown, William, J., M, Head, M, June 2, 1863, 37, Ont., Irish, farmer. Brown, Mary E, F, Wife, M, April 18, 1876 24, Man., Irish.
In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census he is with his brother George and aging parents John and Lydia living in Fairmont, Benton Co., Oregon.
Line 61, 37, 37, Brown, William J. Head, M, W, 46, M2, 12, Canadian English, Canadian Irish, Eng., truck farmer. Brown, Nellie, E, Wife, F, W, 33, M1, 12, 1, 1, Can Eng. Brown, Lester M, Son, M, W, 6, S, Oregon.
About 24 February, 1921 it is mentioned that William John Brown took the oath of Allegiance in the circuit court, a native of Canada. Morning Register Newspaper, Eugene, Oregon. Seeking out naturalization records would be very interesting for this family.
William John Brown continues living in Oregon after his father’s death in 1912 and we find him living in Lone Pine Precinct in Lane Co., Oregon in 1920.
Source: William J. Brown Family, 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Lone Pine Precinct, Lane Co., Oregon, SD#1, ED#221, Sht# 2B, enumerated on 5 January 1920 by Roberts V. Rogers.
Line, 84, 2m, 48, 47, River, Road, Brown William, J., Head, 0, H, M, W, 55, M, UN yes, yes, born Canada, English, father born Canada, mother born England, farmer, general farm, Brown, Mary E. wife, F, W, 43, M, UN, UN, born Canada, English, father born Canada, mother born England Brown Lester M. Son, M. W, 16 S. born Oregon.
William continues to live in Lone Pine, Oregon and is there in 1930. His son Lester has married to Opal and they have a daughter named Betty June.
Source: Wm. J. Brown Family, 1930 Lone Pine, Lane, Oregon, ED 20-83, SD #6, April 4, 1930, C.B. {Llausgen] Shett 1-B #4251.
Line 87, 23, 23, Brown, William J. Head, O, yes, M, W, 66, M, 33, No, Yes, Canada English, Canada, England, 1902 NA, Farmer. Brown, Mary E., wife of h, F, W, 54, M, 19, No., Yes, Canada-English, Ireland, 1902, NA, Brown, Lester, M, son, M, M, 25, M, 24, No, Yes, Oregon, Cook, Restaurant. Brown, Opal, Daughter in law, F, W, 19, M, 18, No, Yes, Oregon, United Sates, Nebraska, Brown, Betty June, Granddaughter, F, W, 10/12 S, No. Oregon, Oregon, Oregon.
In 1940 Lester is living in Springfield, Lane Co., Oregon with Opal and his daughter Betty. His father W. John is living next to them and both are getting up in age. Notice that the name for Wm. John’s wife is now Nellie.
Source: Lester Brown Family, 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Springfield, Lane Co., Oregon, 1, block 4-5-2, SD#4, ED 20-109, enumerated April 20, 1920, by Elsie L. Cornell, Sht #5B,
Line 74, Mill, 1209, 102, 0, 500, No. Brown, Lester M. Head, M, W, 37, M. No. H-2, Oregon, Eugene, No, No, yes Lane, Oregon, Cook, WPA Project, E. Brown, Opal K. wife, F, w, 29, M, No, H-2, Nebraska, yes, Operator, Beauty. Brown, Betty J. daughter, F, W, 10, S, Yes, 5, Oregon, S.
Line 72 Mill, 103, 1000, No. Brown W, John, Head, M, W, 76, M, No. 8, Canada, Junction City, Lane, Oregon, No, No, No, No, U. Brown, Nellie wife, F, W, 64, M, No. 8, Canada, No, No, No, No, H.
There is a William Brown listed as passing on 23 February, 1941 in Lane Co., Oregon and his wife is named Nellie. This is an index only. Nellie/Mary may have followed on 10 July, 1944 but more research is needed to verify these deaths.
2. Louisa Maud Brown was born about 1867 in Ontario and died 23 April, 1893 in Blanchard, Manitoba.
3. Joseph Edwin Brown was born 27 April 1870 in Plympton, Lambton Co., Ontario, and died the 2nd of May 1893 in Blanchard, Manitoba.
4. George Frederick Brown was born about 1874 in Ontario. He married a Emma R b. 1880 in Oregon.
George appears with his parents in the 1881 Canadian Census for Lambton Co., Ontario and then again in the 1891 Canadian Census for Blanchard, Manitoba. These census are featured above.
Oregon Counties
He is the head of the family in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Fairmont, Benton Co., Oregon and his brother William is living next door.
Source: George F. Brown Family, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Fairmont, Benton Co., Oregon, SD #1, ED 5, Sht# 2B #5446, April 8-19, 1910, Bert, L. Davis.
Line 55, 36, 36, Brown, George F., Head, M, W, 305 M1, 15, Can Eng., Eng. English, 1899, Al, English, Gardner, Truck Farmer, A.A. Brown, Emma R., wife, F, W, 30, M1 15, 3, 2, Can Eng. Brown, Elmer, G, son, M, W, 12, S, Can Eng., Eng Eng, 1900, English, Nurse, CW. Brown, Ellen M, Daughter, F, W, 2, S, Oregon. Brown, John, Father, M, W, 69, M1, 48, Can, Irish. Brown, Lydia, A, Mother, F, W, 65, M1, 48, 5, 2, Eng, Eng.
Line 61, 37, 37, Brown, William J. Head, M, W, 46, M2, 12, Candian English, truck farmer. Brown, Nellie, E, Wife, F, W, 33, M1, 12, 1, 1, Can Eng. Brown, Lester M, Son, M, W, 6, S, Oregon.
George took his family to Washington State and was living in Clark Co., Washington by the 1920 U.S. Federal Census.
Source: George F. Brown Family, 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Fourth Plain, Clark, Washington, District 0012, SD# 9, ED#12, Sht ____, 9th day of January, 1920, by L. Nina Jorgenson.
Line 21, X, 101, 104, Brown George, Head, M, W, 46 M, 1894 PA, yes, yes, Canada, Canada, England, painter, shipyard, Em, 396. Brown, Emma, wife, F, W, 41, M, 1894, Al, yes, yes, Canada, Iowa, England. Brown, Ellen M., daughter, W, 12, S, yes, yes, yes, Oregon. Brown, Benjamin, son, M, W, 1 11/12, S, Washington
In 1930 we find George and Emma living in Portland, Oregon.
Source: George F. Brown Family, Portland City, Multnomah Co., Oregon, Precinct 256, ED#26-303, SD#3, Sht 2B, enumerated 2-3 April, 1930 by H.C. [Shellito].
Line 76, 192, 55, 55, Brown, George, Head, R, 2250, R, M, W, 55, M, 22, No, Yes, Canada English, father Canada Irish, mother England, arrived 1900, yes, Nurse private, w, yes, no. Brown, Emma R. wife-h, F, W, 50, M, 17, No, yes, Canada English, parents born Ireland, nurse private, w. yes. Brown, Ellen M., daughter, F, W, 21, S, No, yes, born Oregon, parents born Canada. Brown, Ben T., son, M, W, 12, S, yes, yes, born Washington, parents born Canada. Martineau, George, Lodger, M, W, 51, S, No, No, born Michigan.
There is a George Brown who died on 28 January, 1936 in Portland and his wife’s name is Emma: #335, per the Oregon Death Index. There is an Emma R. Brown born 1878 and died 1934 buried at the Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland, Oregon with a tombstone and memorial at Find A Grave. There are many Browns buried in this park. This might be them.
5. Catherine Lydia Brown born 27 February 1879 in Ontario. She may have married a Charles Lewis Boddy on 24 December,1895 in Blanchard, Manitoba per their vital records index. More needs to be done on Catherine to verify this marriage and then the census below.
A Charles and Catherine Boddy appear in the 1901 Canadian Census living in Blanchard, Manitoba.
Source: Charles L. Boddy Family. 1901 Canadian Census, Blanchard, Marquette, Manitoba, Twp. 138th R 22, page 8 by John Armstrong.
27, 86 Boddy, Charlies L, M, Head, M, Sept, 23, 1869, 31, born Ont., Irish, agent
Boddy, Catherine L, wife, M, Feb. 27, 1879, 22, born Ont., English. Boddy, Lula M., daughter, S, Feb. 6, 1897, 4 born Manitoba.
I have not been able to locate any further information on Catherine and Charles.
It is unfortunate, but several years ago I was in the Eugene, Oregon area for a genealogical conference and could have done some looking around for this part of my family. It looks like out of the 5 children only 3 survived. Catherine is still in question. More of course, needs to be done on this family and other sources consulted like immigration, obituaries, and probates. It is time to move on to other siblings.
The Boardmans and Browns of Winnipeg, A Canadian Story... 