Alva Parks Brown and Martha Jane Ennis Alva Parks Brown was born in 1841 in Elba, Genesee, New York to Orsmus L. Brown and Diantha Parks. He had one older brother, Tristan Deloss, and two younger brothers, George Washington and Franklin Calvin, as well as two younger sisters, Emily Jane and Mary. Alva married first Martha Jane Ennis 24 Oct 1870 in Texas, Henry, Ohio. Martha was born 10 Aug 1849 in Union County, Ohio to Alonzo Havington Ennis and Olive Bird. Martha had one older sister, Ordella. Martha also had three younger sisters, Ellen Elizabeth, Emma Amanda, and Sarah Olive, as well as two younger brothers, Lincoln Garibaldi and Sylvester Beecher. Alva and Martha divorced in 1881. Alva moved to Indiana, where he married second Louisa Thoman 14 Aug 1888 in Fulton County, Indiana. He later moved to Michigan. Martha moved to Grady, Lincoln, Arkansas with her children. Martha died in 1910 in Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas.
Alva and Martha had:
1. Alva Beecher Brown, born 1872 in Texas, Henry, Ohio, married Hattie --, known as Beecher.
2. Alonzo Orswas Brown, born 10 Feb 1876 in Washington, Henry, Ohio.
3. Bertha Amanda Brown, born 13 Jan 1878 in Texas, Henry, Ohio, married William Henry (Richardson) Boyd 16 Aug 1897 in Grady, Lincoln, Arkansas, died 6 Jun 1954 in Oakland, Alameda, California and was buried 9 Jun in Oakland.
4. Ardella Margaret Brown, born Dec 1880 in Washington, Henry, Ohio, married Ortho (or Otho) Eastwood.
5. James Brown, born 16 May 1882 in Washington, Henry, Ohio, married Luz – 8 Aug 1927, died 6 Feb 1960 in High Pass, California.
6. Homer Brown, born May 1885 in Arkansas, married Julia Valenzuela, died 28 Aug 1946 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona.
7. Edward Brown, born Jan 1887 in Arkansas, died in 1905 in Arkansas.Alva and Louisa had:
1. Charley A. Brown, born Jun 1889 in Indiana.
2. A daughter, born Mar 1893 in Indiana.
3. Leona Brown, born Mar 1891 in Indiana.Pictures:
Alva Brown
Martha EnnisSources:
1. Marriage Certificate for Alva Brown and Martha Ennis (Henry County, Ohio).
2. Divorce Papers for Alva and Martha Brown.
3. Censuses: 1850, Byron, Genesee, New York; 1850 and 1870, York, Union, Ohio; 1880 Henry County, Ohio; 1900, Felt, Vermilion, Indiana; 1900, Lincoln County, Arkansas; and 1910, Baltimore, Barry, Michigan.
4. Fulton County, Indiana Index to Marriage Records A-G, Book 1, Vol. 1, 1850-1920, pg. 49.
5. Ennes, Calvin, A Bit About the Ennes, Au Gres, Michigan, 1969.
6. Probate of William Ennis, 29 May 1882, Logan County, Ohio.
7. Birth Certificates for Alonzo Orwas Brown (Henry County, Ohio), Bertha Amanda Brown (Henry County, Ohio) and James Brown (Henry County, Ohio).
8. Death Certificate for Bertha Boyd (State of California).
9. Marriage License for William Henry Boyd and Bertha Ennis (Brown) (State of Arkansas).
10. Family Bible (destroyed; only copy of first page exists).
11. Taped interview of Frank Richard Boyd, Thanksgiving 1988.
12. Personal knowledge of Frank Richard Boyd (son of Bertha Brown), Bertha Amanda Brown Boyd (as given to Frank R. Boyd), and Bobbie Julia Brown Ford (daughter of Homer Brown).
1880 Census
Henry County, OhioPage 59C
Dwelling No. 205
Family No. 207
Names Color Sex Age prior to June 1st Relationship to head of home Marital Status Occupation Place of birth Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Alva P. Brown W M 39 Married Farmer New York New York New York Martha J. W F 28 Wife Married Keeping House Ohio New York New York Beacher W M 8 Son Ohio Ohio Ohio Orsmas F. W M 5 Son Ohio New York Ohio Birtha W F 2 Dau. Ohio New York Ohio Same Dwelling
Family No. 208
Names Color Sex Age prior to June 1st Relationship to head of home Marital Status Occupation Place of birth Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Orsmus Brown W M 68 Father Works on Farm NY NY NY Diantha W F 65 Wife Lives with Son NY NY NY 1900 Census
Spring Township, Lincoln, ArkansasPage 169A
Dwelling No. 205
Family No. 518
Names Relation Color or race Sex Date of Birth Age at last birthday Marital Status Number of years married Mother of how many children? Number of children living Place of Birth Father's Birthplace Ennis, Martha J Head W F Aug 1860 41 Wd 7 5 Ohio Ohio Homer Son W M May 1885 15 S Arkansas Ohio Eddie Son W M Jan 1884 13 S Arkansas Ohio cont.
Martha is shown as owning her home, free of mortgage. It was a farm (#481 on the farm schedule).
Names Mother's Birthplace Occupation Months Not Employed Attended School Can read? Can write? Can speak English? Martha Ohio Farmer 0 Yes Yes Yes Homer Ohio Farm laborer 0 0 Yes Yes Yes Eddie Ohio Farm laborer 0 No No Yes
Excerpts from A Bit About the Ennes,
by Calvin Ennes, Au Gres, Michigan, 1969“MARTHA JANE ENNES married Albert Brown. They had five children, three boys and two girls. Albert Brown was a salesman. He ran a huckster wagon to County Fairs and door to door selling things like spring seats, water pumps and hundreds of items in demand then.
Young Sylvester Beecher Ennes traveled with Albert on his many trips. It was a hard life for them and a harder life for Martha, his wife, who lived with her father at the Old Ennes Farm taking care of her children. After Ordella died in 1871, Martha was the oldest. Alonzo Ennes gave her the Old Family Bible.
Shortly after her father Alonzo died in 1879, Martha left Brown, took her family, the Bible, which had the Ennes family records back to 1666 in Ireland, few belongings and went to Arkansas. On the way the boat was wrecked while on the Mississippi. The Bible and her belongings were lost, but the family survived . Several years later she came back to Texas with her youngest son Edward and visited. She was never heard from again after she returned to Arkansas .”Note: According to stories passed down through Martha's daughter, Bertha, the Family Bible was lost in a flood after Martha and her children had settled in Arkansas.
Divorce Papers of Alva and Martha Brown
(from Complete Record, Henry Common Pleas, January Term, A.D. 1881)“Court of Common Pleas, began and held at the Court House in Napoleon in the County of Henry and State of Ohio, on the 25th day of January A.D. 1881. Before the Hon. J.J. Moore Judge of said Court. Be it remembered that on the 1st day of November A.D. 1880 was filed in the Clerk’s officeof said Court the following Petition for Divorce to wit:
Martha Brown, Plaintiff. The Court of Common Pleas of Henry
Against County and State of Ohio
Alva Brown, Defendant. Petition for DivorceThe said Martha Brown Plaintiff and Petitioner of said County of Henry respectfully represents to this Court that she has been for the year last past and more the resident of the State of Ohio and is now a bona fide resident of the said County of Henry.
This plaintiff further says, and showeth that on or about the 17th day of October A.D. 1870, at Texas in said Henry County and State of Ohio, she was married to one Alva Brown of the same place and whom she prays may be made apart, defendant in this petition, and that she had while living with the said Alva Brown the following Children which are now living to wit Alva Beecher Brown seven years old, Alonzo Orsmas Brown, four years old, Bertha Amanda Brown, two years old, and Ardella Margaret Brown, an infant six weeks old. And this plaintiff further shows that the said Alva Brown defendant regardless of his marital duties toward said plaintiff has been guilty of gross neglect and Extreme cruelty toward said plaintiff, that on or about the 21st day of October 1880, the said defendant violently took hold of this plaintiff and then and there pinched and shook her in a violent manner and then threatened to throw her said plaintiff into the street and plaintiff further says that said defendant on the 24th day of October 1880 again took hold of said plaintiff in a violent and forcible manner and then and there shook her, pinched and twisted her arms around and so injured it that she could not use it properly for the soreness and lameness thereof in consequence of the injury produced thereby. And this plaintiff further says that said defendant on the 18th day of October 1880 abandoned said plaintiff and took with him all the household goods and provisions belonging to the family and all the clothing of said plaintiff & her children except what they had on, taking then and there even the pillow from under their infant child lying in a rocking chair.
And this plaintiff further says that she has in her own right the title in fee simple of the following real estate to wit:— The South West quarter of the South West quarter of Section 25 and 25 acres off of the North and off of the North West quarter of Section 36 in Town 6, North of Range 8 East in Henry County, Ohio, also in same Town and Range the NE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 35, on which last tract there is a mortgage of $600.00. And this plaintiff says that said defendant is the owner in fee simple of the East half of the South East quarter of Section 26 in Town 6 North Range 8 East aforesaid less 20 acres off of the North side, and 20 acres off of the South side thereof constituting 40 acres of land.
Your petitioner this plaintiff therefore prays that the said that the said Alva Brown may be duly notified of this petition according to law, that he be required to answer the same and that on the final hearing hereof she may be divorced from said Alva Brown that the custody of said children may be decreed to her, that a reasonable alimony may be allowed her and for such other and further relief as the nature of her case and equity may require.Martha Brown= By J.H. Tyler, her atty.Martha Brown
vs. Precipe.
Alva Brown
Issue summons against said defendant together with a certified
copy of this petition returnable according to law.Oct. 30, 1880 J.H. Tyler, Pltfs. atty.Afterwards on the first day of November A.D. 1880 was issued from the Clerk’s office of said Court the following Summons in Divorce to wit:
-- for costs: A.M. Willard
Summons In Divorce
The State of Ohio To the Sherrif of Henry County:
Henry County You are commanded to notify Alva Brown that Martha Brown has filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Henry County and State of Ohio a petition (a copy of which is herewith served in him) charging him with Gross neglect of duty and extreme cruelty and asking that she be divorced from him and that alimony be allowed her and for other proper relief said petition will stand -- -- during the term of said Court next ensuing, and six weeks from and after the -- the 15th day of November A.D. 1880.— Witness my signature as Clerk of our said Court of Common Pleas at the – of said Court at Napoleon this 1st day of November A.D. 1880.O. E. BarnesSummons endorsed as follows to wit
Henry Common Pleas = Martha Brown = against = Alva Brown. Summons on petition for Divorce and alimony. J.H. Tyler, Pltfs. atty.Summons returned endorsed as follows: to wit:
Received 10 o’clock A.M. on the 2nd day of November A.D. 1880 and on the 11th day of November A.D. 1880, I served the same by delivering to the within named defendant – thereof also in the same day and at the same time served on the within named defendant a certified copy of the petition.
Geo. Daum, Sheriff.
Fees $3.05 By E.B. Barnes, Dpty “
And afterwards on the 24th day of January A.D. 1881 was filed in the Clerk’s office of said Court the following Answer to wit:Martha J Brown.—Plaintiff. The State of Ohio, Henry County Court of
Against Common Pleas
Alva P Brown.—Defendant. Answer and Cross PetitionAnd so comes the said Alva Brown Defendant and for answer to the said Martha J Brown plaintiff’s petition saith: That he admits that he was married to said plaintiff as she in her said petition hath averred and that they are now husband and wife. That as the fruits of said marriage they have the children as set out in plaintiff’s petition and that the time of the commencement of this action the owner of the lands as stated and described in plaintiff’s petition: said defendant denies each and every other allegation contained in plaintiff’s petition and said defendant by way of cross-petition says: that said plaintiff disregarding her duties of a wife toward said defendant she has been guilty of gross neglect of duty toward this said defendant that on or about the 18th day of October A.D. 1880 said plaintiff deserted said defendant and has ever since been absent and away from her said husband and family without any fault or provocation on the part of said defendant. Defendant further shows that the said Martha J. Brown regardless of her marital duties toward said defendant did on the 17th day of May A.D. 1880 at the house of said defendant in the Township of Washington, in the County of Henry, and the State of Ohio, commit adultery with one Ely Bolinger and that also on the 14th or 15th of May, also on the 25th of April A.D. 1880 at said defendant’s house did commit adultery with said Ely Bolinger and at other and sundry times the dates of which cannot be given exact. And also when said Bolinger was away kept up an improper correspondence by letters with said Bolinger.
Said defendant therefore prays that he may on the final hearing of this cause be divorced from the said Martha J Brown, and that the custody of the said children may be decreed to said defendant and for such other and further relief the nature of his case and equity may require.Alva P BrownAnd afterward at the January Term A.D. 1881. (To wit Febry 11th/81) came the following Journal Entry to wit:
By John A King, Attorney for defendantMartha Brown No 702 Petition for Divorce
vs And vows the said parties by their attorneys and thereupon this
Alva Brown cause came on for hearing upon the petition of said plaintiff the answer and cross-petition of said defendant the plaintiff’s reply thereto and testimony, and was argued by counsel on consideration whereof the Court finds due notice of the filing and pendency of this petition was given and personally served on said defendant together with a certified copy of said petition by the Sheriff of this County according to law, and the Court further finds that the said defendant has been guilty of extreme cruelty toward said plaintiff as she in her said petition has alleged, and the Court further finds that each of said parties hereto is seized in fee simple of the real estate in plaintiff’s petition described.
It is therefore adjudged and decreed the marriage relation heretofore existing between said parties be and the same is hereby set aside and wholly annulled and the said parties wholly released from the obligations of the same; and it is further adjudged and decreed that said defendant do pay to said plaintiff for her reasonable alimony the sum of $250, payable as follows to wit: $50 in Thirty days from this date, $50 in six months thereafter, $50 in Twelve months, $50 in Eighteen months.— and $50 in Two Years:
And it is further ordered and adjudged that said judgment and decree for the sum of $250 as aforesaid rendered be and the same is hereby made a lien from this date upon the lands of said defendant which are in plaintiff’s petition described to wit: The East half of the South East quarter of Section 26 in Town 6 North Range Eight (8) East in Henry County, Ohio less 20 acres off of the North side and 20 acres off of the South side thereof: containing 40 acres of land.
And it is further ordered adjudged and decreed that said plaintiff be and she is hereby given the custody, nurture, education, and care of said Alva Beecher Brown, Alonzo Omas Brown, Bertha Amanda Brown, and Ardella Margaret Brown, until the further order of this Court. And it is further ordered that said plaintiff pay all the costs of this action and proceedings and taxed to $ except the costs of said defendant’s witnesses.J.J. Moore
Presiding Judge of said Court.
“Brown, Alva P. to Louisa Thoman, August 14, 1888, E223”
Source: Fulton County, Indiana Index to Marriage Records A-G, Book 1, Vol. 1, 1850-1920, pg. 49.
(Courtesy: Alwina Banes.)
Frank R. Boyd: …(Uncle Jim Brown) was always feeling like he was chased by the law. Excerpts from an Interview of Martha’s Grandson, Frank Richard Boyd,
Thanksgiving, 1988
Darryl Boyd: Well, why is that?
Frank R. Boyd: Because he went and killed that guy when he was sixteen years old. See, what happened was my grandmother in Ohio, she had the money, she sold the property there in Ohio. She got mad at her husband and everybody looked down on a divorced woman. She was pregnant at this time, she had a whole bunch of kids, and all by herself, she took off with a wagon, with the kids, and my mother was probably one of the oldest ones ‘cause she told about it all the time. And they left Ohio and went to Arkansas. Well, in Ohio, this guy sold her the land, sold my grandmother the land, or somehow got her money for it. Then she thought she was buying the land out right. It was hers ‘cause the down payment, she gave the guy the money that she had. And then she went down there and found out that after she’d paid the balance off, they worked and cleared it, my mother cleared it with the kids and the orphans and all that. And after they cleared it, he says no. My grandma was going to sell it and get another place and just rent it out. But he says, Nope, you can’t rent it because, in the contract, it was a lifelong lease. And he says, you can’t move off and you have to stay there. If you let anybody else move on, you lose the property. Well, this irritated my uncle and he went there, and he went up there and the guy was in this little house and my uncle was sixteen. He had a .22 rifle and he says, and he told the guy, What’re you doing cheating widow women and orphans? You know, and the guy started to reach in his pocket for a derringer. And my uncle let him have it. And he took off and they had, what my mother said they had whitecaps. It’s like vigilantes. And he was scared to get caught, so he took off on the run, he went to Kansas…
…
Alice Boyd: Did she (Bertha Brown) ever talk about her parents?
Frank R. Boyd: Oh yeah, she talked about her mama all the time, her mama. And that’s the one that I told you that was redheaded and that’s the one that I told you that come from, that bragged about the blue blood in her veins and that’s the one I told you jumped the boat in Florida. That’s my mother’s mother…
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