G'day Polar Bear
death cert for Mike Brown says 'Michael William Brown' died 15 Sep 1940 age 75, died at Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich, Qld. Lived in Australia 27 years and was born Acheson, Kansas. Family stories tell us Acheson is Atchison, Kansas.
We have lots of family stories about Mike and Minnie and I have found much evidence to support the Australian parts of the stories - so now they are fact
. It's the stories from outside Aust that are difficult for me to find evidence to support so the stories remain stories till evidence is found to turn them into fact.
One of the family stories about Mike Brown is that he left home when about 13 or 14 years old. He had been working for his uncle JP Brown in Atchison City, Atchison County, Kansas as a driver of carriages taking the Society women of Atchison to their numerous social functions. It is said that Mike Brown got annoyed with this job and quit saying it was 'no job for a man'. It is said that he went off to Montana to work at a chicken ranch, then to the Yukon looking to make his fortune. Next thing we know is the fact that he is in Vancouver BC and getting married to Minnie Wilson and saying he's a farmer in Colby, Washington.
There are some untruths on the marriage cert........Minnie was already married to a Karl Weise. Minnie told a story that he died at sea but the faimly have never found evidence to support that. Minnie had a daughter Annie with Karl Weise in 1910....Annie was said to have been left behind in England with Minnies sister Dorothy (although the 1911 census does not show Annie living with Dorothy)
We all find it unusual that Mike Brown had not married previously to Minnie...or at least he never declared he had a previous marriage. However to his death it is said that he absolutely adored and loved his 3 Aussie born daughters.
Back to Atchison Kansas...family stories written in the 1970's and 1980's all talk about Mike Brown having an Uncle in Atchison and the uncles name was JP Brown (John Patrick and known as JP or Paddy) I have found a bit written about JP as he was a pioneer of Atchison, wealthy Roman Catholic Irishman. I've found JP married in Pennsylvania to a Sarah Wagner.
Back to family stories...they say one of Mike Brown's rellies by marriage was a Mayor Wagner - not sure what city....and can only guess that was before Mike married Minnie.
In a books about the pioneers of Atchison Kansas there is a bit mentioned about JP Brown and his brother Thomas....NO mention of any Mike Brown
or even the names of JP & Thomas' sisters
Unusual middle names would be marvellous.....Minnie Wilson's father had an unusual middle name - he was Charles Frost Wilson....making his research a little less tedious and less frustrating!
I will get out the family story notes again and see if there could be anything else that could help. My cousins have lent me their folder containing most of the info they have on their grandparents. I will add a further post about the supposed named of Mike Brown's sisters.
Cheerio for now....I must have a short break from computer and do a few essentials like make a cup of tea and check on my hubbie etc.
I am so appreciative of your assistance.
Gerri Down Under where it's a sunny mid-winters day and at 11.45am the thermometer days 15c
