Family of Reuben H. Brown and (2nd) Lydia Margaret Polston
Notes for Reuben H. Brown:
**Reuben H. Brown and Lydia Margaret (alias Wetzel) Polston Brown are buried in Sec. Q Lots 7 & 8, Fairview Cem., Coffeyville, KS.
**Book "A" page 131; 13 May 1876 Ruben Brown to Lydia Poltson {Polston} by W. B. Lander, J.P at home of William Daniels.
**Known places of residence for Reuben H. Brown (from census and pension papers):
1860 Grundy Co., MO
1862 Active military. Married 1862 Lebanon, Laclede Co. MO.
1868 Laclede Co., MO. (Divorce)
1870 Not found
1875 Dade Co. MO. Married.
1880 Watkins, Dade Co., MO
1890 Dade Co., MO
1900 South Greenfield, Dade Co., MO
1910 South Main St., Mt. Vernon, Lawrence Co., MO.
1920 Coffeyville, Montgomery Co., KS; member post #153 Union Soldiers, Coffeyville, KS.
1923 Buried Fairview Cemetery, Coffeyville, KS
**Reuben Brown (pension record #446339):
*Pension records show: loss of left ring finger to gun shot, lame back and hernia from horse falling on him. No date of injury or incident.
*{The 3rd Iowa was split between Arkansas and Tennessee for much of the war. Company L, at one point, returned to Memphis after engagements in Mississippi, only to leave immediately on a hard march to the Mississippi River, across the river to Arkansas, up to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, onto a steamer to St. Louis, hard marched across the state to Westport (near Kansas City), where they engaged the enemy, chasing them through Kansas, across the northeast corner of Oklahoma, into southwest Missouri and down into Arkansas. They then returned to Iowa and reenlisted for the duration of the war. Not bad for three weeks work. Information from War of the Rebellion, a Compendium}
*Enlisted 15 Aug 1861 at Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, as a private in Company L of the 3rd Regiment of Iowa Cavalry commanded by Gil Mudget and was honorable discharged at Atlanta, GA, 9 Aug 1865. *Description: 5ft7in; dark complexion; black hair; blue eyes.
*1 Jul 1890, Declaration for Invalid Army Pension: age 54, living Watkins, Dade Co., MO. (Watkins later became South Greenfield.)
*19 Nov 1895, Declaration for original invalid pension: age 59, living So. Greenfield, Dade Co., MO. Additional evidence provided by sworn testimonies stated the men had know Reuben Brown since 1874-1875. One man stated that they had first become acquainted "in the mines."
*21 Aug 1897, General Affidavit and Additional Evidence: age 61, living in So. Greenfield, Dade Co., MO.
*25 May 1915: Request for information: living 1307 S. Elm, Coffeyville, Montgomery Co., KS; date and place of birth: Sangamon Co., IL, 1836; name of organizations in which you served: private, Co. L, 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry; P.O. at time of enrollment: Trenton, Grundy Co., MO; wife's full name and maiden name: Lydia Brown, Lydia Wetzel; when, where, and by whom were you married: 13 May 1875, Dade Co., MO., William Landers; Is there any official or church record of your marriage: Yes, Greenfield, Dade Co., MO; Were you previously married? If so state name of your former wife, the date of the marriage, and the date and place of her death or divorce. Martha A. Brown at Lebanon, LaClede Co., Mo., 5 Jul 1862. Divorced at Lebanon, LaClede Co., Mo., in 1868; *if your present wife was married before...: No, not mearied befor; *Are you now living with your wife or has there been a separation? I am still living with my wife; *Names and birthdates of children, living or dead:
Oth{e}lia Bell, 2/15/1876
George H., 1/11/1877
Eva Dell, 3/4/1878
Isick Wilferd, 12/27/1880
Marget Amand, 4/5/1882
Lea Elan, 1/1/1884
Mont Clarnc, 4/27/1885
Pearl Efel, 2/27/1887
Charley Harson, 7/10/1888
Fora Cat, 12/10/1890
Bussie E., 5/10/1892
Nelie G., 2/19/1894
Don Albet, 2/15/1897
Lora Mod, 4/3/1898
Family tradition holds that Reuben H. Brown was one of two men who climbed to the roof of the courthouse in Mt. Vernon, Mo, captured the rebel flag and replaced it with the Stars and Stripes in 1862. From War of the Rebellion Official Records, Series I, Vol. 8, page 64: Report of Lieut Col James K Mills; Headquarters Post of Springfield, Mo; Feb 20, 1862; Learning that the sucession flag was in Mt. Vernon, and that a small party of Price's soldiers (cut off by your advance to the southward) had entered the place, I dispatched Captain Mudgett, of the Third Iowa Cavalry, with 30 men of his command, to capture them. They left here on the 18th and returned on the evening of the 19th, having been perfectly successful. They took the flag and 5 prisoners, and once more raised the Stars and Stripes over the courthouse...; Respectfully yours, James K Mills, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Post, Brigadier General Curtis, Commanding Army of Southwest
1880 Census Dade County Missouri, Polk Township:
Bender Brown, 36, IL
Liddie; 24; MO,TN,TN
Bell; 4, MO,IL,MO
George; 2, MO,IL,MO
Eva; 1, MO,IL,MO
1890 Special Census, Dade Co., MO; Washington Twp;
Ruban Brown Company L, 3 Iowa Cav; 15 Aug 1862-7 Aug 1865.
1900 Census; Dade Co.; Washington Twp; from Soundex Vol 26, Ed 71, sheet 5, line 2:
Brown, Reuben; Aug 1835, 64 yr, IL
, Lydia M.; wife; Oct 1855; 44, MO
, Herman; son; Jan 1877; 23, MO
, Maggie; dau; Apr 1881; 19, MO
, Pearl; dau; Feb 1887; 13, MO
, Charley; son; Jul 1888; 11, MO
, Flora; dau.; Dec 1889; 10, MO
, Bussie; son; May 1891; 9, MO
, Nellie; dau; Feb 1892; 8, MO
, Don; son; Feb 1895; 5, MO
, Lora; dau; Apr 1897; 3, MO
List of Civil War Veterans who attended reunion at Mt. Vernon on Jul 30-31, 1909. Published in Lawrence Co. Record on 5 Aug 1909 includes:
According to obituary of daughter, Lora Maude, the family moved to Mt. Vernon, Lawrence Co, MO in 1904. Daughter, Margaret Amanda had been working at the hotel on the square in Mt. Vernon for a few years. Reuben Brown; Co. L; 3 Iowa Cav; residence, Mt. Vernon.
1910 Census; Lawrence Co.,MO; #177-186:
Brown, Reuben; Head, M,W,74,m2;34yrs; IL,KY,KY;none
, Lydia M.; wife;F,W,54,M;34yrs;MO;TN,--;laundress
,Monte C;dau{son};24;MO,IL,MO;laborer
,Flora K;dau;F,W,19;MO,IL,MO,laundress
,Bussie E;son;M,W,18;MO,IL,MO,laborer
,Nellie G;dau;F,W,16;MO,IL,MO,none
,Don A.;son;M,W,15;MO,IL,MO,delivery man at groc store
,Lora M.;dau;F,W;13;MO,IL,MO,none
Standard Certificate of Death #363 2077 State of Kansas:
Place of death: Mont. Co. Coffeyville, KS, 1209 Railroad St., 4th Ward.
Name: Ruebin Brown
male, white, married
Spouse: Lidda Brown
DOB: Aug. 15 1835
Age: 87 yrs 7 mos 11 das
Occupation: farmer
Birthplace: Springfield, Illinois
Father: Ruebin Brown, birthplace unknown
Mother: Mary Ann Wiley, birthplace unknown
Informant: Mrs. Lidda Brown, Coffeyville, Ks.
Filed, 3/28/1923
Date of Death: 26 Mar 1923
Attended: Jan 1- Mar 26 1923.
Time of death: 9:45pm Mar 26 1923.
Cause of death: epiliptic convulsions; senility
Contributory: tramatic injury 2 years prior.
Physician: C H Fortner, Coffeyville, Ks.
Burial: Fairview Cem, Coffeyville Ks 28 Mar 1923
Undertaker: Frank N Skinner, Coffeyville, Ks.
Interment Register; Fairview Cemetery, Coffeyville, KS, page 50:
Brown, Ruebin; age 87; male; white; married; d. 3/26/23; bu. 3/28/23; cause of death: convulsions, senility; occupation: farmer; residence 1209 Railroad; place of birth, Illinois; Physician attending; C. H. fortner; Lot 7 Section Q; $8.00 fee for opening grave; Undertaker, F. N. Skinner.
Tombstone: Reuben Brown; Co. L 3 IA Cav. GAR 6-1-65.
Obituary: Coffeyville Daily Journal; Tues Eve, 27 Mar 1923; front page:
Reuben Brown Dies at Age of 87 Years. Former Walnut Street Crossing Watchman for Missouri Pacific Will Be Buried Tomorrow. Reuben Brown, 87 years old, veteran of the Civil War is dead at his home, 1209 Railroad street, his death resulting, principally, from infirmities of old age. He died last night at (45 o'clock. Funeral services will be at the home of a daughter, Mrs. E. E. Slight, 1211 Railroad street, tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment will be in Fairview cemetery.
Besides a widow, five sons and seven daughters survive Mr. Brown. Three of the sons, Charles, G H. and Don, live in Coffeyville. Another son, Martin, {Monty} lives at Pawhuska, Okla., while another, B. E. Brown, is on a farm near Mt. Vernon, Mo. Three daughters, Mrs. O. C. Akins, Mrs. C. R. Willard and Mrs. E. E. Slight, also reside here. The others are Mrs. C. I. Ray, Peru; Mrs. J. W. Johnson, Bristow, Okla; Mrs. M. A. Smith, Mt. Vernon, Mo., and Mrs. James Foust, Scott {Stott} City, Mo. All the children are expected to be together by tomorrow morning.
Mr. Brown formerly was crossing watchman for the Missouri Pacific railroad at the Walnut street crossing.
Spouse Research:
Listed as step-daughter in household of Charles Wetzel, 1860 Dade County MO census. One half brother, Jacob Wetzel, son of Charles Wetzel and Mary Ann Polston Wetzel; also several step-siblings, children of Charles Wetzel and his first wife.
Interment Register; Fairview Cemetery, Coffeyville, KS, page 117:
Brown, Lydia Margaret: age, 82; female; white; widowed; d. 6/6/38; bu. 6/8/38; cause of death, heart block; occupation, housekeeper; residence, 910 Ayres St; place of death, 910 Ayres St; place of birth, Dadeville, Mo; Physician attending, P. S. Townsend; Lot 7 Section Q; $12.50 fee for opening grave; indertaker, R. N. Benjamin, Nowata, Okla.
Tombstone: "Mother" Lydia M. Brown; Oct 10, 1855 - June 6, 1938.
Obituary: Coffeyville Daily Journal, Tues. 7 Jun 1938; Front page:
Mrs. R. H. Brown Is Dead. Succumbed Last Night at Home on Ayres Street; Funeral to Be Tomorrow. Mrs. Lydia Margaret Brown, 82, widow of Reuben H. Brown, died last night at her home, 910 Ayres street. She had been in failing health for some time. She was born at Dadeville, Mo., Oct. 10, 1855.
Funeral services, in charge of the Rev. Harlan Thomas, pastor of the United Brethren church, will be conducted at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Skinner funeral home. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery.
Mrs. Brown is survived by five sons, Herman, Mont and Ed Brown, all of Coffeyville, and Charles and John P. Brown of South Coffeyville, Route 1; and seven daughters, Mrs. Jim Foust of Stott, Mo., Mrs. W. M. Smith and Mrs. J. W. Johnson of Mt. Vernon, Mo., Mrs. E. E. Slight of Ponca City, Okla, Mrs. O. C. Akins, Mrs. Claude Ray and Harold Allen, all of Coffeyville.
Additional note:
Reuben H. Brown evidently settled on a birthyear of 1836. His age as listed on the 1850 Pike County IL Census with his mother, Mary Brown, and siblings would have him born about 1840. A brother, Deloss Brown, was listed as born about 1836.
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