Almira SANDERS

1843 - 1887  (~ 44 years)

• Name	Almira SANDERS
  Birth	CA 1843	New York   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Census	1850, 1860	Norwich, Chenango Co, NY
  Census	1870	Guilford, Chenango Co, NY
  Census	1881	Verndale, Wadena Co, MN   [2]
  Residence	1885	Aldrich Twp, Wadena Co, MN   [3]
  Death	19 Dec 1887	San Diego, San Diego Co, CA   [4]
  Burial	Mt. Hope Cemetery, Norwich, Chenango Co, NY   [5]
  Notes	Addison Avery Brown always gave his mother's name as Almira Saunders and stated that she was one-half American Indian. Almira's birth was in New York sometime between 1840 and 1844, based on the following: Age 9 at 1850 Census would put it in about 1841, age 20 at 1860 Census would put it in about 1840, age 41 at 1885 Census would put it in about 1844, and Addison's birth certificate gives her age at his birth as 39, putting her birth in about 1842. But with her sister Mary's birth date confirmed in both the 1900 Census and her death record as Feb 1842, and with Almira appearing in the 1850 Census one year younger than Mary, Almira's birth date is more likely to be about 1843. Nonetheless, age 43 on her headstone puts her birth in 1844. Information provided at Addison's funeral identified his mother as Rachel Sanders. This reference is believed to be the result of confusing Addison's mother Almira with his stepmother Rachel. A funeral card found in family papers identified the deceased as Rachel A. Brown, died Feb 1 1904, age 53y 10m 25d, location not given. Based on age at death, the birth date would be Mar 7 1850. Through Veterans records, we have determined that Rachel was Ammi Brown's fourth wife. Almira was with her parents and siblings in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Norwich, Chenango Co, NY, and she was with husband Ammi (and his father and son from a previous marriage) in the 1870 Census of Guilford, Chenango Co, NY. Almira was not found in the Census of 1880. That year's census of Wadena County, Minnesota, lists an Almira as the wife of Albert A. Brown (b. ca 1840 in New York), giving her age as 35 (b. ca 1845 in New York) and reports her father's birthplace as Connecticut, and her mother's as New York. Despite the similarities in names and locations, this does not appear to be the same couple. The 1885 Minnesota Census places Almira in the household of A. A. Brown with son Addison, identifies her as Almira and gives her age as 41 (b. ca 1844), birthplace New York. In an affidavit filed by son Addison in 1935 to establish his date of birth, he stated that his mother had died when he was about age six. This would put her death in about 1887 or 1888. In 1915, in an application for membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal beneficiary society, Addison stated that his mother died at age 44 of "inflammation of bowels." This would also put her death in about 1888. One question on that application was "Which do you resemble in general characteristics, father or mother?," to which Addison stated that it was his mother. This is noteworthy because Addison maintained that his mother was one-half American Indian, and he himself did have certain facial characteristics associated with Native Americans. For many years, we were unable to pinpoint the date and location of Almira's death. The assumption was that if she had died in 1887 or 1888 as stated by Addison, the location would likely have been in Minnesota, since she was there in 1885, husband Ammi was thought from a land purchase to have been there in 1890, and his move to Washington State occurred in 1893. However, California Voter Registration records indicate that Ammi A. Brown was a resident of San Diego County in 1888. "The Great Register of San Diego County for 1890" contains the following entry: Ammi A. Brown, age 57, nativity Massachusetts, occupation carpenter, local residence Escondido, date of registration Feb 13 1888. The San Diego location was confirmed with the discovery of a local news item in the "Verndale (Minnesota) Journal" of January 6, 1888: "Word has been received, by private letter, that Mrs. A. A. Brown died at San Diego, Cal., December 19, 1887, of inflammation of the stomach. Mr. Brown carried her remains to Norwich, N.Y., for interment. Their many friends here will learn of this bereavement with sincere regret." An entry on Findagrave shows that Almira was buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Norwich, Chenango Co, New York. Her headstone is inscribed as follows: ALMIRA wife of A. A. BROWN Died at San Diego, Cal. Dec. 19, 1887 AGED 43
  Person ID	I3622	Doddridge County Roots
  Last Modified	30 Nov 2022

  
  

  Father	Henry J. SANDERS,   b. CA 1806, Rhode Island d. 4 Nov 1880 (Age ~ 74 years)
  Mother	Olive L. MOWRY,   b. CA 1814, Rhode Island d. 25 Jul 1888 (Age ~ 74 years)
  Family ID	F21504	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ammi Almanzia BROWN,   b. 13 Sep 1829, Boston, MA d. 20 Jun 1899, Orting, Pierce Co, WA (Age 69 years)  [6, 7]
  Marriage	BTWN 1860-1870
  	The 1860 Census shows Ammi with his first wife, Deborah, but he was with Almira in the 1870 Census.
  Notes	1870 Census, town of Guilford, Chenango Co, NY: Ami Brown, 39, b. Massachusetts, occup house carpenter; Almira Brown, 28, b. New York; Edwin Brown, 11, b. Wisconsin; Ami Brown, 71, b. Connecticut, occup carpenter & joiner. Although relationships are not stated, it would appear that the elder Ammi is the father of the younger, who in turn is the father of Edwin. Based on the earlier census, Edwin's mother was Deborah, not Almira. No entry for this Edwin Brown was found in any subsequent census. No entry for Ammi Brown was found in the 1880 Census, although we know that he was in Minnesota for the birth of son Addison in 1881. The 1880 Census of Minnesota lists in Aldrich Twp, Wadena Co, Albert A. Brown, age 40, carpenter, born in New York; and his wife Almira Brown, age 35, born in New York, her father born in Connecticut, and her mother born in New York. Despite the discrepancies, the possibility cannot be discounted that this is the couple in question. The same Census shows Charles W. Brown, age 35, born in New York, father born in Connecticut, mother born in New York. Given ages and locations, these two Browns could be brothers or other close relatives. The 1885 Census of Minnesota lists in Aldrich Twp, Wadena County, A. A. Brown, age 53, born in Massachusetts; Almira Brown, age 41, born in New York; and Addison (misspelled Adison), age 3, born in Minnesota. It appears that the family moved from Minnesota to southern California not long after the 1885 census, but their stay there was short-lived. Almira died in San Diego, California on Dec 19 1887. Ammi remained in California, at least for awile. California Voter Registration records indicate that Ammi A. Brown was a resident of San Diego County in 1888. "The Great Register of San Diego County for 1890" contains the following entry: "Ammi A. Brown, age 57, nativity Massachusetts, occupation carpenter, local residence Escondido, date of registration Feb 13 1888." Son Addison was presumably also in California during Ammi's stay there, although we have found no proof of that.
  Children	+ 1. Addison Avery BROWN,   b. 1 Aug 1881, Verndale, Wadena Co, MN d. 13 Jan 1954, Youngstown, Mahoning Co, OH (Age 72 years)
  Documents		1885 Census, Aldrich Twp, Wadena Co, Minnesota
  Family ID	F1277	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  3622_BROWN_AlmiraSanders_ca1844-1887_MtHopeCem_Norwich_ChenangoCoNY_fg.jpg

  
  

  Documents		3622_BROWN_AlmiraSanders_ca1843-1887_DeathNotice.jpg
  		3621_1885Census_AldrichTwp_WadenaCoMN_AABrownHousehold.jpg

  
  

• Sources

  [S184] 1850 Census. Note: Almira Sanders' birth has been incorrectly reported elsewhere (notably by Earl Perry Crandall, citing NBV : VARS' Records; Vol II, p. 171) as 18 March 1845 in Plainfield, Otsego Co, NY. But that birth information was actually for a different person with a similar name, Almira Saunders, daughter of William M. Saunders & Catherine Beedle. [S1599] Birth record of son. [S608] 1885 Minnesota Census. Her age listed as 35, her birthplace as New York, her father's birthplace as Connecticut, her mother's birthplace as New York, and her residence as Aldrich Township, Wadena County. [S14] Obituary, Verndale (Minn.) Journal, Friday, 6 Jan 1888. In its entirety: "Word has been received, by private letter, that Mrs. A. A. Brown died at San Diego, Cal., December 19, 1887, of inflammation of the stomach. Mr. Brown carried her remains to Norwich, N.Y., for interment. Their many friends here will learn of this bereavement with sincere regret." [S934] Findagrave.com. [S608] 1885 Minnesota Census. [S1616] Immediate family.