Wayne County
History & Genealogy
Do you have information you would like to add? Contact me and I will add them!
lselpien@msn.com
Donated by Marlene Olson genealogy800@yahoo.com
Source of Information: Wayne
Co, IL Marriages, 1878 -1916 performed by Martin R. Brown, Elder Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The original book of marriage records is in the possession of one Martin's
great granddaughters,
Waneta (Braddy) Evans. These records are published with her approval and
Co-operation. Library of Congress #85-116863
Compiled and Edited by Albert O. Felchlia , 1983, Second Edition, July 1986
Dedicated to Martin R. Brown, his many descendants, and his mother, Nancy
(Stover)
1. Brown and 2. Fenton
MARTIN R. BROWN (1840-1917) pg i
Martin
R. Brown was born March 4, 1840 in Fulton Co, IL, the eldest of three children
born to James and Nancy (Stover) Brown. His younger brother, Thaddeus S.
Brown, was born ca 1843, his sister Sarah, ca 1853. No record of James
Brown's death has been found, however, the birth of Sarah Brown and the
marriage of Nancy (Stover) Brown to William Fenton, 25th of Sept
1854 in Bond Co, IL , indicates the approximate period.
William Fenton was the father of six children at the time of his marriage to Nancy (Stover) Brown. The name of the eldest, born about 1828, is unknown, Robert Fenton,
b. 1833, William D. Fenton, b. 1837, Harriet Fenton, b. 7 Dec 1838, Joseph
Fenton, b. 1841, Rebecca Fenton, b. 1844. The marriage of William
and Nancy (Stover) Fenton produced three additional sons: James Monroe
Fenton, b. 10 July 1855, Marvin Nehemiah Bracestreet Fenton, b. 16 Jan 1857,
and Stephen Arnold Douglas Fenton, b. 8 Nov 1858. All three were born in
Bond Co, IL., and moved with the family to Wayne Co, IL about 1866, joining
Martin R. Brown, who had moved prior to 1860.
Martin R. Brown married Ardena E. Cates 9 Oct 1859. They were the parents of
Rhoda Brown (1860-1882) , Martha Ann Brown , (1862-1931), and
Mary Jane Brown(1844-1865). Martha Brown married Thomas C. Shreve, 16 Nov
1879. They were the parents of 12 children, including three sets of
twins, Bertha May Brown (Silas Talbert), John Edward Brown (Mattie Davis),
Benjamin Franklin Brown, (Ethel Legg), Cora Ellen Brown, (Orda Dalton) ,
Granville Brown,
Mandaville Amanda Brown (Fred D. Meyers), Nellie Edith Brown (1.Clarence
Scarbrough & 2. Thomas Braddy ) , Wilbert
Brown, Gilbert Brown (Lydia Gregory), Bertie Brown, Gertie Brown (Lloyd
Bosley), and Arthur Brown (Ethel Shoemake). After the death of Ardena
(Cates) Brown in 1904, Martin Brown married Mary Jane Gallaspey, 10 Aug
1905. Martin R. Brown was buried beside his first wife Ardena after his
death in 1917.
p. ii
Martin R. Brown was baptized 7 Dec 1867 at Dry Fork,Wayne Co, IL. He was
ordained an Elder of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, 7 June 1878, at Brush Creek in Wayne Co, IL by G.H. Hillard,
J.F.Thomas, and T.P. Morris (Church records at Independence, MO). He was
a member of the Dry Fork Congregation.
(Photo of house with a barn in the back.)
This old country home, the scene of more than half of the marriages recorded in
this book, was built by Martin R. Brown between 1865 and 1870, and was located
on the NE corner of the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 31 of
Berry Township, Wayne Co, IL . North East of Wayne City. ( the land is
presently owned by Berlin Scarbrough).
By the time this picture was taken in 1940, the ravages of 70 years of family
living and the neglect caused by the depression of the '30s, was
apparent. The end came in 1943, when it was destroyed by fire. With
the exception of
faint traces of the drive way, all vestiges of the old homestead have
disappeared, and
the land has been returned to cultivation.
Waneta (Braddy) Evans supplied the picture, with the following comments:
"Grandfather Martin built the house in the late 1860's, as near as I can
figure. My mother, Nellie (Shreve) Braddy, related that Grandmother Martha
Shreve said the house was built when she was small, and that she, Martha ,
climbed up into the rafters, and was spanked for her achievement. Martin
was a farmer and country carpenter, as
well as an Elder of the church. He built the house and outbuildings
himself. The door openings were scaled to his height, which some
say was around 5 feet, causing the taller members of my family to duck every
time they passed through them. I also, have the cane bottom chair Martin
made for his own use, the legs of which are very short, another indication of
his height .
My family moved into the house in 1927, and, after the fire, remained on the
land in another house until 1956.
Descendants included surnames: Fenton, Dalton,
Matthews, and Shreves.
Additional copies of his books:
Albert O. Felchlia
55 Memorial Ct
Highland, IL 62249
Nov 2004 - Not sure if he is producing copies.
____________________________________________
NOTE; Ardena Esteridge CATES Brown was born
April 9, 1840 in Tennessee, she was the daughter of Ephraim Esteridge & Nancy STROUD Cates. Ardena died in Wayne County August 3, 1904.
Martin R. Brown died April
9, 1917 Berry Twp., Wayne Co., Il. Both are buried in the Arrington Cemetery,
Wayne Co., Il. Laurie Selpien
_____________________________________________
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ
R.L.D.S. Archives
P.O. Box 1059
Independence, MO 64051
The RLDS Archives provides membership research services as staff time allows.
It is necessary for them to charge for proving this service. There charge was
$6.00 per hour plus per copy price.
South Eastern Illinois District
1.Skillet Fork Branch, IL
2.Dry Fork Branch, IL
3.Brush Creek Branch, IL
Remember White Co, IL also had a Branch.
Roll of Skillet Fork, IL Branch shows Birth: date, town, County, State My sheet
went back to 1840 of birth dates of
individuals on that sheet.
(note: Norman Rockwell made a family tree of a mixture of every nation,
religion, etc. This is who makes up our families. )
All Pages Copyright © 2006 Laurie Selpien
All Rights Reserved