Obediah (Dyer)
Brown, 1804-1889, Canada>Ohio>Illinois>California
Our ancestor
Obediah (Dyer) Brown was born 7 November 1804 in Canada,
perhaps Toronto, York County, Ontario. His father was
William or Jonathon Brown and his mother was Elizabeth
Brooker or Brougher or Cronk or Kronk.
After the death
of Dyer’s father about 1812, Dyer's mother Elizabeth
moved with most of her children to an area 2 1/2 miles
southwest of Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio. In
1820 she and four sons were listed in the 1820 Federal
Census in Deer Creek Township, Madison County, Ohio.
The first known
written mention of Dyer Brown is from the Court of Common
Pleas, Probate Division a certificate to copy of record:
"1641 Dyer Brown To Jane McMillin Febry. 7th 1828/
The State of Ohio Champaign County SL. I hereby
certify that on the 7th day of Febry I joined together in
the holy state of matrimony Dyer Brown and Jane McMillin of
lawful age Given under my hand and seal this 7th day of
Febry AD. 1828."
Jane was born
in 1810 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Ohio.
There is some evidence that her family may have come from
Pennsylvania. Jane’s last name has been written many
ways including McMullin.
In 1830, Dyer
Brown was counted on the Federal Census for Monroe Township,
Madison County, Ohio with his wife and daughter.
About 1835,
Dyer and his family moved to Pike County, Illinois. His
mother Elizabeth and several of her other children and their
families moved to Illinois about the same time.
On 28 October
1840, Dyer Brown appeared on the Pike County, Illinois
Federal Census with his wife, two sons, and three daughters.
On 3 Nov 1840,
Dyer purchased two Land Patents in Pike County Illinois of
40 acres each from the Quincy Land Office. One tract
was described in Document Nr.: 10169, Accession/Serial Nr.:
IL4050__.111, BLM Serial Nr.: IL NO S/N, Description:
SESW 14/ 4-S 6-W No 4th PM -
1815 Illinois IL Pike. The other tract was
in Document Nr.: 6229, Accession/Serial Nr.: IL3980__.098,
BLM Serial Nr.: IL NO S/N, Description: SWSW
1/ 5-S 6-W No 4th PM - 1815 Illinois
IL Pike.
On 14 Sep 1850,
he was still living in Pike County, Illinois and on the
Census in the West Division, Township Four S Five W.
He was listed as Dire Brown, 44 years old, married, a
farmer, and born in Canada. His wife Jane was
listed as 40 years of age and born in Ohio.
Eight of their nine children were listed with them.
Between 1852
and 1853, Dyer Brown and his family moved with others in a
wagon train from Pike County, Illinois to Drytown, Amador
County, California. Along the way, a smallpox epidemic
took the life of his wife Jane and scarred their baby Mary.
In the 21
Sep1860 Census of Tuolomne County, California, Dyer was
living with his daughter Hannah Frances Crosby and her
husband in Township #6, Green Springs Post Office.
Dyer Brown was listed at 60 years of age, born in CE, with
$420 in personal property.
By the 1870
Federal Census on 22 July, Dyer was living in Washington
Township, Langworth Post Office in Stanislaus County,
California. In this census, Dyer was the head of the
household, 66, a farmer, $4000 in real estate, $5000 in
personal property, a male citizen of the United States born
in Canada, with parents of foreign birth. His daughter
Hannah and her family were living with him.
On 25 July
1873, Dyer purchased another Land Patent of 160 acres
described in Document Nr.: 1543, Accession/Serial Nr.:
CACAAA 106473, BLM Serial Nr.: CACAAA 106473, Description:
E½NE 31/ 1-S 13-E No Mount
Diablo CA Tuolumne, W½NW 32/
1-S 13-E No Mount Diablo CA
Tuolumne
In his last
Federal Census on 9 June 1880 in Camp Washington, Stanislaus
County, California, Dyer was still living with his daughter
Hannah and her husband. He was listed as a 76 year old
widower, blind, and born in Canada of parents born in
Canada.
In 1882, The History of Madison County, Ohio, by W. H. Beers
& Co. of Chicago wrote that James and Dwyer (Dyer)
Brown, two brothers, were natives of New York, but became
residents of Somerford Township about 1818-20...Dwyer (Dyer)
Brown married a Miss McMullen, and subsequently moved
West."
Dyer Brown
wrote a will on 10 July 1886 in San Joaquin County,
California. He died 13 May 1889 at the home of his
daughter Matilda Huntley in Burneyville, San Joaquin County,
California and was buried in the Burwood Cemetery,
Riverbank, San Joaquin County, California. His grave
there has not been found.
On 28 May 1889,
the following document was presented: "#1683
In the Probate Court of the County of San Joaquin State of
California. In the matter of the Estate of Dyer Brown
Deceased. Petition for Probate of Will. To the
Hon. Joseph H. Budd Judge of the Probate Court of the County
of San Joaquin State of California. The petition of
Lyman L Huntley of the said county State of California,
respectfully shows: That Dyer Brown died on or about
the __ day of April 1889 ... in San Joaquin County in this
state. That said deceased at the time of his death was
a resident of the County of San Joaquin in said State and
left estate therein consisting of personal property:
That the probable value and character of the said property
are as follows, to wit: a note and mortgage for the sum
$225.00 and a trunk and wearing apparel, in all of the value
including said note, of about $235.00. That the estate
and effects, for or in respect of which the probate of the
will hereinafter mentioned is hereinafter applied for, does
not exceed the sum of two hundred and thirty-five dollars;
That said deceased left a will bearing the date the 10nth
day of July AD 1886 in the possession of your petitioner
which your petitioner believes and therefore allege to be
the last will and testament of said deceased, and which is
herewith presented in said Probate Court: That your
petitioner and one Matilda Huntley are named in said will as
executor and executrix thereof: and Aury Brown aged about
forty-eight years, residing at Stockton in this county of
San Joaquin is named therein as legatee: That the
subscribing witnesses to said will are W. J. Scott residing
in the county of San Joaquin and James M. McCarty residing
in the County of San Joaquin. That the next of kin of
said testator whom your petitioner is advised and believes
and therefore alleges to be the heirs at law of said
testator: and the names ages and residences of said heirs
are Aury Brown aged about forty-eight years, residing at
Stockton in San Joaquin County California; Louisa Hartley
aged about 45 years, residing at Modesto in Stanislaus
County in this state; Mary Hocker, residing in Calaveras
County; Matilda Huntley of Stockton in this county; Nancy
Biter of Drytown in Amador County; Drucilla Gillam residing
near Redwood City in this state; Martha Jones of the
territory (or state) of Washington; the children of James
Brown, whose names and residences are unknown to petitioner;
Hannah Crosby of Taylor County in the state of Texas.
That at the time said will was executed, to wit: on
the said 10th day of July 1886 the said testator was over
the age of eighteen years, to wit: of the age of about
seventy-three years or thereabouts, and was of sound and
disposing mind, and not acting under duress, menace, fraud,
or undue influence, and was in every respect competent, by
last will, to dispose of all his estate; That said
will is in writing signed by the said testator and attested
by said subscribing witnesses, at the request of said
testator subscribing their names to the said will in the
presence of the said testator and in the presence of each
other; and that as your petitioner is advised, and therefore
allege said witnesses, at the time of attesting the
execution of said will, were, and are now competent;
That said Matilda Huntley is your petitioner's wife.
Wherefore, your petitioner prays that the said will may be
admitted to Probate and that Letters of administration be
issued to your petitioner, and that for that purpose Your
Honor appoint a time for proving said will, and that all
persons inter.........and directed to appear at the time
appointed for proving the same; and subpoenas be directed to
be issued to the said subscribing witnesses to the said
will, residing in the said San Joaquin County; and that all
other necessary and proper orders may be made in the
premises. And your petitioner will ever pray, etc.
Dated May 28th 1887 L. L. Huntley ... ..."
Dyer and
Jane McMullan Brown had nine known children. They
were:
Matilda
Brown was born 7 February 1828 in Monroe, Madison County,
Ohio. She married Lyman Lysander Huntley 18 September
1847 in Pike County, Illinois.
James M
Brown was born about 1831 in Muskingum River, Madison
County, Ohio. He married Mary Ann Willis 22 May 1851
in Pike County, Illinois.
Nancy
Lucinda Brown was born about 1833 in Madison County, Ohio.
She married a Mr. Biter.
Aury
Brown was born in 1835 after the family moved to Pike
County, Illinois. He never married.
Drucilla Brown
was born about 1838 in Illinois. She married a Mr.
Gillam.
Hannah Frances
Brown was born in 1842 in Pike County, Illinois. She
married James Harvey Crosby about 1858 in California.
Louisa Jane
Brown was born 8 September 1846 in Pike County, Illinois.
She married a Mr. Hartley.
Martha Brown
was born in May 1847 in Pike County, Illinois. She
married John B Jones in 1863.
Mary Brown was
born in 1850 in Pike County, Illinois. She married a
Mr. Hocker.
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