A success story: "Mrs. O'Brien"

My mom had a fatal injury and it took some time for her to pass over. Near the end, she would talk to her relatives who had died. On night, my mom kept calling out for "Elizabeth". Recently, my mom passed away and her death was merciful.

As I grieve for my mom, I went back to the family tree to look up the "Elizabeth's". The name, Ann Elizabeth or Elizabeth Ann is common on my mom's side. My family uses nicknames of Eliza and Liza for Elizabeth.

About 2 weeks ago, I posted a request for information for "Ann Elizabeth Brown and David Everly" on Ancestry. A wonderful person, named Don, wrote back to me. That was the start of the chain of events. I explained to Don, that my great grandfather, Andrew John Fenton married two times. He married two of Ann E. Brown and David Everly's daughters. I did not have any information on the first wife. No one in the family talked about his first wife. However, I know everything about his second wife. The second wife is Philena Everly Fenton, my great grandmother. After Philena and Andrew married, they named their first daughter, Elizabeth.

Don found this information for me:
7 July 1881, Chester Daily Times: DIED-FENTON-on July 1st, 1881, at Fort D. A. Russell, at Wyoming Territory, Eliza Everly, wife of Andrew J. Fenton, interment at the fort.

I took out Andrew John Fenton's War Department paperwork. I knew that he used the alias of John O'Brien in 1881, as he was serving in Company M, 3rd Cavalry out in Wyoming Territory-Fort Russell. I did not know that he had his wife with him in Wyoming or that she died at a fort. As I shared this information with Don. Don found this posting on FIND A GRAVE: Mrs. O'Brien, Birth: unknown, Death: Jun 3 1881. Note: Laundress, Co M, 3rd U.S. Cav. FRANCIS E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE CEMETERY (old Fort Russell).

On FIND A GRAVE, I requested a photo of "Mrs. O'Brien". Jerry wrote back to me: In reference to your request for a photo of Mrs. O'Brien's tombstone in F.E. Warren AFB Cemetery, this grave is not locatable. The following explanation is provided:
"Mrs. O'Brien, Running Number 117. Mrs. Mary A. Fenton died June 30, 1881, and is buried in grave B-117. There is some evidence to indicate that she was, at the time of her death, married to Private John O'Brien, Company M, 3rd Cavalry. Mrs. O'Brien shot herself with her husband's service revolver and died on June 20, 1881. The time difference remains unexplained.
Reference: F.E. Warren AFB Pamphlet, FEWP 210-1, FRANCIS E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE CEMETERY GUIDE, 90 CES/DEMP, 1 May 1985"

I wrote back to Jerry with a few questions about "Mrs. O'Brien". Jerry sent me a link to the Cheyenne Daily Sun for 1 July 1881. There it was--the story of the inquest held upon the remains of Annie E. O'Brien "leaves no doubt but that she shot herself". As per the article, she shot herself between 6pm to 7pm on 30 June 1881. She was placed in her bed at Fort Russell and had time to talk to her husband, Sergeant John O'Brien, and friends She did not pass away until about 6:30 am on 1 July 1881. I am so grateful to Jerry for his message and link to the Cheyenne Daily Sun news story about "Mrs. O'Brien".

I am 99.9% certain that Annie E. O'Brien is not only my great great aunt but also my great grandfather's first wife. It is customary in my family to use a nick name instead of the given name. Often times, the middle name was used more often than the first name. The fact that "Mrs. O'Brien" is referred to with different given names, does not surprise me, due to my family customs.

In two weeks time, with the help of Don from Ancestry and Jerry from Find A Grave, 130 year old family mystery has an answer-a success story. In closing, I am sad to learn that "Mrs. O'Brien" was so distraught that she took her life by her own hand. However, I believe that my mom and Eliza Everly, Fenton/O'Brien are at peace.

Kind regards,

A success story: "Mrs. O'Brien"

My mom had a fatal injury and it took some time for her to pass over. Near the end, she would talk to her relatives who had died. On night, my mom kept calling out for "Elizabeth". Recently, my mom passed away and her death was merciful.

As I grieve for my mom, I went back to the family tree to look up the "Elizabeth's". The name, Ann Elizabeth or Elizabeth Ann is common on my mom's side. My family uses nicknames of Eliza and Liza for Elizabeth.

About 2 weeks ago, I posted a request for information for "Ann Elizabeth Brown and David Everly" on Ancestry. A wonderful person, named Don, wrote back to me. That was the start of the chain of events. I explained to Don, that my great grandfather, Andrew John Fenton married two times. He married two of Ann E. Brown and David Everly's daughters. I did not have any information on the first wife. No one in the family talked about his first wife. However, I know everything about his second wife. The second wife is Philena Everly Fenton, my great grandmother. After Philena and Andrew married, they named their first daughter, Elizabeth.

Don found this information for me:
7 July 1881, Chester Daily Times: DIED-FENTON-on July 1st, 1881, at Fort D. A. Russell, at Wyoming Territory, Eliza Everly, wife of Andrew J. Fenton, interment at the fort.

I took out Andrew John Fenton's War Department paperwork. I knew that he used the alias of John O'Brien in 1881, as he was serving in Company M, 3rd Cavalry out in Wyoming Territory-Fort Russell. I did not know that he had his wife with him in Wyoming or that she died at a fort. As I shared this information with Don. Don found this posting on FIND A GRAVE: Mrs. O'Brien, Birth: unknown, Death: Jun 3 1881. Note: Laundress, Co M, 3rd U.S. Cav. FRANCIS E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE CEMETERY (old Fort Russell).

On FIND A GRAVE, I requested a photo of "Mrs. O'Brien". Jerry wrote back to me: In reference to your request for a photo of Mrs. O'Brien's tombstone in F.E. Warren AFB Cemetery, this grave is not locatable. The following explanation is provided:
"Mrs. O'Brien, Running Number 117. Mrs. Mary A. Fenton died June 30, 1881, and is buried in grave B-117. There is some evidence to indicate that she was, at the time of her death, married to Private John O'Brien, Company M, 3rd Cavalry. Mrs. O'Brien shot herself with her husband's service revolver and died on June 20, 1881. The time difference remains unexplained.
Reference: F.E. Warren AFB Pamphlet, FEWP 210-1, FRANCIS E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE CEMETERY GUIDE, 90 CES/DEMP, 1 May 1985"

I wrote back to Jerry with a few questions about "Mrs. O'Brien". Jerry sent me a link to the Cheyenne Daily Sun for 1 July 1881. There it was--the story of the inquest held upon the remains of Annie E. O'Brien "leaves no doubt but that she shot herself". As per the article, she shot herself between 6pm to 7pm on 30 June 1881. She was placed in her bed at Fort Russell and had time to talk to her husband, Sergeant John O'Brien, and friends She did not pass away until about 6:30 am on 1 July 1881. I am so grateful to Jerry for his message and link to the Cheyenne Daily Sun news story about "Mrs. O'Brien".

I am 99.9% certain that Annie E. O'Brien is not only my great great aunt but also my great grandfather's first wife. It is customary in my family to use a nick name instead of the given name. Often times, the middle name was used more often than the first name. The fact that "Mrs. O'Brien" is referred to with different given names, does not surprise me, due to my family customs.

In two weeks time, with the help of Don from Ancestry and Jerry from Find A Grave, 130 year old family mystery has an answer-a success story. In closing, I am sad to learn that "Mrs. O'Brien" was so distraught that she took her life by her own hand. However, I believe that my mom and Eliza Everly, Fenton/O'Brien are at peace.

Kind regards,