THE FAMILY OF
OAKLEY BROWN
and
CATHERINE LAWRENCE
At the time of the 1850 US census, Oakley and Catherine were enumerated as residents of Union Co, SC.
Their family consisted of:
Oakley Brown, age 23
Catherine Brown, age 23
Mary Brown, age 3
Lydia Brown, age 1
All of them were listed as being born in South Carolina.
Based on the given birthplaces of their children, the Brown family moved from Union Co, SC to Alabama in the late 1850's, following the trend of many others in the area.
The 1860 US Census records the family living in Talladega Co, AL and the family consisted of the following:
O. Brown 38 SC
S. Brown 30 SC
S. Brown 14 SC Female
S.M. Brown 13 SC Female
J.R. Brown 10 SC male
S. Brown 8 SC Male
M. Brown 6 SC Male
S. Brown 4 SC Female
J. Brown 2 SC Male
The census enumerator did a real number of the listings for the area, so this is the listing as far as I can gather.
During the Civil War, Oakley fought for the Confederacy. He served with Company D, 21st Alabama Infantry as a private.
When the 1870 census enumerator came around, the Brown family was found still living in Talladega Co, AL. They are listed in "Township 19, Range 3" and their post office was Kymulga. Their name was spelled "Browne" by the census taker. Their family consisted of the following:
Oakley Browne, 51, farmer, $500 in real estate, $200 in personal property
Catherine, 44
James, 13, farm laborer
Watt T., 9
Alice, 7
Adolphus, 3
Esther, age 1
Oakley and Catherine were listed as having been born in South Carolina, while all the listed children were noted as being born in Alabama.
Also listed with the family is 12 year old, Marion Browne (male). He is listed as a farm laborer, having been born in Alabama.
By 1880, the Brown family was no longer living in Talladega Co, AL. They were enumerated as residents of Peaks Hill, Calhoun Co, AL. The census record shows the following gor their household:
Oakley Brown, 54, farmer
Catherine, 54
James, 24
Washington, 17
Alice, 14
Adolphus, 10
Essie, age 9
Next door to the family is married daughter, Mary Susan Brown, with her husband, John Robert Easterwood, Sr and their family.
In the 1890's, Oakley and Catherine moved to Ragland, St Clair Co, AL, probably because their sons had business interests there. Watt was still living at home and unmarried. In 1900, they were enumerated living in Ragland, along with daughter, Esther, and son, Adolphus, who had married.
The 1900 census lists:
Oakley Brown, age 76 (no month or year of birth), farmer
Katie Brown, age 75 (no month or year of birth)
Watt T. Brown, age 35, b. Aug 1865, AL, operating coal mine
That record indicates that Catherine has given birth to 8 children and that 5 of them are still alive.
Oakley died the following year on 26 May 1901. He is buried at Ragland Methodist Cemetery, Ragland, St Clair Co, AL. His tombstone has no date of birth, but it lists his age as 77.
Catherine continued to live in Ragland after Oakley's death. She was enumerated in 1910, living on Main St in Ragland, living next door to her daughter, Esther Hagin. Her age was listed as 85. The information on the 1910 census indicates that Catherine had given birth to 7 children instead of 8 as on the 1900 census. The 7 children may be more accurate. I believe there is a possibility that Watt Thomas Brown and Washington Brown are the same person. Until I find out differently, I have them listed as seperate individuals, though.
Catherine died in Ragland 25 Apr 1916 and is buried beside her husband at Ragland Methodist Cemetery.
Children of Oakley Brown & Catherine Lawrence:
1) Mary Susan "Susie" Brown, b. 1845, Union Co, SC, d. 1885, Calhoun Co, AL. Md John Robert (Jack) Easterwood, Sr abt 1864. Jack was born 10 Sept 1833, Union Co, SC and died 5 Feb 1906, Fannin Co, TX.
Susie is buried at Ten Island Bapt Cemetery, Ohatchee, Calhoun Co, AL. Jack is buried at Forrest Grove Cemetery, Fannin Co, TX.
2) Lydia Brown, b. abt 1849, Union Co, SC.
3) James Richard Brown, b. abt 1856, Talladega Co, AL and d. in 1917. Md Mamie Henderson 6 Nov 1892 in Ashville, St Clair Co, AL. Mamie was born 26 Aug 1869 and died 19 Oct 1896.
4) Washington Brown, b. abt 1863, Talladega Co, AL
5) Watt Thomas Brown, Sr, b. 28 Aug 1865, Talladega Co, AL, d. 6 May 1940, Shelby Co, AL. Md Lila Bowden Inzer 12 Nov 1902 in St Clair Co, AL. Lila, daughter of John Washington Inzer & Sarah Elizabeth Pope, was born in 1876, St Clair Co, AL and died in February, 1938 in Jefferson Co, AL. Watt is buried at Ragland Methodist Cemetery, St Clair Co, AL and Lila is buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Jefferson Co, AL.
6) Laura Alice Brown, b. 2 May 1868, Talladega Co, AL, d. 17 Nov 1933. She md 1) William A. Merritt 21 Dec 1884, Calhoun Co, AL. 2) Frank M. Morris 14 Apr 1897. Alice is buried at Ragland Methodist Cemetery, Ragland, St Clair Co, AL.
7) Adolphus A. Brown, b. April 1868 (per the 1900 census), Talladega Co, AL. Md Nannie N. Henderson 28 Apr 1898 in Ragland, St Clair Co, AL. She was born in 26 Aug 1777 in Alabama and died 16 Mar 1902. She is buried at Box Cemetery in Ragland, St Clair Co, AL. They are shown living in Ragland, St Clair Co, AL in 1900.
8) Esther Brown, b. Apr 1872, Talladega Co, AL and d. May 1937, Etowah Co, AL. Md Perry Samuel (or Samuel Perry) Hagin 22 Jan 1891 in Calhoun Co, AL. Perry was born in Mar 1868, AL, and died Nov 1930, Etowah Co, AL. Perry and Esther were shown living in Ragland, St Clair Co, AL in 1900 and 1910 and in 1920 and 1930, they were listed as living in Gadsden, Etowah Co, AL.