Orson Pratt Brown - Life, Times, Family

Introduction

Jane Bodily Galbraith was born on April 2, 1879, in Kaysville, Davis, Utah. She was the eldest of six children born to William Wilkie Galbraith and Emma Sarah Bodily Galbraith. William was born on May 12, 1838, in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. Emma was born on February 23, 1858, in Capetown, Bushman's River Cape, Union of South Africa. William and Emma were married December 27,1877, when William was 39 years old, and Emma was 19 years old.

Jane's younger four brothers and one sister were: 1) Joseph Bodily Galbraith, born March 27, 1881, in Kaysville, Davis, Utah, and who died December 31, 1957, in Kaysville, Davis, Utah; 2) Robert Bodily Galbraith, born on July 13, 1886, in Syracuse, Davis, Utah; 3) Lillian Bodily Galbraith, born July 22, 1889, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah; 4) Rafael Anchetta Bodily Galbraith, born June 18, 1891, in Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico; and 5) Archie Bodily Galbraith, born December 14,1894, in Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Ancestral Heritage

As mentioned, Jane's father was William Wilkie Galbraith, born on May 12, 1838 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. His parents George Galbraith and Anne Wilkie were both from Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland. The name Galbraith is mentioned in Scottish history as being a clan in the highlands of Scotland. William died at age 59 on January 1, 1898, in Colonia Diaz, Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Jane's mother was Emma Sarah Bodily, born on February 23, 1858, in Capetown, Bushman's River Cape, Union of South Africa. Her parents Robert Bodily, born December 15, 1815, and Jane Pitt-,im, born November 2, 1816, both hailed from Blakesley, Northamtonshire, England. They were married in England December 27, 1840. It is uncertain when the immigrated to the United States, but Emma was sealed to them on September 25, 1874, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Emma was baptized into the Church June 26' of that same year, at age 16. Her parents both died in Kaysville, Utah, her father December 30, 1892, age 77, and her mother September 22, 1904, age 87. Emma Sarah died at age 77 on March 16, 1935, in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Jane's Father and Mother Lived in Plural Marriage

Jane's father William lived in plural marriage with four wives, her mother being his third wife.

His first wife was Elizabeth M. Layton whom he married on April 11, 1861, in Kaysville, Davis,

Utah, when he was 22 years old and she was 16 years old. Elizabeth M. Layton was bom August 17, 1844, in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, and died February 13, 1908, in Raymond, Alberta, Alberta. She had five sons and one daughter, none of which were born in Mexico.

His second wife was Phoebe Ann Flint whom he married on April 14, 1875, in Kaysville, Davis, Utah, when he was 36 years old and she was 20 years old. Phoebe Ann Flint, was born February 21, 1855, in Kaysville, Davis, Utah, and died January 13, 1939, in San Diego, San Diego, California. She had six sons and four daughters.

Jane's mother, Emma Sarah Bodily, was William's third wife. As mentioned above, they were married on December 27, 1877, either in Kaysville, Davis, Utah, or Salt Lake City, Utah, when William was 39 years old, and Emma was 19 years old. Emma Sarah Bodily was born in South Africa, and she died at age 77 on March 16, 1935 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. She had the four sons and one daughter named above.

William's fourth wife was Lillian Eva Powell whom he married on January 27, 1888, in Logan, Cache, Utah, when he was 50 years old and she was 21 years old. Lillian Eva Powell, was born on December 2, 1866, in Portswood, Hampshire, England, and she died January 31, 1929, in Blanding, San Juan, Utah. She had four sons, all of which were born in Mexico.

William's wives were all living with him in Mexico at the time of his death in 1898. They would have probably remained there with their children, or been driven out in 1912 by the Mexican revolutionaries.

Moving to Mexico

In late 1889, when Jane was 10 years old, William moved his families to live in Colonia Diaz, a Latter-day Saint colony in Chihuahua, Mexico. This move was upsetting to Jane, as she had ambitions of studying medicine in the United States, but she was reassured that possibility was still viable.

Jane received two Church Patriarchal Blessings in Colonia Diaz during her early life. The first blessing was when she was 10, just after the family arrived there on January 16, 1890 in Colonia Diaz from Patriarch Henry Lunt.

DIAZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO, JANUARY 16TH, 1890

No. 245

A Blessing by Henry Lunt, Patriarch, upon the head of Jane Bodily Galbraith, Daughter of William Wilkie, and Emma Sarah Galbraith, born Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah, April 2, 1879.

Beloved daughter of Zion, I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Christ to give thee a Patriarchal or Father's Blessing, for thou art indeed worthy, being innocent and in the days of childhood and art blessed with a desire to do the will of God and to walk in His ways, and to keep His Holy Commandments.

Thy heart is pure before the Lord, and thou shall become a woman of great intelligence; thou has a literary turn of mind, and given to learning and shall become a bright and shining light in the midst of the daughters of Zion. Thy mind shall become expanded with thy growth, that thou shalt become a woman of great faith and do much good in thy day and generation among thy sex. Thou shalt have power to deny thyself of all ungodliness and set an example worthy of imitation. Thou mayest live that thou wilt not be brought to the grave.

It will be thy privilege to choose a man of God for thy husband, who will delight to serve the Lord and keep His Holy commandments. Thou shalt become a Mother in Israel and thy posterity shall be great and numerous, and thou shalt teach thy children to walk in the ways of the Lord and to shun evil.

Thy name is written in the Lamb's book of life. Thy guardian Angel hath charge over thee. Thou shall have peace and plenty and good order in thy habitation. I dedicate thee unto the Lord and say unto thee if thou will strive to keep the word of wisdom, the Destroyer shall have no power over thee, for I seal these blessings upon thy head, with the Gift of Eternal life. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Encouraged, Jane attended school in the colonies, took piano lessons, and assisted her mother in tending to chores and her brothers and sisters. She grew up to be a lovely young woman, with fair skin, brown eyes, and dark curly hair.

In early 1895, when Jane was 16, she felt the need to receive another Patriarchal Blessing, which she received on February 24h from Patriarch W. R. R. Stowell.

COLONIA DIAZ, FEB. 24,1895

Blessing given by W. R. R. Stowell, Patriarch, upon the head of Jane B., daughter of Wm. W. and Emma S. Galbraith, who was born April 2nd, 1879, at Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah.

Sister Jane, I place my hands upon your head in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and pronounce upon you a Patriarchal blessing. You are of the blood of Israel and one of those noble spirits that have come forth in the latter years to perform a noble mission upon the earth. You have many times been very careful to be guided by the counsel of your parents. You have been wise in this regard for they seek your future benefit.

Your desires have been and are to perform your duty as a handmaid of the Almighty. Many noble blessings are for you. Seek earnestly the counsel of your parents and the servants of God. Put away light-mindedness. Seek to understand your duty and let your decision be firm and ask God for wisdom that your judgment may be correct. Walk in the paths of virtue and honor that your name may be handed down in honor to the latest generation.

In due time you shall have a companion, a man of God with whom you shall take pleasure in laboring in the House of the Lord for the living and the dead and you shall live to a good old age. Your children and your children's children shall rise up and call you blessed and your society shall be sought after and your counsel adhered to.

I seal these blessings upon your head with all former blessings that you have received from the servants of God and seal you up to eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed with glory, honor and eternal life with many friends and kindred through your faithfulness.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Recorded by Ida E. Turley Feb. 27, 1895

Jane's Marriage to Orson Pratt Brown

It was also in early 1895, that Jane caught the eye of Orson Pratt Brown who lived in the colonies, and was married to Martha Dianna Romney (and eventually had 10 children by her). Orson petitioned his wife Martha to allow him to enter into polygamy, and she at first refused, but eventually relented. After some discussion with the Church leadership in the colonies, he presented himself to Jane's parents as a suitor for Jane's hand. Jane refused the offer of marriage, as she wanted to study medicine in Utah, and secondly, did not want to live that polygamous lifestyle.

Jane's parents and the Church elders counseled her to consider Orson's offer. Finally, she did accept, with the condition that she would be able to continue her studies in medicine. Records indicate that Jane and Orson were married in March 28, 1896, in Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico, when she was 17 years of age. Orson was 32 years old.

Jane's Family Life in Mexico

During the 16 years (1896 to 1912) that Jane lived in Mexico with Orson, while they were having and starting to raise their family, they lived in at least 5 different places, enduring 7 separate moves before the Mormon Exodus in 1912. First they lived in Colonia Juarez, then Colonia Morelos, next Oaxaca, then to Colonia Dublán, then back to Colonia Morelos, back to Oaxaca, and then finally to the Petacachi Ranch in Sonora province, which is between Colonia Morelos and Douglas, Arizona. Jane and the children were forced to flee the Petacachi Ranch in August 1912 with only 24 hours notice. Orson was in El Paso, Texas, during that time.

Orson moved his families to various colonies, depending on his callings in the Church, so Jane's family did not stay in one place too long. Orson was a rancher, and had large land holdings.

Her son Ronald stated: "We lived in Colonia Juarez, until I was three or four years old. From there went to (Colonia) Morelos, after that we moved to Oaxaca. From Oaxaca we moved to (Colonia) Dublán. In Dublán, we lived just north of Bowman's mercantile store, on the west side of the railroad tracks. I went to the general school in Dublán. We moved to a brick house southwest of the mercantile store across the railroad tracks. We stayed there for three or four years and then we moved back to Morelos.

"From Morelos we moved to Oaxaca in the north. Then coming back from Oaxaca we went to Morelos and on to the Petacachi Ranch (which is between Morelos and Douglas, Arizona.). We left the Petacachi Ranch in (1912) and came out of Mexico to Douglas, Arizona. We stayed the (1912-1913) winter in El Paso, Texas. From El Paso, we came to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Her son Grant shared insight into their life: "I don't remember the exact moves or the dates we made them, but I do remember the different places that we lived in Mexico. Some of the things that happened was that we had a terrific hurricane storm, and it blew several windows out of the house and blew the barn roof out into alfalfa. We had about 2 or 3 acres of alfalfa joining this house that we lived in. I remember that this house sat southwest from the mercantile store. South of that we had other holdings, more land, about 160 acres, I believe. I can remember taking cows out there when I was a young man and sometimes in the evenings when the coyotes were around, I used to get a little bit scared.

"I remember one incident that happened to Ronald. We had lived in a different place there in Dublán, across the railroad tracks and Mr. Bowman, who owned the mercantile store, had a large dog that took Ronald and chewed him up pretty bad. In fact, he dragged him about 100 yards down the track by the legs. Then in this other house that we lived in, we had a hailstorm where hail was actually as big as eggs, as I remember them.

"I guess we went to Oaxaca from there where we had a tremendous flood that wiped practically all the colonists out. I remember that Mother had some pretty nice oil paintings, the only paintings she ever did, and some oil, that were lost in that flood. We all met in the Mormon meeting house, which was on higher ground, and it was one of the very few buildings left in that town."

During this time, Jane was able to study, and became a nurse. She assisted in the delivery of many children in the colonies. Orson broke his neck and she doctored him in her house until he was well. She said: "This has been the longest period that he has been with me since we've been married."

Jane was talented as a seamstress, knitted, tatted, crocheted bedspreads, articles of clothing, tablecloths, and the like. On being complimented on her lovely home, she commented that she was fortunate to have some creative talent to help her furnish her home.

Jane was a talented pianist, and it is likely played music at Church meetings. She was a painter, and her paintings and piano, amongst other things, were destroyed in a flood.

In addition to her children, Jane also took care of her husband, Orson's mother Phebe Abbott Brown Fife, for a number of years. Her oldest, Ronald, remembers: "In (Colonia) Morelos, Grandma Fife (Phebe Abbott Brown Fife, 0. P. Brown's mother) lived with Mother, and Mother took care of her for a number of years. Grandma Fife was very fond of watercress, and she used to bribe us younger children to go get her watercress. She would get packages of funny papers. I remember distinctly Captain Jammer and his Kids was the funny part of the papers. She would read us the funny papers. This was when I was 6 or 7 years, not over that. That would be in about 1905."

Little is known about Jane's relationship with the other wives of her husband, Orson, during this time. Having been raised as a child in her father's extended polygamous family with four wives, she had experience with these matters as a child. It should be remembered that she did not want to live that polygamous lifestyle when Orson approached her for marriage.

Mature reflection on this subject, however, leads one to believe that whatever Jane's experiences were as a child in a polygamous family, she would have experienced such a life from a different perspective as a wife and mother. It is also clear that the living conditions in Mexico at this time were challenging, and that as Orson married new wives, they did not, and could not, all live in the same place.

We know of a couple of experiences. In 1905, when Jane's and Orson's twins were born, Jane wanted to name the first twin Orson Pratt in honor of her husband. When she discussed this with Martha, Orson's first wife, and asked her permission to do so, Martha would not give her permission. So Jane named him Pratt Orson. Martha and Orson had a child in 1890 whom they named Orson Pratt Brown, and he had died in 1892 at 2 years of age.

Jane also chafed at having to petition to Martha, the first wife, who was in charge of parceling the provisions to Orson's wives, for their weekly rations, to supplement her garden. She had seven children to feed, no easy feat. Her son Grant remembers: "Mother was a wonderful woman. She was the best cook in the world, and she could make any kind of candy." Grant was a cook in the army and in the family restaurant, so he knew whereof he spoke.

Sometimes, life in Mexico, and afterwards, was not easy for Jane, nor her family.

Mormon Exodus from Mexico to El Paso, Texas

In 1912, the Latter-day Saints were given 24 hours notice to leave their colonies and return to the United States. Jane, who was 33, and her little family lived at the summer home at the Petacachi Ranch when the Mexican revolutionaries gave them the notice in August to either fight or leave.

At this critical time, Orson was not with Jane, nor with any of his wives. He was away, deeply involved in trying to resolve the multiple dangers facing all of the Mormon colonists because he was, at the same time, an authorized agent of the Church, the Mexican Federal government, the Mexican revolutionaries, and the United States Army.

Jane was on her own with her little family of 7, ranging in ages from 3 to 14. She packed up what she could, loaded her children onto a wagon pulled by mules, and started the exodus out of Mexico. Ronald, her older son who would have been 14, drove the wagon. At one point, a wheel hit a chuckhole, the wagon tipped over and William Galbraith, her twin 7-year-old, fell and was caught under the hub of the wheel and crushed to death. Jane tried to free him using her bare hands to try to dig him out. Ronald unhitched a horse tied to the wagon and went for help. The little family was devastated by what they saw and experienced in this tragic accident.

Grief-stricken, Jane returned with her little family to Colonia Morelos. She sent a telegram wire to Orson who was in El Paso, asking that he come and help. He sent a wire back that he could not come, for her to bury Galbraith, and come on to El Paso. So Jane and her family buried little Galbraith next to Elizabeth MacDonald Brown, third wife of Orson Pratt Brown, who had died there in 1904. Then she and her little family of 6 resumed their very difficult and dangerous journey to El Paso.

Ronald remembered: "The second year of the Revolution in Mexico was why we left. When General Blanco moved in on the Petacachi Ranch, we had to get out! They took over the Ranch, took the beef away from us, and so on and so forth. We were told to either leave or fight, and we couldn't fight; we didn't have enough people with us to take care of our needs. I left Mexico when I was 14 years old."

Ronald also told of Galbraith's death and its impact on the family: "An incident happened when we were migrating from Mexico to the United States [in 1912]. My third brother, Orson, had a twin by the name of Galbraith. Coming out of Mexico, the wagon tipped over and he was caught under the hub of the wheel and crushed. That delayed us. We had to 90 back to Morelos and bury the boy. When we got done, it was a very hard shock on Mother, having to move and everything. That was one of the major incidents in all of our lives as we remember it.

Grant said of their exodus: "We had a summer home on the Petacachi Ranch and were there at the time (Pancho) Villa was having his revolution down there (in Mexico), and this General Blanco, who was one of Villa's men, gave us 24 hours to either fight or get out. And not having either the ammunition or the manpower to resist, we left Mexico and went to El Paso, Texas, where we stayed a short time."

On to Utah

Jane and her 6 remaining little ones left Colonia Morelos again, making their way to Douglas, Arizona, and then on to El Paso, Texas. There they rested and stayed through the winter of 1912-1913, until arrangements could be made for them to return to relatives in Utah. Then they went on first to Salt Lake City, then to Kaysville, Utah, and stayed a few months there with Grandma Galbraith (Emma Sarah Bodily Galbraith), then back to Salt Lake City, Utah, with Grandma Emma Galbraith.

Jane had no resources with which to support her children, so she petitioned the Church for financial assistance. Her 6 children's ages ranged from 3 to 14. The Church's resources were depleted, due to the many in the same plight, and she was turned down. So she stayed in Salt Lake City where they lived in a succession of rented homes, carrying Grandma Galbraith with them.

Because of their circumstances, Jane had to make the heart rending decision to keep the older children with her, that could tend to themselves (Ronald, Grant, and Martha,). and youngest daughter, Emma, and placed her two younger boys, Pratt Orson and Porfirio, in an orphanage. This separation broke her heart. Her two youngest boys would come home on Sundays to visit with the family as they grew older.

Ronald and Grant, her two oldest boys, shared their insight about this hard time. Ronald said: "After we moved to Texas and Utah, it was pretty rough. We lived on 6th or 7th South in Salt Lake the first winter, then from there we moved to Kaysville, Utah, and stayed with my Grandmother Galbraith. Then we moved back to Salt Lake and stayed with my Grandmother Galbraith on Social Hall Avenue. The hardest period of our lives, after coming out of Mexico, was when were living in Social Hall Avenue. Then I went to Idaho and stayed with an Uncle I have up there. After that I eventually went to the war (World War 1), came back and got married."

Grant stated: "From El Paso, Texas, we went to Salt Lake City (Utah) and lived there a short time and went to Kaysville (Utah) and stayed with Grandmother Galbraith. Then back to Salt Lake where we lived at various locations. We lived on 7th West and 7th South, and 4th East, 3rd Avenue and Social Hall Avenue.

"At Social Hall Avenue, we had some of our toughest times. At that time, Mother was doing nurse work, which left us children at home practically alone nearly all the time. I worked at the Deseret Evening News as an office boy. I worked at Sam Johnson Drugs. I worked at the Boss New House Building as an elevator boy, and then I worked for the State Road Commission of Utah. That was the last job I had before I went to California where I worked for the California Highway Commission on the survey parties. I worked there until I came in 1921 to Seattle, Washington, and from Seattle to Yakima where I met and married my wife and settled down."

This time was, however, even much more difficult for Jane's two youngest sons, Pratt Orson and Porfirio, who were placed in an orphanage. Pratt would have been 8 years of age at this time, and Porfirio 5 years old. Being separated from their family was very hard on those boys and they drew closer together. There were visits by the family. As the boys grew older, they were "farmed out" to farmers and their families, to live and help work the farm.

Orson Pratt was fortunate, because he was placed with a loving family in Kaysville, Utah, that was kind to him. Pratt Orson bloomed under their care, and grew to a height of 6 feet, with blue eyes, a handsome, bright, gregarious young man. Records indicate that he was still living with the farmer's family when he was 15. He missed being with his family, though, as they were all together with the exception of Porfie and him.

Porfirio had a different experience than Orson Pratt did when, as he grew older and could work, the time came for him to be "farmed out" to live with a farmer and his family and work their farm. His childhood recollections are of the farmer giving him as little as possible to eat and working him very hard. He recalled helping to deliver food baskets to the poor at Christmas.

Afton Brown, Ronald's wife, states the following- "Porfie was a very odd child, he was scared to be in the same room with me and wouldn't eat at the same table. He never talked when he came home from Bountiful to visit on Sundays. He was staying with a farm family and went to school and they bought his clothes and bedroom, but he was strange with every one; just the opposite from Pratt (Orson), who was a likeable 15 year old." Porfie (Thomas) would have been 13 years old then. Thomas told his children that he was on his own at 13, so he may have run away from the farm shortly thereafter. Certainly, his behavior indicated a very unhappy child.

Jane divorced Orson while in Utah, probably in 1914. She never remarried.

In early 1921, her son Ronald and his wife Afton moved in with Jane in Salt Lake. Afton remembers: "Mother Brown (Jane) used to come and see us often. It was about then I found out I was pregnant and she insisted that she take care of me, and Ronald had so much confidence in his mother's nursing ability, we moved in with his mother and the girls (Mattie and Emma). We moved in right after Christmas 1921, and Grant was born on May 25. Mother Brown was so good to me. I had a terrible time giving birth to Grant and then had an internal hemorrhage. I almost died and would have if it hadn't been for Mother Brown. She knew just what to do. We stayed with them all that summer at 400 East and 700 South, Salt Lake City. Then she rented a big house close to the University of Utah and took in girls that were attending the university. She insisted we move with her and we stayed a couple of months, and with Mattie and Emma and all those girls. It was an impossible life, always complaining, the girls didn't like the idea of having a young man around them, even if he was married."

Jane worked as a nurse to support herself, her mother, and the children.

Move to California, and the Children Growing Up

It was later in 1921 that Jane decided to gather her family and move to San Jose, California, to be with Grant, who was working there as part of a surveying team for the State of California. Ronald and Afton remained in Utah. Jane took her mother (Grandmother Galbraith), Martha (Mattie), Pratt (Orson), Thomas (Porfie), and Emma with her. Jane was 42 years old at that time, and continued working as a nurse in San Jose, earning a bit more than in Utah.

Jane's children were educated in San Jose. She encouraged her kids to attend college, and Martha (Betty) did for a while. Education for her children was a priority, yet the reality was that everyone had to work to survive.

Each of Jane's children in San Jose grew up and began to leave home to establish their own homes.

Martha, or Betty, as she called herself, grew up to be a lovely, fair skinned woman with dark wavy hair and with one green eye and the other hazel. She loved music and dancing. She was a wonderful cook, sharing her knowledge with her nieces.

In 1927, Betty met and married a handsome young man by the name of Charles Edward (Ed) Leach. They bought a restaurant in Gilroy, California and named it "The Blind Pig." Her brother Grant had bought into it, and he worked as a cook for several years. It was such a successful endeavor, they decided to move to a larger restaurant. This new restaurant did not pan out and they had to sell it. Betty gave birth to a beautiful, dark-haired girl with large hazel eyes and named her Mary Jane in August 12, 1928, while living in Gilroy, California.

Betty and Ed moved to San Francisco, and Betty worked at the largest department store, managing the fur department. She was a successful salesperson because of her effervescent personality. In 1937, Betty divorced Ed after ten years of marriage, because Ed had developed a drinking problem that had affected his personality.

In 1943, Betty married a younger man, Lawrence (Larry) Moore. They enjoyed their life together until he died of a heart attack. Betty was devastated by his death. She worked as a business manager for the Club Catering Company for 5 years after that.

Pratt Orson graduated from high school, and worked at various jobs. His son Arnold Grant remembers: "Somehow he changed his name to Orson Pratt Brown, date unknown, because this was on his driver's license and marriage certificate. I only knew my father by that name. He married (my mother), Georgia Kathleen Bottles, born December 7, 1912, from Emerson, Indiana. He had two sons, Orson Galbraith, born on March 7, 1934, in Yakima, Washington, and Arnold Grant, born February 18,1939.

"He was a top salesman, because of his intelligence and personality. This was both a blessing and a curse. He was such a good salesman that he could walk into any location and shortly become the best salesman in the area. Because of this ability, we often moved and he was able to provide a secure living wherever we lived. He often claimed that after he left the orphanage, that he traveled to every state in the union (then 48). We often traveled and visited sites he claimed to have visited and if we challenged him, he could go to the newspaper and produce articles in support of his claim, which happened several times. With his background, he had a natural wanderlust and we spent my childhood not only moving to different locations, but extensive vacations around the West Coast.

"When his brother Grant moved to Yakima, Washington, Orson went to work at the same Sears Roebuck store, managing the plumbing department, while Grant managed the appliance department. This lasted about 3 years, and then he left Sears, while Grant stayed the rest of his working career." Orson continued to roam the country, working his way along, and was finally divorced. He reported that due to his childhood wanderings, he had a hard time staying in one place very long.

Porfirio (Thomas) went through his sophomore year at San Jose High. Then in the summer of 1922, at about age 15, Thomas and his brother Pratt (Orson) went to San Francisco to find work. Thomas was "shipped out" to a construction site, but there was no work for him. He proceeded south, looking for any kind of work, to feed himself. He said that if it hadn't been for the Salvation Army, he would have starved. He continued heading south, but was unable to find gainful employment. He worked as a boxing sparring partner, as a cowboy, breaking horses, as a horseshoer. He eventually wound up in New Mexico, alone. He finally joined the Army Calvary in El Paso, Texas, at the age of 17, on October 23, 1925, and continued a career in the military

He lost all contact with his family, and would not find them again until the early 1960's through the help of a Bishop of the Mormon Church.

In 1952, Grant shared this about Porfirio and the family: "Now Porfirio is the fourth (son) in our family. The last recollection I have of Porfirio was in San Jose, California. There was Orson (Pratt), Porfirio (Thomas), Betty (Martha), Emma and I and Mother in San Jose. I was working in Parks Royal Cafeteria, and Orson and Porfirio left for San Francisco in 1922. That was in 1922. Then the information that I have was from Orson. Orson was the last one to talk to or see Porfirio. He told me that Porfirio shipped out on a job, some type of construction job, and since that time we have had no word from him."

Grant continued to live and work in California until 1927 when he met and married his wife, Georgiana Foy, in Yakima, Washington. He worked at various places in that area, and finally at Sears and Roebuck, where he stayed until he retired.

Emma grew up to be a lovely tall, slender, fair skinned woman, with sparkling green eyes and dark hair. In 1928, Emma married Jack Hamilton from Gilroy, California, when she was 19 years of age. Jack was the love of her life, and was a good provider. Although he was too old for the draft, Jack volunteered and served in the Army throughout WWII in the Corps of Engineers.

Emma lived with her sister Mattie's family during this period and worked at the Marine shipyard in Sausalito as the only female inspector of the "Liberty ships" and made a good living. She was frugal and saved much of what she earned, so Jack and Emma had a nest egg when he finally returned. They purchased a lovely home, which was known as Sausalito's steamboat gothic. It had been built by a pioneer named Schiller. It had been built in Germany, then shipped around the Horn.

In 1946, they moved to Butte, Montana, where Jack was regional manager for a magazine selling company. In 1948, they moved to Houston, Texas. In 1953 or 1954, they moved again to Denver, Colorado. Emma had wanted to adopt children, as they had no children of their own, but Jack refused unless it was a blood relation. While in Denver, Emma became an alcoholic and in 1961, they divorced, having been married for 31 years. Jack had found a younger woman to be with. Following Jack's death in 1963 or 1964, she received treatment and never drank again. While in Denver, Emma became a very successful realtor and was active in the beautification of the city.

In the late 60's, Emma married Vaughn Evans, a retired army major and they traveled throughout Europe. They lived in El Paso, Texas, where she worked as a librarian. Emma and Vaughn had a full life, with many friends and she seemed content. Emma suffered a great shock and embarrassment when Vaughn ran afoul of the law. The situation was intolerable to Emma, and they were divorced.

In 1973, Emma moved to Troy, Montana. While in Montana in 1974, she was appointed to the Governor's Council on Alcoholism. In the mid 1970's she moved to El Paso, Texas, to be close to her brother Thomas whom she doted on, and her half-brother, Pauly, and half-sister, Mary. Thomas and she had been very close as children, and Emma was kind to his children, and became close to Tom, Jr.

Ronald worked in Utah for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a car inspector. In 1929, after the Stock Market crash, Ronald and Afton took their four children in a new 1928 Model A Ford and began an odyssey traveling from place to place looking for any way to make a few dollars to feed the family. They traveled (in a camping mode) to New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and eventually wound up in Leavenworth, Washington, where Ronald had a contract with the Northern Pacific Railroad to cut railroad ties.

Around November 1941, he and the family moved to carve out of the forest a 160-acre "Ranch" in Tom's Gulch about 18 miles from Lincoln, Montana, at the foot of the Continental Divide. Living on the "Ranch" in Tom's Gulch was very primitive. He built a log cabin and dug a well for water and, of course, an outhouse made of small logs. 'Me winters were brutal, deep snow and temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero with no electricity and lighting was by kerosene lamps.

He later moved to Washington and Oregon. Sometime around 1950, he and Afton were divorced. They later remarried, and again divorced sometime in the 1960's.

Jane's Later Years

As her children grew up and left her, Jane would divide her time among her children, visiting them. She lived primarily with Emma jean and her husband, Jack Hamilton. She grieved for her missing son, Porfie, who had not been heard from since 1922.

Grant shares his recollections about his mother's life at this time: "I left jean with Mother in San Jose in 1922. She married a Jack Hamilton from Gilroy, California..... As I understand, Mother stayed in San Jose until about 1924. From 1924 until 1930, Mother was with Betty and Emma and their husbands. How the time was divided up [among them] I do not know. In 1930, 1 went back to San Francisco, and Mother at that time was with Emma and Jack Hamilton.

"We took Mother and brought her up into the northwest here at Yakima [, Washington]. We stayed here for one year between here and Portland, Oregon. Then Mother went back to Emma in San Francisco and that was the last time I ever saw Mother. "

The Stock Market crashed in 1929, and the Great Depression was in full swing by 1930 for everyone, including Jane and her family.

In 1931, Jane came down with breast cancer at the age of 52, and had a mental breakdown. Her address at that point was 248 Alma Street, San Francisco, California.

She was placed in Napa State Hospital in 1932. She stayed there 12 years until her death. Betty would have Jane visit her home on holidays, and she remembered her husband saying, "There is nothing wrong with her mind, as long as you don't bring up the subject of polygamy."

Jane's mother, Emma Sarah Bodily Galbraith, lived with her until her breakdown. She would have then lived with either Betty or Emma until she died at age 77 on March 16, 1935, in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

In 1940, Orson Pratt Brown, then 77 years old, and his fifth wife, Angela Gabaldón Brown, age 40, were travelling by train from Mexico to attend Church General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. They stopped in San Francisco to visit Jane and her daughters, Betty and Emma. Orson and Angela both reported that they had a very pleasant meeting with Jane, and that Betty and Emma treated them royally.

Grant recalls that his mother, Jane Galbraith Brown, "stayed in San Jose until about 1924. From 1924 until 1930. Mother was with Betty and Emma and their husbnds. How the time was divided up I do not know. In 1930, I went back to San Francisco and Mother at that time was with Emma and Jack Hamilton. We took Mother and brought her up into the northwest here at Yakima, Washington. We stayed here for one year between here and Portland, Oregon. Then Mother went back to Emma in San Francisco and that was the last time I ever saw Mother. In 1944 Mother died of cancer somewhere in California. Jean wrote us constantly informing us of Mother's condition, and in 1944 we received word that Mother had passed away."

On August 1, 1944, Jane died at age 65. Her death was caused by a coronary occlusion, and she had carcinoma of the right auxiliary glands.

Jane was cremated by Tulocay Crematorium in Napa, California. Emma would have disposed of her ashes.

Thanks to all of our family members who shared their resources and memories, especially Ronald K. Brown.
--Martha Brown Davis, October 10, 2002.