Kenneth Richard Brown 1901-1933

Front row L to R - Margaret N Brown (Midge), Grace G. Johns-Brown, James Alpheus Brown, Helen Loren Brown.  Back Row L to R -  Paul E. Brown, Russell John Brown and Kenneth Richard Brown

Kenneth Richard Brown grew up in Pulaski Pennsylvania second son of James Alpheus Brown and Grace Gertrude Johns.

Kenneth Richard Brown 
brother to Helen Lorene Brown
Mother to
William (grandpa Latimer)
father to
Nancy
Donna 
Bill
Ronald
Russ 
Wayne

Sometime it is easy to follow the timeline of a person’s life. Kenneth Richard Brown was one of those. I became interested in him when I discovered this gravestone. There are three persons shown. Kenneth Brown, Phoebe Cochran - a different last name -and a grandson Kenneth only one year old. The little ones that pass so early always pull at my heartstrings. 

I knew that Kenneth was the brother of great grandmother Helen Lorene Brown. But I wondered, why did he die so young and who were those laid to rest beside him? 

As I began to search Newspapers in Newcastle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania I was surprised at the wealth of information I found. Kenneth as a young man attending social activities of the era, recitals, parties, receptions, and going to school. 

In January 1923 at the age of twenty two  he was working for the Smith Foster Motor Car Company and suffered a severe accident. Kenneth suffer a fractured jaw and lacerations of his face and was hospitalized for "some time."  The life long affect of this accident is unknown but this along with his employment in the Ohio steel mills could have contributed to his early demise. He eventually recovered from this accident and resumed his normal life. There is no mention of scaring or any other disability. 

Fortunately for us everything that happened in a small town was news, when there was a party or reception, when a person came to visit, or when someone lost their horse it was  in the newspaper. At some of events I found Kenneth and a young lady by the name of Phoebe Fennick. Maybe a little match making by friends and family? In about 1925 Phoebe became Kenneth's wife. Also in attendance was a young man by the name of Lyle Latimer. (Father of William Latimer) Could he and Kenneth have been buddies? 

In 1930 Phoebe, Kenneth and their young son lived in Coitsville, Mahoning, Ohio. This is just minutes away from Youngstown.  In Coitsville, Kenneth is working in a steel mill as a pipe fitter. This is a historic area where Bethlehem Steel, Carnegie Steel and Youngstown Steel and Tube where located. Bruce Springsteen wrote this thoughtful song about the era. Bruce Springsteen - Youngstown

Youngstown Steel Mill

In 1931 a second son was born Donald Alpheus Brown 1931–1996.

But in 1933 tragedy struck. Kenneth became sick with pneumonia.  During this time his mother-in-law Sadie Fennick came to stay with the family and help with his care. Why did his wife need extra help?  I thought this seemed a little odd at the time but brushed it off thinking it had to do with how sick he was.

Kenneth Richard Brown died 3 August 1933 of double pneumonia at the young age of thirty three years old.  At this point I was well acquainted with Kenneth and I actually shed a tear when I found the article about his death.  This may seem a little strange but as I learn about person I get pretty attached. It felt like I had lost an old friend. 

But the story does not end there! Flash forward to 1940. What happen to the widow with two young sons?  Now we find Phoebe Fennick Brown living with her mother and THREE sons.  Her name has not changed and there is no husband listed in the household.  After a little calculating I was able to see the reason that Phoebe's mother came to help care for her son in law.  Phoebe Brown was pregnant at the time of her husbands death.  Their third son Edward Brown was born in 1934. How sad this must of been for this little family.  

Phoebe did eventually remarry after 1948 but it was short lived.  Either due to divorce or the husband's death.  She remained very active in her community and it appears those around her rallied to support the young widow.  I believe the moral of this story is the beautiful strength and determination that people have. In our day we sometimes need that reassurance that life goes on and that our loved ones are at peace. 

The young boy buried with his grandparents is Kenneth Raymond Brown 1953-1954 child of the oldest son Richard J. Brown. 

Washington Roots? - - Who knew? - - The Vanhoy Family

Vanhoy family, Spring Creek, Klickitat County, Washington 1900, Seated in front Louisa Elisabeth Henley Vanhoy, Hamilton Jones Vanhoy, Standing L to R son George Washington Vanhoy, adopted daughter holding doll and daughter Annie Francis Vanhoy. 

It's a small world in family history circles and this is a story that really surprised me. 

My 4th great grandmother Verlinda Vanhoy was born in 1812 in North Carolina. After her marriage to Asheal Woodruff Hart they and many of their extended family members moved to Henry County, Missouri. The Brooks' and associated families lived in Henry County, Missouri for more than one hundred years. The aforementioned Doris Ellen Hunt Brooks would have been her Verlinda's granddaughter.  This is where I thought the story ended, in Missouri.  Fast forward one hundred thirty years and eighteen hundred miles. 

My husband and I lived in Goldendale, Klickitat County, Washington for twenty years.  It is a very small town with a nice cemetery right across the street from our church.  I knew that there were Vanhoy headstones but I really didn't think to much of it.  After all, my Vanhoy family is from Missouri and Vanhoy is a fairly common name.

One day a gentleman came into the family history library to donate a book he had written.  It was titled the "Vanhoy Families of Klickitat County." I found it interesting so I began flipping through the pages.  Suddenly the pedigree charts began to look very familiar.  I open my own research book to compare, and there it was, a perfect match to my Vanhoys!  

A pioneer of Klickitat county Hamilton Jones Vanhoy was my grandmother's brother!  I could have fell out of my chair! All those miles and all those years and I ended up living in a town that my ancestor helped establish. It was a fascinating adventure and much research followed. Here are some of the interesting things that I found.  

Vanhoy homestead property on Vanhoy Road, Goldendale, Washington.  Abandoned long ago. Beautiful in the spring.

Pioneer Monument on courthouse lawn. 

Hamilton & Louisa Vanhoy listed on the pioneer monument. 
Brother of my 4th great grandmother Verlinda Vanhoy.

Newspaper clipping from 1911 

An article from the local history said, "at one time every fifth person on the street was a Vanhoy."  There are still a few descendants left but none that I could located with the Vanhoy name. 





Hamilton Jones Vanhoy
     Brother to Verlinda Vanhoy wife of Asheal Woodruff Hart (4th great grandparents)
Father of Mary Elizabeth Hart wife of James W. Hunt (3rd)
     Parents of Doris Ellen Hunt wife of Charles Daniel Brooks (2nd)
Parents of Carl McKinnley Brooks, grandfather to the Brooks clan!
     Me and you!

This story is an example of why my heart is so devoted to family history.  I frequently experience the feeling that my ancestors are very close.  Many times I have not found them, but they have found me!  I learn about their lives, their adventures, their heartache and I feel I know them.  I marvel at their choices and cry for their heartaches.  It seems when I learn about them here on earth my heart searches for them in the vast spans of eternity.  It is a wonderful feeling.

Doris Ellen Hunt/Brooks 1870–1963

Doris Ellen Hunt-Brooks

Her name should be said with honor.
Great Grandma Brooks represents the ideal of dedication, and endless love that is needed to be a mother. Her life is one of sacrifice, devotion and of holding her family together.

She was born in Henry County Missouri in 1870 to James W. Hunt and Mary Elizabeth Hart.

1892 Doris married Charles Daniel Brooks. They had five daughters and four sons.

1910 She lost a little daughter Josephine at 5 years of age.

1914 In her son Frank died. He was at 19 years old.

1917 after 25 years of marriage her husband Charles passed away of Pneumonia. Doris was forty seven years old when she became a widow and single mother of her seven living children. Four of which were under the age of 18. Over time the children worked to help support their family. In 1920 daughters Ethel 20 and Mary 18 were working as seamstresses, while William 16 worked as a machinist.

In 1923 – Her oldest daughter Grace died one month after giving birth due to  complications and influenza. She was just 29 years old. Her infant son John Keith Brecht was not expect to survive but was taken five blocks south to the home of his grandmother Doris Ellen Brooks. He lived with her all of his life. 

Grandmother Brooks' home 1923-1968 Clinton Missouri

In 1925 her son-in-law, Grace’s husband, John Brecht also died after being kicked in the stomach by a horse. This left their five small children orphans. The youngest three children stayed with Grandma Brooks and the two older children went to live with his mother Regina Brecht who was also a widow.

1930 Doris’s youngest daughter Georgia is working as a bookkeeper and contributing money to support her family.

1932 Son Ernest died Ernst died in active military duty at 25 years old

1944  The oldest orphaned grandson Victor Brecht dies during World War II in France.

Doris Ellen Brooks’ life is a story of an unending well of love. Often life throws at us so many difficulties it’s hard to manage, let alone be graceful and loving about it, but Grandma Doris Brooks did manage and so much more! She moved forward with love and faith through hard ship and loss. Her Grandson came to her when he was only one month old. He said of growing up, “we were poor but never went hungry.” Grandmother Brooks sewed all our underwear and clothing and sometimes we had patches on our pants,” but he felt loved. He spoke very highly of her and dedicated to her his memoir. 

From the obituary of her son in law John Newton Brecht we read:

“It takes great courage to face the task of Mrs. Brooks and her daughter and raise these little ones. Indeed fortunate are the wee folks who are in their care, for to them is given unstinting love and motherly council and care and a true abiding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for there are no better Christian people than the Brooks family.”

It appears that Grandma Brooks' faith in the Savior is what carried her throughout her life and blessed her with eternal love and hope. She lived a long life passing into the eternities to her waiting family when she was 92 years old. Bless her heart.

It has been a rough couple of weeks for our own family and I have struggled greatly to write of her challenges. But through this process I have learned so much! Her example has somehow sustained me. May each one of her descendants be blessed with that same faith, love and perseverance that she has shown us.

The three youngest orphans,

 Doris, Bonnie Jean & John Brecht

Bonnie Jean, Grandma Doris Brooks, 

John and Doris

Charles Daniel Brooks & Doris Ellen Hunt parents of:

Grace Brooks/Brecht 

John Newton Brecht & Grace Brooks 
parents of the orphaned grandchildren

Frank Brooks

Carl McKinley Brooks father of:

Alvin

George

Loren

Gerald

Carl Jr.

Leonard

Herbert

Shirley

Donald

Ethel Brooks/Cook

Mary Brooks/Smart

William E. Brooks

Josephine Brooks

Ernest R. Brooks

Georgia Brooks/Sandridge

Grandmother to:

Doris Brecht/Vanderburg

Bonnie Jean Brecht/ Williams

John Keith Brecht

Ruth Louise Brecht

Victor Brecht