Odin Brown

Odin Brown is the 3rd Great Grandfather of my wife.

Odin's parents are believed to be Seabury Brown and Polly Fox, but I have not been able to find any paper proof of this lineage.

Odin was born in New York state on 7 March 1816.  At some point before 1840 Odin marries a Sally Stevens.  Other researchers have listed Sally's maiden name as Leonard.  I have only found one record that list's the surname of Sally and that is the death certificate of the youngest son, Perry Brown, and it lists her maiden name as Stevens.  Looking at old census records for the assumed father of Odin, Seabury, I can find a family with the surname Leonard in close proximity, so it is possible for Leonard to be Sally's surname.

There is a record for an Odin Brown for the 1840 Federal Census.  This Odin is found in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio.  This family consists of one male under the age of 5, one male age 20 to 29 (Odin), one female under the age of 5, and one female age 20 to 29.

The next record found for Odin finds him in Bonus, Boone County, Illinois.  This record indicates his two oldest children, ages 13 and 11, were born in the state of New York.  His next oldest child, Morton, age 8, was born in Michigan.  From this we know that the Brown family lived for a time in the state of Michigan, around the year 1842.  The next two children, Caroline, age 6 and Frederick, age 4, were born back in the state of New York.  The youngest two children, Sophia, age 2, and Ellen, age 6 months, were born in Illinois.  This was a very busy decade for the Brown family as it would have found them in New York, Ohio, Michigan, back to New York, and then finally in Illinois.  In 1850 Odin is a farmer and a landowner.  The value of his land is listed at $400.

The Federal Census of 1860 finds the family living in Boone, Boone County, Illinois.  The family is still intact.  The value of Odin's property has increased to $3500 and his personal belongings are valued at $600.  Odin is still farming.  This coming decade of the 1860's will be a hard one on the Brown family.

Between the years of 1860 and 1870 the Brown family changes drastically.  Several children die including Ellen, Alvah, George, and Rosalinda.  It is apparent that a sickness of some kinds devastated the family.  Odin's wife, Sally, also passes away.  In 1864 Odin joins the Civil War as a hospital steward.  See picture below.

Odin serves for 100 days.  In 1869 Odin remarries to Helen (Nellie) Chamberlain.

Odin is living in Boone, Boone County, Illinois in the 1870 Federal Census.  He only has two sons living with him at this time with his 2nd wife, Helen.  His profession is now listed as a shoemaker.  His real estate is valued at $1000 and personal property is valued at $3000.

Odin is next found in the 1880 Federal Census living in Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska.  His 2nd wife Helen and two new children are living with him.  Both children were born in Nebraska, the eldest being 3 years old, so the family has been in Nebraska for at least 3 years.  Also living with them is Helen's brother, Novis Chamberlain.  Odin's profession is farming.

The next census for Odin is the 1885 Nebraska State Census.  They are still residing in Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska and Odin is still farming.

Odin passes away around the year 1899 in Sterling, Johnson County, Illinois.  He appears to be buried in the Sterling Cemetery.  I say that because there is also an entry for Odin in a Boone County, Illinois cemetery.

Here is the headstone picture from the Sterling Cemetery (a headstone cannot be found in Boone County, even though he is listed there by someone on FindAGrave):

Odin Brown and Sally Stevens (possibly Leonard) had the following children:

1. Hubbel Dilson Brown - born in August of 1837 in New York, death unknown.  Marries Mary Louisa Jackson.
2. Cecil M Brown (female) - born about 1839 in New York, death unknown.  Marries Tobias Stevenson.
3. Morton Brown - born 8 February 1842 in Michigan, dies 5 March 1909 in Russellville, Boone County, Illinois.  Marries Helen Smith.
4. Caroline Brown - born about 1844 in New York, death unknown. Marriage unknown.
5. Frederick Brown - born about 1846 in New York, death unknown.  Marriage unknown.
6. Sophia Brown - born 29 March 1848 in Illinois, dies 22 June 1901 in Sundance, Crook County, Wyoming.  Marries (1st) Silas Durkee, (2nd) Albert Frederick Hoge.
7. Ellen Brown - born about 1850 in Illinois, death unknown. Marriage unknown.
8. Alvah Brown - born about 1852 in Illinois, dies 22 October 1860 in Russellville, Boone County, Illinois.
9. Rosalinda Brown - born about 1854 in Illinois, dies 2 November 1861 in Russellville, Boone County, Illinois.
10. Seabury Strong Brown - born 3 October 1857 in Illinois, dies 12 April 1932 in Pendleton, Umatilla County, Oregon.  Marries Stella Richardson.
11. Perry Fox Brown - born October 1861 in Boone County, Illinois, dies 19 April 1936 in Meyers Falls, Stevens County, Washington.  Marries Mary Viola Richardson.
12. George Brown - born about 1864 in Boone County, Illinois and dies about 1865 in Boone County, Illinois.

Odin Brown and Helen Chamberlain had the following children:
1. Daisy Brown - born 2 August 1873 in Capron, Boone County, Illinois, dies 28 March 1875 in Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska.
2. Harry Burton Brown - born 21 August 1875 in Nebraska. Died 23 Novemer 1955 in Wyoming. Marries (1st) Myrtle Conn.  Marries (2nd) Minnie Rose (last name unknown).
3. Arthur Chamberlain Brown - born 21 April 1877 in Nebraska, death unknown. Marries Lucy Pisel.
4. Barton Benjamin Brown - born 28 June 1882 in Johnson County, Nebraska, death unknown.  Marries Pearl Simmons.

Joseph Newton Balderston

Joseph Newton Balderston is the 2nd Great Grandfather of my wife.

Joseph is the eldest son to Mary Brenn, the second wife of Stephen Balderston.  Joseph was born 14 January 1861 in Magnolia, Putnam County, Illinois.

The first record found for Joseph is the 1865 Illinois State Census.  The family is living in Magnolia, Putnam County, Illinois. This census did not list the names of the children so it is assumed that Joseph is the male under the age of 10.  This was an agriculture census; it listed the value of livestock for the Balderston household at $125.

The 1870 Federal Census finds Joseph living with his family still in Magnolia, Putnam County, Illinois.  The census indicates that Joseph, age 9, had attended school within the year. No value is listed for the real estate so one would assume they are renting.  Personal belongings for the family are valued at $100.

We find Joseph in 1880 as a servant on a farm, living with John Patterson and family.  The eldest child in the house, Adah Patterson, is Joseph's future wife.  They are living in Greenbush, Warren County, Illinois.  The young couple will wed 27 October, 1885 in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois.

The first record as a couple is the 1900 Federal Census.  The couple have now been married 14 years and have 6 children.  Joseph's profession is listed as a farmer.  They are living in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois.  Adah has given birth to 6 children and all are still living at the time the census is taken.

By 1910 the family is still farming but they have moved to Highland, Adams County, Nebraska.  Adah has given birth to three more children - all nine are still living when the census is taken.  The eldest daughter, Dora Balderston, has married and moved out; the remaining 8 children are all living at home.

The family has moved again before the 1920 Federal Census.  They are now residing in Magee, Yuma County, Colorado.  They are still farming.  Only 3 children are left living at home.  They are still living in Magee, Yuma County, Colorado during the 1930 Federal Census, and Joseph is still farming.

Below are photo's from Father's Day 1945 taken somewhere in Denver, Colorado.  These were taken approximately one year before Joseph passed away.

Joseph dies 17 December 1946 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado.  He is buried in the Yuma Cemetery in Yuma County, Colorado.  I don't have a picture of the gravestone.  His wife, Adah, who passed away in 1935 is also buried in the Yuma Cemetery.

Joseph Newton Balderston and Adah Patterson had the following children:

1. Dora Balderston - born June 1888 in Illinois.  Died 27 April 1981 in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado.  Married Charles Lamont Richardson.
2. Willis LeRoy Balderston - born 6 February 1890 in Illinois. Died 15 May 1973 in Ft Lupton, Weld County, Colorado.  Married Mattie Eleanora Townsend.
3. Eric Newton Balderston - born 10 October 1892 in Illinois.  Died 13 December 1966 in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.  Married Anna Ethel Poag.
4. Clyde Balderston - born 30 June 1895 in Illinois.  Died 24 May 1967 in Yuma, Yuma County, Colorado.  Married Katherine Schwabauer.
5. Delbert Balderston - born 18 November 1897 in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois.  Died 18 July 1945 in Yuma, Yuma County, Colorado. Married Lillian Isabell Briscoe.
6. Margarite Ione Balderston - born 21 May 1900 in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois.  Died 7 August 1976 in Ceres, Stanislaus County, California.  Married Henry McNeal.
7. Hazel Balderston - born 5 April 1902 in Illinois.  Died 22 January 1996 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado.  Married Leo Garber.
8. Malinda Jane Balderston - born 24 December 1903 in Illinois. Died 7 December 1994 in Yuma, Yuma County, Colorado.  Married Joseph Earl Briscoe.
9. George Balderston  - born 28 September 1907 in Nebraska.  Died 5 December 1993 in Longmont, Boulder County, Colorado.  Married Clara Kriss.

Adeline Amelia Cloud

Adeline Amelia Cloud is the sister of two of my 3rd Great Grandfather's, Durgan Cloud and James Madison Cloud.

Adeline is the daughter of William Cloud and Sarah (unknown).  Adeline was born in Fairfield County, South Carolina around 1812.

The first record for Adeline is her marriage to Tyrus Bell on 5 March 1829 in Madison County, Alabama.  Next we find a Federal Census record for Tyrus Bell in the 1830 living in Madison County, Alabama.  Living with Tyrus Bell is one male under age 5 (believed to be William Bell) and one female aged 15 to 19, which would be Adeline (Cloud) Bell. They have three slaves living with them.  Living next door is Adeline's father, William, and her younger siblings.  It is assumed her mother has passed away prior to 1830 as there is no female of her mother's age range living with William.  There are also two more Bell families living on the other side of William Cloud, Francis Bell and Isham Bell.  It is believed that Francis Bell is the father of Tyrus.



We still find the family in Madison County, Alabama in the 1840 Federal Census.  In this census they have one male under age 5 (believed to be Asa Wilson Bell), one male age 5 to 9 (Joshua Bell) and one male age 10 to 14 (William Bell).  There is one female under age 5 (Susan Bell) and one age 5 to 9 (Sarah Bell).  They now have 16 slaves living with them in 1840.

There is a Tyrus Bell found in the 1845 State Census in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  So it is believed the family moved to Noxubee County before 1845.  The family is found in the 1850 Federal Census living in Noxubee County, Mississippi.

Adeline's husband, Tyrus, passes away in 1853 in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  He leaves Adeline as the executor of his Will.

We find Adeline living with six of her children in the 1860 Federal Census in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  In the 1870 Federal Census Adeline is living with her son, Asa Wilson Bell, and his second wife Epsa.  Still residing with Adeline is the oldest daughter, Sarah.  It should be noted that Sarah was noted as a lunatic in her Grandfather Bell's Will as well as her lunacy was proclaimed by her brother, Joshua, when he filed a petition to gain control of her money in Noxubee County.

Adeline and Sarah are found in the 1880 Federal Census, this time living with her daughter, Susan, and Susan's husband, Willis Wilkins.  They are still in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  This is the last record we find for Adeline.  It is assumed that Adeline passed away sometime after 1880 but before the next Federal Census of 1900.

Adeline Amelia Cloud and Tyrus Bell had the following children:

1. William Bell - born about 1829 in Madison County, Alabama.  Death unknown.  Believed to have married Mary Elizabeth Turner.
2. Sarah Bell - born about 1834 in Madison County, Alabama.  Death unknown.
3. Joshua Bell - born 16 Aug 1835 in Madison County, Alabama. Died 7 Jul 1897 in Erath County, Texas.  Married Nancy Jane Wilkins.
4. Susan Bell - born about 1838 in Madison County, Alabama.  Died after 1880, most likely in Texas.  Married Willis Richard Wilkins.
5. Asa Wilson Bell - born Apr 1839 in Madison County, Alabama.  Died about 1900 in Texas.  Married (first) Julia Richardson.  Married (second) Epsa McGee.
6. Dudley Bell - born 26 Mar 1841 in Madison County, Alabama.  Died 2 Dec 1901 in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  Married Letitia Levonia Featherston.
7. Madison Bell - born about 1844 in Madison County, Alabama.  Death unknown.
8. Mary E Bell - born about 1846 in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  Died about 1860 in Mississippi.
9. John Hardy Bell - born about 1848 in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  Death unknown.
10. Tyrus C Bell - born Jan 1852 in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  Died after 1910 and before 1920 in Tom Green County, Texas.  Married Fannie Doss.

I have not been able to find when Adeline actually died or where she is buried.