79Y

Dau of Lawrence Durkin and Mary Lillies
Adopted dau of John W. and Hannah Casburn
(she came from E. St. Louis to Montrose on one of the "orphan" trains and was taken in by the Casburns)


m: Joseph "Joe" Brownsberger II
ch: Henry A., Lenora T., Andrew J., Augusta, Leo L., Esther M., Cornelius P., Edward J., Catherine M., Maurice, Mark Estel

BROWNSBERGER, Mary Ellen "Mamie" DURKIN
b: Jul 2 1872, East St. Louis, IL
d: Feb 20 1952, Butler, Bates Co, MO
bur: St. Marys Cemetery, Montrose, Deepwater Twp, Henry Co, MO
Henry Co, MO - Mary Ellen "Mamie" Durkin Brownsberger, the adopted daughter of John W. and Hannah Casburn of St. Clair County, was born on July 2, 1872 in East St. Louis, Illinois and died on February 20, 1952 at Butler Memorial Hospital in Bates County, MO. Three months prior to her birth, Mary Ellen's natural father, who worked as a railroad brakeman, was fatally killed in a train accident that severed both of his legs. Shortly after her mother remarried, Mary Ellen was left with some neighbors in the St. Louis area, the Clarksons, where she lived until the age of 12. It is believed that Mary Ellen was actually one of the many orphaned, abandoned and homeless children who were relocated during what is known today as the Orphan Train Movement (1854–1929). She arrived from St. Louis by train in Montrose, Missouri, and was advised to live with John and Hannah Casburn. Fortunately, she was well loved by her new family and grew up with other adopted siblings (among whom was William E. Flynn). In about 1892, she married Joseph Brownsberger II of Henry County. They made their first home in a one-room log cabin on Joe's farm (NW of Germantown). To this union, eleven children were born: Henry A., Lenora T., Andrew J., Augusta, Leo L., Esther M., Cornelius P., Edward J., Catherine M., Maurice, and Mark Estel Brownsberger. Mary Ellen was a wonderful seamstress and owned one of the earlier Singer Model 12 sewing machines that she used to make clothing. She always raised a big garden to help feed her ever-expanding family. Her husband preceded her in death. Survivors include all eleven children and several grandchildren. She was a member of St. Ludger's Catholic Church in Germantown. After a funeral mass, burial was in St. Marys Cemetery, Montrose, Deepwater Twp, Henry Co, MO. - (info from Marty Lawton)
(obit from Henry Co. website, used with permission.)