Annie Olena Stickney was the second of James Franklin and Elvira T. (Perry) Stickney’s ten children of which only eight survived to adulthood. Annie was the eldest of the eight surviving children, thus making her the big sister. Though the eldest she was not the first to marry and leave the family. Her next younger sibling, Lula Belle, had that distinction, marrying Joe H. Sauls in 1892. According to Coryell County marriage records, Annie and Cephas Hampton Brown were married by Elisha Terry on October 21, 1896, about a year before her family moved out of this county to Robert Lee, Coke County, Texas. A delayed Hamilton County, Texas birth certificate indicates their only child Elsie Brown was also born before they left the Coryell and Hamilton County areas on September 22, 1897. So who were these Browns that Annie married into?
Cephus Hampton and Annie (Stickney) Brown marriage record.
Cephus H. Brown was the son of Thomas Hyman and Martha Josephine (Elkins) Brown. Though both Thomas and Martha were born in Alabama according to census records, they had each come to Texas with their parents before the Civil War. A Texas Civil War pension application Martha submitted after Thomas died indicates she was born in Marengo County, Alabama, and had lived in Texas 73 of her 74 years, her age when she initiated this application, indicating her family came to Texas about 1852. It seems Thomas’ family took an indirect route to Texas through Florida where they are found in Warrington, Escambia County, Florida in 1850.
1850 US Census for Warrington, Escambia Co., Florida
By 1860 the US Census shows this Brown family enumerated in Plantersville, Grimes County, Texas though only the younger children are present with the parents. After the Civil War, Thomas and Martha are united in Grimes County where they were married on March 16, 1869.
Thomas H. and Martha (Elkins) Brown marriage record.
Their first child Creek Brown was born in 1870 in Calvert, Texas, and their next son Cephas Hampton Brown was born in Bastrop County, Texas before the family settled down in southern Hamilton County, Texas where the rest of their twelve children were born. The 1880 US Agricultural Census for Thomas Brown in Hamilton County tells us he was principally raising sheep, having a flock of 830 sheep as of June 1, 1880. Thomas would live the remainder of his life here watching his children grow, marry, and most of them leave this area to live and raise families elsewhere.
Thomas Hyman and Martha Josephine (Elkins) Brown Family
THOMAS HYMAN BROWN was born on 17 Apr 1838 in Alabama son of Thomas Hyman Brown and Acenath Mayo. He died on 04 Mar 1916 in Hamilton, Texas (buried Jonesboro Cemetery, Jonesboro, Coryell). He married MARTHA JOSEPHINE ELKINS, daughter of Wade Elkins and Mary Jane Hawkins, on 16 Mar 1869 in Grimes, Texas. Martha or “Mattie” was born in Dec 1850 in Marengo, Alabama. She died on 03 Jul 1934 in Waco, McLennan, Texas (buried Jonesboro Cemetery, Jonesboro, Coryell).
Thomas Hyman Brown and Martha Josephine Elkins had the following children:
CREEK BROWN was born on 18 Jan 1870 in Calvert, Robertson, Texas. He died on 25 Mar 1954 in Wink, Winkler, Texas (buried Kermit Cemetery Kermit, Winkler, TX). He married JULINA KATHERINE HARKINS on 25 Sep 1892. She was born on 05 Feb 1871 in Texas. She died on 06 Jul 1966 in Winkler, Texas (buried Kermit Cemetery Kermit, Winkler, TX).
CEPHAS HAMPTON BROWN was born on 25 Oct 1872 in Bastrop County, Texas. He died on 02 May 1937 in Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico (buried South Park Cemetery, Roswell, New Mexico). He married ANNIE OLENA STICKNEY, daughter of James Franklin Stickney and Elvira Tennessee Perry, on 21 Oct 1896 in Jonesboro, Coryell, Texas. She was born on 27 Aug 1874 in Jonesboro, Coryell, Texas. She died on 12 Dec 1958 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. (buried South Park Cemetery, Roswell, New Mexico).
MARY ACIE BROWN was born on 26 Feb 1875 in Hamilton County, Texas. She died on 14 Sep 1966 in Houston, Harris, Texas (buried Valley Mills Cemetery, Valley Mills, Texas). She married ROBERT LEE MCELHANNON about 1906. He was born on 22 Sep 1876 in Texas. He died on 04 Oct 1938 in Waco, McLennan, Texas (buried Valley Mills Cemetery, Valley Mills, Texas).
HUGH BROWN was born on 31 Jul 1876 in Hamilton County, Texas. He died on 18 Aug 1940 in Lampasas, Lampasas, Texas (buried in Ross Cemetery, Baird, Texas). He married 1st OLLIE BRUCE on 1 Nov 1900 in Hamilton, Texas. Ollie was born Mar 1881 and probably died between 1905 and 1909. Hugh married 2nd MAUDE J. ESTELL on 27 Oct 1909. Maude was born in 1891 and died in 1939 (buried in Ross Cemetery, Baird, Texas).
LOYGENE BROWN was born on 24 Jan 1878 in Hamilton County, Texas. He died 27 Dec 1939 in Meridian, Bosque, Texas (buried Jonesboro Cemetery, Coryell County, Texas). He married BESSIE FRANCES ELAM on 28 Jun 1914 in Hamilton, Texas. She was born on 29 Dec 1883 and died on 11 Nov 1979 (buried Live Oak Cemetery, Hamilton County, Texas).
OSIE BROWN was born on 04 Dec 1880 in Hamilton County, Texas (twin to Ollie). She died young on 02 Apr 1886 in Hamilton, Hamilton, Texas (buried Jonesboro Cemetery, Coryell County, Texas).
OLLIE BRUCE BROWN was born on 04 Dec 1880 in Hamilton County, Texas (twin to Osie). He died on 02 Jul 1906 in Hamilton, Hamilton, Texas (buried Jonesboro Cemetery, Coryell County, Texas).
SETH BROWN was born on 17 Oct 1883 in Hamilton County, Texas. He died young on 16 Apr 1886 (buried Jonesboro Cemetery, Coryell County, Texas).
THOMAS OVERTON BROWN was born on 07 Sep 1887 in Hamilton County, Texas. He died on 18 Dec 1956 in Ft. Worth, Tarrant, TX (buried Greenwood Memorial Park, Ft. Worth, TX). He married IDA CHATHERINE WALKER on 13 Dec 1942 in Bellevue, Clay County, Texas. She was born about 1891. She died before 29 Sep 1984 (buried date, Greenwood Memorial Park, Ft. Worth, TX).
VIRTA BROWN was born on 31 Jul 1889 in Hamilton County, Texas. She died on 26 Nov 1979 in Houston, Harris, Texas (buried Meridian Cemetery, Meridian, Bosque, Texas). She married CHARLES WRIGHT FUQUA on 14 Jul 1912 in Hamilton, Hamilton, Texas. He was born on 16 Nov 1887 in Hamilton, Hamilton, Texas. He died on 23 Jul 1951 (buried Meridian Cemetery, Meridian, Bosque, Texas).
Part 2 coming soon.
Forwardly Looking Back 