This is part two of a two-part post series diving into the story of my great-grandmother, Mollie Macephius Monroe Brand. Please head over to part one if you have not yet read it.
Note: This post is not meant to be a complete genealogical study, though it has been completed and documented. It is just commentary and sharing bits and pieces of her story with family and fellow genea-friends.
1880 Census
She first appeared in the 1880 U.S. census in the J.M. Monroe household in Newton County, Mississippi.1
- It provided further proof of her parents’ names or initials, in this case, J.M. & M.L. Monroe.
- Her parents’ ages are listed, establishing an estimated birth year for future research.
- She had an older half-brother named Isaac.
- Her parents’ birth locations:
- J.M. – Mississippi
- M.L. – Mississippi
- It also provided clues about the birthplaces of her grandparents for both parents.
1890 School Register
Mollie was listed in a school register from 1890 when she was eleven years old.2
1899 Marriage Register
Mollie married T.M. [Thomas Morgan] Brand on 22 Dec 1899 in Newton County, Mississippi.3 Her brother, John Monroe, served as a witness.
1900 Census
She next appeared in the 1900 census in the T.M. Brand household in Newton County, Mississippi.4
- She still lived in Newton, Mississippi.
- She was now married to T.M. Brand, a railroad laborer from Mississippi.
- When the census was taken, they had been married for two years, which gave an estimated year of marriage of about 1898 or 1899.
- Her birth month and year: Feb 1879.
1910 Census
The 1910 census indicated that her family had moved from Mississippi to Louisiana.5 The family had grown with the birth of four children between 1900 and 1910.
- Horris [Horace], Son, 9, estimated birth year 1901
- Lola [Lora], Daughter, 7, estimated birth year 1903
- Howard, Son, 3, estimated birth year 1907
- Olga, Daughter, 7 mos, estimated birth year 1909
1920 Census
The 1920 census was the last time Mollie was recorded, as she passed away in 1927.6 By this time, her family had expanded with the addition of three more children between 1914 and 1917:
- Thomas M., Son, 6, estimated birth year 1913
- James M., Son, 4, estimated birth year 1915
- Alton W., Son, 2 1/2, estimated birth year 1917
Mollie gave birth to one more child, Charles W., in 1921. She was likely pregnant at the time/after this census.
Child Loss
Molly and her husband Thomas suffered heartbreak with the loss of children in 19048, 19069, and 1911.10
Newspaper Articles
I was able to locate her obituary, which included more information on her illness, where she lived, and her family.
Final Thoughts
Like any genealogy, an individual’s story is never finished. New connections and discoveries continually provide opportunities for learning.
While I may not know the full story of my great-grandmother’s life, it’s clear that she possessed a strong determination. She gave birth to eleven children and faced many losses throughout her life. Despite the challenges she encountered, I like to think that she also experienced happiness along the way.
I look forward to discovering more about her and sharing my journey.
Footnotes
- 1880 U.S. census, Newton County, Mississippi, pop. sch., Beat No. 5, ED 0089, sheet 12-D, dwell. 110, fam. 110, entry for M.M. Monroe.
- “Newton, Mississippi, United States records,” school register, 1890, Mollie Monroe, age 11, daughter of J.M. Monroe, precinct Hickory, color White; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HV-C9ST-N?view=explore : accessed 26 November 2024), image 80 of 692.
- “Marriage records, 1872-1907, 1911-1916,” marriage register, entry for Mollie Monroe & TM Brand, 22 Dec 1899, Newton County, Mississippi; database images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 29 Nov 2024), FamilySearch Library microfilm 007726312, image 260 of 343; citing Newton County Clerk of Court, Mississippi.
- 1900 U.S. census, Newton County, Mississippi, pop. sch., Beat 5, ED 0057, sheet 2-B, dwell. 286, fam. 306, entry for Mary [Mollie] Brand.
- 1910 U.S. census, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, pop. sch., Ward 1, ED 0028, sheet 13-B, dwell. 251, fam. 256, entry for Molly M. Brand.
- 1920 U.S. census, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, pop. sch., Justice Precinct No. 1, ED 0097, sheet 7-A, dwell. 121, fam. 146, entry for Mollie Braud [Brand].
- Barry Boecher, photo of headstone for Infants of T.M. & M.M. Brand, (12 Aug 1904 & 8 Oct 1906), Magnolia Cemetary, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, Section E, Lot 39, photo taken 2020.
- Barry Boecher, photo of headstone for Infants of T.M. & M.M. Brand, (12 Aug 1904 & 8 Oct 1906), Magnolia Cemetary, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, Section E, Lot 39, photo taken 2020.
- Barry Boecher, photo of headstone for Infants of T.M. & M.M. Brand, (12 Aug 1904 & 8 Oct 1906), Magnolia Cemetary, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, Section E, Lot 39, photo taken 2020.
- “Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977,” Death Certificate, entry for Infant of T.M. Brand, 7 Dec 1911, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, State File # 26970.
- “Mrs. T.M. Brand,” Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, Texas), 21 May 1927, page 7, column 3.
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