From Chicago . . .

James Brown was the seventh child of Timothy and Hannah Kelly Brown and is the only one of their eight children where no baptismal record was located in Ireland.  From other documentation we learn that he was born about 1846.  An earlier post, Instant Gratification, explained why not all baptisms were recorded - perhaps because the baptism of a sickly child took place at home, or it was just not recorded by the priest or staff at the church.   Even though James sometimes listed his place of birth as

1860 US Census, Chicago, IL

Boston, it is certain that James was born in Ireland since both the next oldest sibling, Johanna, and the next youngest sibling, Thomas, had baptisms recorded at Patrickswell Church in County Limerick.  James is shown in the 1849 passenger list on the John Murray with the rest of the family during the journey from Ireland to Boston, (see Arriving in America); and, like his siblings, lived for awhile in Boston, and Vermont before traveling to Chicago where he is first listed as residing with his sisters Mary Brown Gray and Johanna Brown Roach in the 1860 census on Wolcott Street in the North Division¹.  (See 1860 US Census right.) 

Two nieces of James Brown – Sarah Taylor, (daughter of Patrick Brown and Anne Burns), and Nellie Brown, (daughter of John

Chicago Address list for James Brown

Brown and Ellen Burns), provided David Brown with additional information about James.  In his 1943 letter², David stated that both Sarah and Nellie were “. . . very certain that he [James] was always connected with the tobacco business” – a piece of information vital in tracing James

1857 Chicago looking west from Lake Michigan.  Location of tobacco
manufacturers along the Chicago River are circled.  Streets where James
lived at various times are shown in blue rectangles.
Chicago, Braunhold & Sonne, 1857   (click to enlarge)

Brown.   Because of his more unique occupation, I was able to follow James in Chicago for several years. Until the Great Chicago

Fire of 1871, James was most often found at the same address as his mother, Hannah Kelly Brown; and, was definitely living with the extended family on Jackson Street when the fire occurred.  (See blog post on F I R E !)  After the fire, James and his brother, Thomas, lived on Sherman Street at the edge of the fire zone.  Later, James lived on Kinzie Street and Michigan Street on the north side of the Chicago River near the tobacco warehouses where he worked.  (Map from the Library of Congress http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4104c.pm001460 )

Tobacco was a rapidly growing business in Chicago in the 1870s exceeding production in both Detroit and St. Louis³; and, in fact, by 1877, Spaulding and Merrick of Chicago, was the second largest tobacco factory in the United States employing over350 men and women in producing chewing, smoking and plug tobacco⁴.  In 1867 James was working for the Chicago Tobacco Works on North Water Street.  Later he worked for Merrick, Allen & Co. (which became Spaulding & Merrick) on River Road.  (They had other locations on South Water Street.)  All of these buildings were destroyed in the 1871 fire.  Spaulding and Merrick rebuilt a six-story building on River Road.  On June 1, 1877, this building too experienced a fire.  The night watchman discovered some tobacco smoldering on the top floor which eventually burned through the roof.  Considering the flammable nature of the product, the fire was rather quickly extinguished due to the efficiency of the Chicago Fire Department, the design of the new building, and their location on the Chicago River from which water was pumped to fight the flames.  Despite heavy fire, smoke, and water damage to the upper three floors, Levi Merrick, owner of the company, stated there would be little delay in re-starting operations⁵.     

Sarah Taylor and Nellie Brown also knew that James had been married twice and had children from both marriages.  (See clip of David Brown letter below.)   James and Louise (sometime shown as Louisa) Primrose were married in Chicago on March 21, 1875⁶.  Louise was the oldest child of Benjamin and Mary Benz Primrose.  She was born near Buffalo, New York around 1857.  Younger brothers, Charles and Benjamin Franklin were also born in New York.  Louise is first shown in Chicago in the 1870 US Census with her brothers and widowed mother, Mary Primrose, who ran a boarding house at 55 S. Curtis⁷.  Also shown at that address in the 1870 US Census is Joseph Rainville whom Mary would later marry and have three additional children, Joseph, William Van Buren, and Walter⁸.

Clip from the David Brown letter   (click to enlarge)

While they were married, James and Louise lived at 795 West Harrison in the same building as Joseph and Mary Benz Primrose Rainville.   In January, 1881, Louise filed for divorce from James citing physical abuse⁹.  James did not appear at the March hearing¹⁰; however; additional information can be gleaned from the documents in the file and in the transcript of the hearing which took place March 2, 1881.  James and Louise did, indeed, have two children, Milton, born May 1875, and Sophia, born in the fall of 1878.  James and Louise seem to have separated several times before the final split in July, 1879.  The 1880 US Census shows James living at a hotel at 155 West Madison between Union and Halstead¹¹.  The 1880 census for the children lists them as

1880 US Census   (click to enlarge)

“boarders” with their grandmother, Mary Primrose Rainville, on West Harrison.  While Louise is enumerated at this address, she is shown as “not home.”  Does that mean she was just not at the home when the enumerator arrived; or, does that mean she was away for some extended time¹²?  The transcript of the divorce proceedings specifically states that Louise had lived in Chicago for the past year, and, indeed, for sixteen years.  The transcript also states that Mary Rainville sued James Brown for support of the child a "few months earlier" which would have been the around the 1879-1880 time frame.  Where was Louise that her mother did not know, or would not say where she was? (See the 1880 US Census for the Rainville household.)     The divorce was finalized March 21, 1881. 

At some point, around 1883-4, Joseph Rainville left the Chicago household and moved to San Francisco where he lived until about 1900 when he moved to the Veterans Home of California in Yountville.   Joseph was a veteran of the Civil War¹³ (1^st Illinois Light Artillery) and died January 23, 1926 in Yountville, Napa County, California¹⁴.  (Joseph was a carpet layer making it easier to follow his movements.)  Mary Primrose Rainville remained in Chicago and alternately used the name Mary Primrose and Mary Rainville (sometimes as a widow) until her death in Chicago on October 15, 1908¹⁵.  Mary identified four children in her obituary – Charlie Primrose, Joseph, William, and Walter Rainville.  There was no mention of Benjamin Franklin and Louise who, perhaps, had both died by this date.   

After the divorce, Louise is not shown in the Chicago city directory again until 1885, (four years later), when she is shown as Miss Louisa Primrose, vocalist at 473 Washington Boulevard.  This is the same address as her mother, Mary and brothers, Charles and Benjamin F. Primrose.    In 1886 she is using her married name, Brown, and then is not listed again until the 1889 edition when she is living with relatives on West Madison¹⁶.  She does not appear in any other directory in Chicago.  Coincidentally, there is a marriage record in Chicago on August 11, 1889 for Louise Primrose and Alfred Conoly¹⁷  - the same year that Louise drops from the city directory.  I suspect this is the first wife of James but cannot confirm that since I have not found additional records for this couple (Louise and Alfred) anywhere.

I have not uncovered any records for Sophia, the daughter of James and Louise; however, their son, Milton J. Brown, appears in the Chicago directory from 1896, when he turned 21, until 1904.  Most records show Milton living with his grandmother, Mary Primrose¹⁸.  Since Milton does not appear in Chicago after that time, it is assumed he left the Chicago area.  There is a listing in the 1920 US Census in San Francisco for a Milton Brown that was born in Illinois and is the correct age¹⁹.  Additional research is needed to determine whether this person could be the son of James and Louise Brown and where Milton was between 1904 and 1920.  

The 1881 divorce records show that Louise asked for custody of

Chicago Court Document
(click to enlarge)

the children, support for herself and the children, and a reasonable amount of money to pay for her counsel.  File documents show that in March 1881, James was ordered to pay $50.00 for “solicitors” fees²⁰.  (See copy of court doc)  No other support payments are mentioned.  From the file, we cannot tell whether the amount, or any money, was paid or not; but, by December 1881, records show James in Cleveland and that is where we will go next.

1.       1860 US Census; Chicago Ward 8, Cook, Illinois; Roll: M653_168; Page 114; Family History Library Film: 803168.  Available online at Ancestry.com.

2.       Brown, David, Kewanee, IL., 11 May 1943.  Letter to Esther ________, Columbus, OH, page 8.  Information in the letter has been used to further research the Brown family.

3.       “TOBACCO – SPAULDING & MERRICK,” Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, March 20, 1875, page 9.

4.       “FIRES – CHICAGO,” Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, June 1, 1877, page 1.

5.       Ibid.  “The goods upon the upper floor were such as would be easily destroyed by both elements [fire and water]; seasoned leaf tobacco hanging upon the walls and manufactured tobacco stored in hogsheads.  The goods on the third and fourth floors were also damaged to a slight extent, a great portion on those and the two lower floors being saved by the oil covers of he Fire Patrol.” 

6.       "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N76M-187 : 10 March 2018), James Brown and Louise Primrose, 21 Mar 1875; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,030,091.

7.       1870  US Census; Chicago Ward 12, Cook, Illinois; Roll M593_206; Page 300B; Family History Library Film: 545705.  Available online at Ancestry.com.

Edwards’ Thirteenth Annual Directory of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, and Manufacturing Establishments of the City of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Richard Edwards, Publisher, No. 164 South Clark Street, 1870, page 669.  Available online at Ancestry.com

8.       Death records for Joseph, William VanBuren and Walter Rainville show the date of birth for each.  Joseph was born 9 Apr 1871; William was born 8 Apr 1873; and Walter was born 12 Aug 1877.  Cook County Courthouse, Chicago, “Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994,”database online at FamilySearch.org.  Record for Joseph: (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRN-LZWQ).  Record for William: (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M4-KXW4).  Record for Walter: (https://familysearch.org:/61906/1:1:QLYT-LW2H).  No marriage record was located for Mary Benz Primrose and Joseph Rainville.  This probably took place before the 1871 Chicago fire.  Many of these records were destroyed.  

9.       Cook County, Illinois, Superior Court, Chancery, divorce file S-78106 (1881), Louise Brown v. James F. Brown, Circuit Court of Cook County.

10.   Ibid.  Transcript of trial 12 March 1881.  Witnesses who testified at the trial were Louise Brown, Mary Rainville (mother of Louise), Mr. Primrose (brother of Louise).  James Brown received a “Summons in Chancery” on February 19, 1881 to appear at court on the first Monday of March.  There is no record of his testimony at the trial and it assumed that he did not show up for the hearing.  There is a statement in the complaint filed against James; “For as much therefore, as your oratrix, is without remedy in the premises, except in a Court of equity, and to the end that the said James F. Brown may be required to make full and direct answer to the same, but not under oath, the same being waived according to the Statute.”  It appears that James was not required to attend the trial.  No additional documentation

11.   1880 US Census; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 192; Page 264A; Enumeration District: 094.  Available online at Ancestry.com

The actual census record is shown on two consecutive pages.  I modified the image to display all information as one.

12.   1880 US Census; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 194; Page 342A; Enumeration District: 123.  Available online at Ancestry.com

13.   Ancestry.com. Web: Illinois, Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2015.  Original Data: Databases of Illinois Veterans: Illinois State Archive. http://cyberdrive:Illinois.com/departments/archives/databases/home.html.  Record is until spelling “Reinville.”

14.   Ancestry.com U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line].  Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.  Directories for Chicago 1869 – 1883.  Directories for San Francisco 1884 – 1900.

Ancestry.com. California, Death Index 1905-1939 [database on-line].  Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2013

Find-A-Grave – Joseph Reinville; Veterans Memorial Grove Cemetery, Yountville, Napa County, California; Sec. E, Row 4, Grave 10; Memorial ID 22401366

15.   Ancestry.com U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2011.  Directories for Chicago 1869 – 1908.

Obituaries, Rainville, Mary, Chicago Daily Tribune, 18 Oct 1908, Chicago, Illinois, page A3.  “RAINVILLE-Mary M. Rainville, nee Benz, ages 70, beloved mother of Charlie Primrose, Joseph, William, and Walter Rainville, at her residence, 620 Carroll av., Oct. 16, 1908.  Funeral Sunday, Oct. 18 2 p.m. by carriages to Rosehill.  Boston and New York papers please copy.”

16.   Ancestry.com U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2011.  Directories for Chicago 1869 – 1908.

17.   "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7X7-MHC : 10 March 2018), Alfred Conoly and Louise Primrose, 11 Aug 1889; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,030,183.

18.   Ancestry.com U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2011. Directories for Chicago 1896 – 1904.

19.   1920 US Census, San Francisco Assembly District30, San Francisco, California; Roll T625_138; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 215

20.   Cook County, Illinois, Superior Court, Chancery, divorce file S-78106 (1881), Louise Brown v. James F. Brown, Circuit Court of Cook County, “Bill.”