Born: July 22, 1900 in Jiménez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Died: December 15, 1967 in El Paso, El Paso, Texas
Written by her daughter, Mary Angela Brown Hayden Green (1998)
ANGELA WAS BORN IN CIUDAD Jiménez, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO ON AUGUST 10,1900.
HER FATHER WAS TOMAS GABALDON A DESCENDENT FROM THE GABALDON LINE IN SPAIN. HE MARRIED MARIA HOLGUIN AND LATER THREE DAUGHTERS AND ONE SON WERE BORN TO THEM. ANGELA LIVED IN Jiménez UP TO HER TEEN YEARS. THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION AND THE REGIME OF PANCHO VILLA WHO ASSAULTED THE TOWN OF Jiménez TOOK A TOLL ON THE TOWN. HER FATHER DIED FEB 15 1915. HER MOTHER TOOK HER FAMILY TO CIUDAD JUAREZ TO LIVE WITH A LONG TIME FRIEND HER COMADRE CAMARENA. THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AND MAKE A LIVING WAS THERE. THEY TOOK IN WASHING AND IRONING AND ANGELA WORKED AT A CAFE IN EL PASO.
IT WAS DURING THIS TURMOIL OF THE REVOLUTION THAT DAD SUFFERED THE LOSS OF HIS WIVES AND FAMILIES WHO DURING THE EXODUS HAD RELOCATED WITH RELATIVES IN U.S.A. HE HAD REMAINED IN THE EL PASO/ JUAREZ AREA AND WAS WORKING AS A SHERIFF AND OTHER DUTIES NEGOTIATING WITH.THE DIPLOMATS AND MEN IN POWER TO FIND A SAFE RETURN FOR THE SAINTS WHO HAD LEFT THE COLONIES. AS WE KNOW THIS WAS A DREADFUL TIME AND A GREAT PAIN WAS THERE FOR EVERYTHIG WAS LOST.
IT WAS DURING THIS TIME OF HIS LIFE THAT DAD MET ANGELA. SHE WAS WORKING IN EL PAOS AND WAS ABLE TO HELP HER FAMILY. DAD FELL IN LOVE WITH HER BUT SHE WAS ONLY 19 AND HE WAS 54. ANGELA HAD A BOYFRIEND WHO WAS STUDYING TO BE AN ENGINEER AND WHY SHOULD SHE CHANGE THIS SITUATION, HOWEVER A RELATIONSHIP STARTED AND SHE FELT THAT THIS MR. BROWN WHO HAD SO MUCH CHARISMA WOULD BE THE FATHER SHE WOULD LIKE TO BARE HIS CHILDREN. THEY WERE MARRIED IN LAS CRUCES N.M. , MARCH 8, 1919.
ANGELA BECAME DADS ONLY WIFE AND WAS THE ONLY WIFE THAT DIDN"T LIVE POLYGAMY. SHE WAS HIS LAST WIFE. DAD'S BACKGROUND CAME TO LIGHT AS THEIR MARRIAGE PROGRESSED. SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT MORMONISM UNTIL DAD WAS BACK IN THE CHURCH AND RETURNED TO THE COLONIES WITH HIS WIFE AND 4 CHILDREN. WHAT A WONDERFUL WOMAN SHE WAS TO ADAPT TO THE NEW WAY OF LIFE, TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE NEIGHBOR , TO TRY TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE AND TO HELP DAD ACHIEVE HIS PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY AGAIN. HE BECAME THE BISHOP AND SHE WAS BAPTIZED AND LEARNED THE GOSPEL AND TAUGHT RELIEF SOCIETY. DAD WAS NOW A FARMER AND HE HAD TO GROW MOST OF WHAT WE ATE. ANGELA LEARNED TO RAISE CHICKENS AND PIGS COWS AND HORSES. SHE WATERED AT NIGHT WITH A LANTERN, MADE CHEESE AND BUTTER AND SOLD THE EXTRA MILK. THE FRUIT CAME AND MORE WORK WITH IT. WE HAD A CELLAR YEAR ROUND OF FOOD SHE HAD CANNED. ALL THIS SHE LEARNED IN THIS NEW ENVIROMENT.
ANGELA HAD A BABY AND NAMED HER MARY ANGELA , NAMESAKE FOR HER AND HER MOTHER, SHE WAS BORN JUNE 15, 1927. .MARY HAD PLATINUM BLONDE HAIR AND AT TIMES WHEN SHE TOOK HE SHOPPING SHE PULLED A CAP DOWN TO HER EARS SO THAT PEOPLE WOULDNT STOP HER TO TOUCH HER HAIR. ANOTHER BABY BOY WAS BORN 9 YEARS LATER BUT DIED AT BIRTH. MOTHER RECALL NOT HAVING WATER AVAILABLE TO REVIVE THE BABY AND DAD TRIED SO HARD TO GIVE HIM MOUTH TO MOUTH RESUSITATION AND HOW HE HELD HIS BABY AND CRIED SO HARD.
ANGELA SUFFERED THE LOSS OF HER BABY AND COULD FIND NO COMFORT. SHE TOOK A TRIP TO VISIT HER BROTHER WHO AT THE TIME HAD SIX, VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. SHE SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD LET HER RAISE BABY MARTHA. WHAT EMPATHY AND COMPASSION TOOK PLACE FOR HER BROTHER AND WIFE TO ALLOW ANGELA TO HAVE A BABY TO RAISE. VERY SOON AFTER THIS TRIP THEY BROUGHT MARTHA TO THE COLONIES AND SHE BECAME MOTHERS DAUGHTER. WHAT A GREAT JOY SHE WAS TO ANGELA, DAD AND TO THE FAMILY. SHE WAS RAISED AS MARTHA BROWN AND WAS TRULY MOTHERS DAUGHTER AND OUR SISTER. SHE CAME TO OUR HOME WHEN DAD NEEDED A HELPING HAND AND A GUIDING CANE. MARTHA SERVED A MISSION AND ON HER RETURN MARRIED ALAN GARDNER FROM YUMA. ARIZ. THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND ONE IS NAMED ANGELA FOR MOTHERS NAME SAKE.
BEFORE DAD DIED IN 1946 HE HAD THE SATISFACTION TO SEE HIS SON GUSTAVO, HIS DAUGHTER BERTHA, ABD SON ARON FULFILL A MISSION . AND IN 1946 BOTH BERTHA AND HER FIANCEE AND PAULY AND HIS FIANCEE HAD A DOUBLE WEDDING. DAD DANCED AT THE RECEPTION IN THE COLONIES. THE NEXT DAY THEY LEFT FOR MESA ARIZONA TO BE MARRIED AT THE TEMPLE. AUNT ELIZA HAD A WONDERFUL RECEPTION AND IT MADE ANGELA AND DAD SO HAPPY FOR THIS HONOR.
DAD DIED TWO MONTHS LATER, HIS CHILDREN GUSTAVO AND MARY AND MARTHA WERE BY HIS SIDE WITH MOTHER. IT WAS LATE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 10 1946.
IN 1953 ARON BROUGHT MOTHER, MARTHA AND GRANDMA TO EL PASO WHERE PAULY , MARY AND BERTHA WERE LIVING. GUS HAD BEEN TAKING CARE OF MOTHER AND LOOKED AFTER HER, BUT THIS MOVE WAS GOOD FOR HER. SHE LIVED WITH MARYS FAMILY14 YEARS UNTIL SHE DIED IN JUNE 1967. SHE LOVED HER GRANDCHILDREN AND SHE TAUGHT THEM THE GOSPEL AND TOOK PRIDE IN TEACHING THEM SPANISH. SHE TRULY WAS THE HEART OF THE FAMILY AND SERVED THE CHURCH WITH ALL HER CAPACITY.
Mother was born August 10, 1900, in Ciudad Jiménez, Chihuahua, Mexico, Her parents were Tomas Gabaldon and Marian Holguin Gabaldon. Her brother was Rafael and her sisters were Concepcion and Soledad. Her grandparents were Mariano and Elena Gabaldon. Her ancestors were from Spain and France. When Spain took over Mexico under the reign of Maximiliano, new ethnic groups were formed.
Mexico and United States have a similarity in the forming of their citizens, the natives arethe true American and Mexican people, however in the United States the colonizers came from different countries and their ethnic roots are all different. In Mexico the colonizers were from those whose countries invaded Mexico and took over the country. The liberation from Spain was led by a priest named Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla. Watching the injustice that had taken against the Indians he helped the natives rebel against his own mother country (Spain). Mother was born when Mexico was a free country, and loved the heroes that liberated it. This was a part of her life and history.
During mother's young years, her father Tomas Gabaldon, received his inheritance from his father, Mariano Gabaldon. He proceeded to go South to start a tobacco plantation. He was not successful and lost his fortune. The turmoil of a revolution was approaching. He returned home and was very despondent and became ill. He died February 15, 1915, leaving his widow and children unprotected.
During 1912 and 1917, General Pancho Villa, who was considered the Robin Hood of Mexico, had in his early regime 150,000 men in his troops, but as the war advanced he became a tyrant and had no respect for land or people. When he entered the state of Chihuahua, he raided the towns to feed his troops and committed atrocities. A neighbor friend of Mother's had her beautiful, young daughter dragged through the street, when she would not take his advances. This family not only lost their possessions but their honor. The girl didn't die, but died in a mental hospital.
Villa, once a friend of the Americans, found out that President Carranza, from Mexico had entered into an agreement with President Wilson of the United States, to subdue General Villa. This turned Villa against all Americans and they paid the price.
Mother's family traveled to Ciudad Juárez (El Paso, Texas), around the same time that the Mormon colony members started their exodus. The Camarena family and mother's had been friends and they found a building where they could live and start a business. They started serving small meals and rented rooms in the back. They took in laundry and ironing service. Rafael ran a barber shop and the Camerena's girls ran a beauty parlor.
Here was where my father, Orson Pratt Brown, met my mother, as they were fixing her hair, he walked over and said, "You are a beautiful girl." The Camarena's were a life saver for the Gabaldon's.
One of the Camarena's girls, Bernarda, met a Spaniard, named Salvador Ateca. He was a very wealthy man and had gambling establishments. They moved back to Jiménez to raise a family. He bought Mother her first pair of glasses and that opened up a new world for her to read without the strain. He was very generous with his money. When he traveled to Mexico, the train stopped in Jiménez. The people there always knew when he was coming and they would meet the train at the caboose, he had bats of coins and he would throw them out by the handful. The Mariachi group would play for him for a long period of time.
During their stay in Ciudad Juárez, Mother's brother Rafael got sick with small pox. His mother nursed him back to health, after he almost died; however his face was scarred for the rest of his live.
It was during this turmoil that Dad suffered the loss of his wives and families. They had come by train to re-enter the United States. They were relocated with family members. Dad remained in the area and became a sheriff and a spokesman for the Saints, dealing with political men, such as Pancho Villa, to seek a safe return to the Colonies. Due to the anti-polygamy laws and Church issues supporting the government, Dad would be thrown in jail if he tried to return. It was a dreadful time. Everything was lost. Dad was devastated and found himself alone.
A long period of time passed, years went by and the hope to have his families back was gone. It was during this time that Dad started to try to put his life together again and started courting my mother. A relationship started and because of the charming personality that Orson P. Brown had and his beautiful blue eyes, she decided that the tremendous difference in his age didn't matter. They were married in Las Cruces, N.M. March 8, 1919. Josefina Camarena went with them to be their witness.
Mother's sisters and brother returned with her mother, to Jiménez. She remained in Cd. Juárez. Dad had gotten involved in a mine and would come and go often. It was hard for her; her family had gone away to Jiménez.
On December 17, 1919, Mother's first born, was delivered. They named him Silvestre Gustavo Brown. Dad was know as Don Silvestre by the Mexican people who found it hard to pronounce Orson and said that Silvestre was the right translation, now his name will live for generation!
Pancho Villa became outraged with the Americans and in March 1916, he entered into the United States territory and raided and terrorized Columbus, N.M. United States responded by sending Gen. John Pershing (black Jack) and Brig. George Patton, with his cavalry and approached Columbus, N.M. to pursue General Villa, Villa eluded Pershing as he moved to Mexico, he knew the territory like the palm of his hand and he hid as they pursued him for 11 months. The U.S. search, returned back, knowing that after that length of time hiding, it had weakened the regiment & was no longer a threat.
The U.S. search involved going through the Mormon Colonies, where they set an encampment and it was the assurance of the troops being around that saved what was left of the colonies.
Now at last, Dad was ready to return to who he was. Most of the revolution problems were over. He had bee baptized by Bishop Arwell Pierce, in El Paso, Texas. And he had a new family. Now his arms were full with the little ones, and he yearned to be by their side all the time. He had received all his Church blessings restored to him by the Church, and he was willing to return back to the Mormon Colonies. In 1927 they returned.
Mary Angela, was born June 15, 1927. This was one of Mother's great joys, to live in a house where her new baby could call home.
Mother taught the Gospel and after a lot of study she was baptized, March 30,1929, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. What a wonderful woman she was. She was able to adapt to a new way of life, to understand the language and more than anything t learn the beauty of the Gospel taught to her by her husband. Dad achieved his place in the community again. He became Bishop and she was set aside as a Relief Society President. In Sept. 24, 1932, Patriarch Joseph C. Bentley, in Colonia Dublán gave her a powerful blessing to indeed guide her through her life.
Mother bore him four children. Silvestre Gustoavo, born 12-17-1919, Bertha, 7-31-1922, Pauly, 1-29-1924, Aron, 7-29-1925. They were all born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Mother was so happy to be taught the Gospel. It was not until this time that she bean to understand what the Gospel meant to her husband.
I feel that mother was a true pioneer. She came to a Mormon community without knowing why. She took over the running order of a farm girl without ever having lived on a farm. There was no running water or electricity and she taught her children to work. Fortunately, there were people that would work for very low wages; sometimes they would work to be able to take food or clothes home. I remember a family where three generations were at our home doing some kind of work. The women had a child often and when it was born, one of the oldest children would come running to our house to say, "My mother says that you have a new person that will serve you."
Mother learned how to program her many duties. She became acquainted with so many animals. She had lambs, hogs, cows, chickens, turkeys and she planted a vegetable garden I remember a night when we had a very strong rain. In the morning she went to put the chickens out and the patio to the chicken coop was flooded. She had separated the little chicks and turkeys and made houses for them wit adobes that sat in the patio. She found all the little chicks floating in the water. That was a very unhappy day, she cried all day for not providing a higher shelter for her little ones, but next day she got started with a new little building. Saturday was the preparation for Sunday's dinner and she had the workmen catch two hens and she came out one time and saw them twisting their necks round and round to kill them. What a sermon she gave them!
Dad planted trees for our fruit. We had apples, quinces, plums, grapes, figs, blackberries and strawberries. It was delightful to have fruit to eat and to can for winter. We must remember that we had o grocery stores for fruit and vegetables. Dad loved blackberries and I would pick them early in the morning. We had a lot of blackbirds that nested in the trees. The vines had thorns and I would bend down to get the berries. The big black birds would come and hit me in the head and holler in their language, "Get out of here."
Mother had to irrigate when her water right was due, the water would come through the ditches and sometimes her turn was at night. She had the boys helping her, making their way through with a lantern. The boys had to milk the cows and feed the animals. She learned to make butter and cheese. Our meat came from the young bulls that were raised for that purpose. Dad would make ham and bacon from the hogs. Killing a hog was neighbor thing togetherness. There would be lard and meat for tamales and fresh made chicharrones (pork skins) for all.
Our family life was good. Dad went to work in the farm and occasionally I would ride horseback with him. We would have picnics by the river next to the farm. Sometimes we would wade in the water. I had a couple of scares in that river; I almost drowned until I was pulled from the back of the hair avoiding me pushing them down. Pauly and Gus saved my life. I can honestly say that I never knew that my Dad was an older man, because he was always so active and mother kept him young watching over him, she loved him so much!
Sunday morning everyone took baths in round tubs, wit chairs around them and towels around the chairs for privacy. Dad had his own bedroom, (office) and a big belly stove. Mother would help him with his clothes and helped him shave behind his neck. After it was all done, he would turn around and asked her, "Ya esta lista?" Are you ready? This phrase became a standard saying when someone expected too much from you.
Regardless of Dad's age he was the leader in his home. He taught his children the Gospel and mother was so attentive to him. She said that what she admired more of Dad was hw he offered his prayers, as if he knew that he was there listening.
Mother and Dad saw to it, that we received the education that was available.
Grade School, High School, and also learned to play the piano, learn to sew, cook, and more important taught us the Gospel, preparing us to understand our duties to the Lord.
Gustavo, Bertha, Aron and Martha served missions for the Church. Pauly and Mary did not.
Earlier in life Mother had a baby boy, born in 1936, he died at birth, mainly because they could not pump water fast enough to throw water on him. Dad gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and when he didn't respond, Dad held him in his arms and cried for hours, being born at home, could cost you your life. Mother was devastated and became very sick and inconsolable.
Mother grieved so much that Dad sent her o a trip to visit with her mother and brother. In Jiménez, Chih. She was delighted to see her brother surrounded by six very young children. The baby was crying from a hanging basket, and her cry was so dear that she went to pick her up and while in her arms she asked, "Why don't you allow me to take this baby with me and let me raise her?" They were aware of the trauma she had been through losing her baby. They agreed. What empathy and compassion did this family have for their sister! Mother had told them that if they agreed that it would be for good, that she would raise her as her own daughter. She truly became her daughter and she was our pride and joy. Dad needed a helping hand and she was a little angel. She was raised as Martha Brown.
Before Dad died, he was able to take Mother to Salt Lake Temple to be sealed for eternity. Oct. 2, 1941. This was the first time that she was able to visit some of Dad's other families. Miles and Florence in Salt Lake City were very kind to her and made her feel at home. They also went to visit Jane his third wife, who was ill at the hospital. From there they went to San Francisco, where Dad's sister brought her a bouquet of roses. They also visited Betty and Emma, his two daughters. This trip, of course, was a very emotional time.
Dad, died March, 10, 1946, at the age of 83 years. Mother continued to live in Col. Dublán and was very lonely. Gus was raising his family with Emma, and mother and Emma were real good friends. I was working with the Airline, and Martha was going to school. Grandmother was living with her.
When Aron came to visit Mother he decided that she should move to El Paso, TX. and in 1953 he brought Mother, Grandmother and Martha to El Paso. Bertha, Pauly and Mary were living there. She was able to buy a house and lived there for fourteen years, until she passed away the 20 of June 1967, in El Paso, Texas, where she is buried.
I loved my Mother and feel blessed that she was the sunshine in my life. I am grateful that I was born of "goodly parents."
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ORSON PRATT BROWN WEBSITE HOMEPAGE
