Phoebe Adelaide Brown was born on October 24, 1855 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah to Phebe Abigail Abbott Brown a plural wife of Captain James Brown (Jr.), captain of the Mormon Battalion Company "C" and founder of Brownsville, now known as Ogden Utah.

Addie attended public school in her young days such as there were, for educational facilities in those days were few indeed, although her father served the importance of education and established a school in Brownsville (later renamed Ogden), among the very first necessities provided for.

Captain James Brown died from gangrene on his birthday September 30, 1863 as a result of an accident the previous week. "Addie" was nearly eight years old. The Captain left several plural wives and a host of children without the care of a male figure.

Addie's mother Phebe Abigail Abbott Brown married a Scottsman three years later, Colonel William Nicol Fife on October 9, 1866. Colonel Fife moved his first wife Diana Davis Fife and their children into Phebe's large, comfortable home, and Phebe welcomed them warmly. Colonel. Fife had been head of the Mission in Scotland and worked as an architect. He designed the Ogden Tabernacle and other buildings.

On November 2, 1867 Colonel Fife also married Phebe's younger, 28 year old sister (Dec. 28, 1839), Cynthia Abbott. William and Cynthia had five children and were later divorced. Mary Lucina Fife and David Nicol Fife were the only ones to live to maturity.

Phoebe Adelaide Brown and Henry T. Snyder

Sometime around 1877 Addie married Henry Theodore Snyder, Henry was a railroad conductor who was born in Ragensville, Tuscorawas, Ohio on August 2, 1845 [to Joseph Abraham Snyder and Sarah Ann Shank Snyder]. He was not a member of the Church at that time and it was with some consternation and misgivings among the members of the family when she announced that she was going to marry a "gentile". However, her marriage turned out to be a very happy one. Mr. Snyder was a real gentleman, refined and educated, a devoted husband and father. [They had nine children, two were lost at or right after childbirth, one lived to be a few months old.]

Phoebe Adelaide and Henry Snyder with their Family in 1911, Salt Lake City , Utah

Children of Phoebe Adelaide Brown Snyder and Henry Theodore Snyder

1 Sarah Ethel Snyder Born: March 22, 1878 at Ogden, Weber, Utah Married: William Frederick Toller on May 24, 1905 Died:

2 Phoebe Abigail Snyder Born: 1880 at Ogden, Weber, Utah Married: Died:

3 Frank Henry Snyder Born: February 20, 1882 at Ogden, Weber, Utah Married: Mary Elizabeth Evans on 18 or 20 November 1907 by David O. McKay in Weber County, Utah Died: August 5, 1920 in Ogden, Weber, Utah

4 Leona L. Snyder Born: April 1885 Married: Joseph Dignau on September 8, 1903 Died:

5 Harrison Blaine Snyder Born: January 30 or June 20, 1891 in Ogden, Weber, Utah Married: Aagjie (born 1905 in Holland) Died:

6 child Snyder Born: c. 1893 Married: no Died: infant

7 Leon Ogden Snyder Born: December 5, 1894 in Ogden, Weber, Utah Married: No Died: 17 August 1895 in Ogden, Weber, Utah

8 Orson Joseph Snyder Born: May 13, 1896 at Ogden, Weber, Utah Married: Died: July 1962 in California

9 Austin Joe Snyder Born: September 21, 1897 at Ogden, Weber, Utah Married: Died: Mar 1969 Buried: at Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania

10 Lena Pearl Snyder Born: September 17, 1997 Married: (1) Holcomb; (2) Arthur W. McCoy Died: March 22, 1985 or Feb 1983 in Torrance, Los Angeles, California

11 Phoebe Ruth Snyder Born: May 21, 1911 Overton, Lincoln, Nebraska Married: Rush Clare Budge on September 11, 1934 at Logan, Cache, Utah Died: 22 February 1979 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Henry had been in the Civil War and when he retired as a railroader he later, after a number of years was sent to Sawtelle, California, as an officer there with the rank of captain. They had sold out their holdings in Ogden and after several different occupations moved to Sawtelle and built a cozy little home, handy for him to attend to his military duties at the soldiers home there.

Before going to California Mr. Snyder had been city jailer in Ogden for several years and his wife was the matron. Later they moved to Salt Lake and went into the hotel business for several years. Mr. Snyder was taken ill in Sawtelle but before he passed away accepted the Gospel and was baptized by E. Wesley Smith. [Henry died on February 12, 1920.] His body was sent to Ogden for burial.

Adelaide sold their home in Sawtelle and bought a home in Venice and was very active in Church work. She was especially active in caring for the sick and was often called upon to help them out. She spent much time at the home of E. Wesley Smith in Santa Monica and was like a mother to them all. When Brother Smith was called to preside over the Hawaiian Mission, Adelaide was called on a mission there and was a beloved mother of all of the missionaries. This was the great outstanding experience in her life.

Pioneer Lantern Exhibit at Utah State Capitol. "No. 8--A brass candle holder 12 inches high, owned by James Brown in early Utah days. It was donated by his daughter, Phoebe Brown Snyder, August 12, 1912." --Heart Throbs of the West, Vol. 5, DUP 1944, Page 451 includes photo of Brown's brass candle holder. "Captain James Brown returned from his mission to England in 1852. He brought a black silk shawl beautifully embroidered and fringed for his dear wife Phebe Abbott Brown. Phebe gave this shawl in 1882 to her daughter Mrs. Snyder. Phebe's shawl is now a part of the D.U.P. Treasures of Pioneer Heirhooms exhibit on display at the State Capital." --Heart Throbs of the West, Vol. 8, DUP 1947, Page 11.

"Captain James Brown returned from his mission to England in 1852. He brought a black silk shawl beautifully embroidered and fringed for his dear wife Phebe Abbott Brown. Phebe gave this shawl in 1882 to her daughter Mrs. Snyder. Phebe's shawl is now a part of the D.U.P. Treasures of Pioneer Heirhooms exhibit on display at the State Capital." --

Phoebe Adelaide "Addie" Brown Snyder c. 1923

Henry Theodore Snyder and Phoebe Adelaide Brown Snyder
on August 2, 1917 at 443 North 14 Street, Salt Lake City, Utah

Ethel Snyder - reportedly visited Phebe Abbott Brown Fife in Colonia Dublan in 1896:
She may have stayed for a year.

"May 5, 1896, Colonia Juarez, Mexico...
"Sister Taylor got home yesterday from Salt Lake and Sister Fife's granddaughter, Miss Ethel Snyder of Ogden came with her. I have not met her yet. Orson Brown has not come yet, has gone to Kansas but will likely be home in a few days."

Phoebe Adelaide "Addie" Brown Snyder died on June 11, 1930 in  Venice, California, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Ogden, Weber County, Utah. at 75 years of age.

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Phoebe Brown, Phoebe Snyder, Addie Brown, Addie Snyder, Phoebe Adelaide Brown, Phoebe Adelaide Snyder

Sources:

PAF - Archer files = Captain James Brown Jr. + Phebe Abigail Abbott > Phoebe Adelaide Brown, Orson Pratt Brown's sister.

http://familysearch.org/Eng/Search/AF/family_group

Letters of Catharine Cottam Romney, Plural Wife

Brown Book of Remembrance written by Hattie Critchlow Jensen and Loella Brown Tanner prior to 1948

Many thanks to Erold Clark Wiscombe for his research into Phebe's children and their descendants, also for tracking Phoebe "Addie", and for his contributions to this biography.

Copyright 2001 www.orsonpratt.brown