Susannah Waggoner was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky, on the 31st of May 1807. Her birth date is recorded in the Bible registry of her son William J. Brown. It is unclear from the records whether she is the youngest child of Henry and Sarah Waggoner or the oldest child of their son Henry and his wife Mary "Polly" (Blackledge) Waggoner. Some factors indicate it might be the latter.
Around 1812 much of the Waggoner clan moved to Lawrence County, Indiana. On 3 Apr 1828, Susannah married William Brown in neighboring Washington County, Indiana. Also in that same county, on 30 Sept 1830, William Brown's brother, Allen, married Mary Waggoner and on 2 Aug 1827 Mary's sister, Elizabeth had married Stephen Stark.
William and Susannah lived on the farm in Washington County that William co-owned together with his parents. In the 1830 census of that county William and Susannah had 3 children living with them, one female under the age of 5, who would have been their daughter Rachel, and two others: a male 5-10 yrs of age and a female 10-15 years of age.
Susannah and William had ten children, all but one of whom lived to adulthood. In 1852, when their youngest was only two, William passed away, leaving Susannah with nine children and a farm to manage. On March 19, 1853, Susannah filed a petition to sell the part of her husband's estate that was due to the six minor children for which she was guardian. The three older children handled their shares separately. Farmlands were needed for all the children who were coming of age, and new lands were becoming available in Iowa. So after the patriarch Joel died, Susannah and family moved to Ringgold County, Iowa. On April 15, 1858, Susannah was granted patent on federal land in section 24 of Middlefork Twp., Iowa. The homestead was at the SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 and SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of section 24, and lots #2 & # 3 of section 25 in T67N R30W containing 160 acres.
According to the 1870 agricultural table, Susannah Brown owned 100 acres, 10 of them improved, 20 woodland, 70 other. She owned 3 horses, 2 milk cows, 1 other cow, 4 sheep, 10 swine, and these livestock were worth $475. She owned 50 bushels spring wheat, 150 bushels Indian corn, 50 b. oats, no tobacco, 14 lbs wool, 1 b peas, 18 b. irish potatoes, 150 lbs butter, 6 tons hay and this produce was worth $275.
Soon after arriving in Iowa, Susannah organized a church called "Hickory Grove" because it first met in a hickory grove. Eventually the current building was constructed north from where Susannah lived.
In her will dated the 24th day of October AD 1874, she wrote the following: "I Susannah Brown do bequeath to my Daughter Rachael Dennis the sum of five dollars and to my son Joel Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Sally Cowan the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Malena A Brown the sum of five dollars and to my son William Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Grand Daughter Mahala M. Brown the sum of five dollars. And all the remainder of mu property both real estate and personal to my Daughter Mary Brown, the said Mary Brown paying all of my indebtedness.
Signed in the presence of Frank Conswall, E. W. Maudlin
Sealed up and delivered unto Ed Maudlin for safe keeping and I also choose for my executor Mary Brown"
The following account is from a letter by Pastor James E. McBrian of Mount Ayr, Iowa to Rose Cox Brown in 1951
"Now according to the account we found, it seems that Mrs. Brown, within a short space of time after the death of Mr. Brown, left Ind. And came to the community of what is now Hickory Grove and bought 80 acres of land apiece for her children and that very shortly after that (she being a religious woman) brought about the meeting of people in the neighborhood in a grove of hickory trees near her home and that through her influence they were continued in the grove and home until the first school house was built then transferred their meeting there; then when later a new school was built the meeting were held there until the yr. 1876 when a man by name of Marshal (whose father was a brother-in-law to Mrs. Brown, that is by marriage he was) gave the land etc. to the newly organized church and that is where and the way the Hickory Grove Church is today. Susannah (Waggoner) Brown was credited with the fact of being the mother of the Hickory Grove Church. It is believed that the church was started about 1854 in that area."
Susannah passed away in 1874, with her youngest son recently married, with her other children established on properties of their own, with many grandchildren, and with the church she had founded thriving and serving her family and neighborhood.
Around 1812 much of the Waggoner clan moved to Lawrence County, Indiana. On 3 Apr 1828, Susannah married William Brown in neighboring Washington County, Indiana. Also in that same county, on 30 Sept 1830, William Brown's brother, Allen, married Mary Waggoner and on 2 Aug 1827 Mary's sister, Elizabeth had married Stephen Stark.
William and Susannah lived on the farm in Washington County that William co-owned together with his parents. In the 1830 census of that county William and Susannah had 3 children living with them, one female under the age of 5, who would have been their daughter Rachel, and two others: a male 5-10 yrs of age and a female 10-15 years of age.
Susannah and William had ten children, all but one of whom lived to adulthood. In 1852, when their youngest was only two, William passed away, leaving Susannah with nine children and a farm to manage. On March 19, 1853, Susannah filed a petition to sell the part of her husband's estate that was due to the six minor children for which she was guardian. The three older children handled their shares separately. Farmlands were needed for all the children who were coming of age, and new lands were becoming available in Iowa. So after the patriarch Joel died, Susannah and family moved to Ringgold County, Iowa. On April 15, 1858, Susannah was granted patent on federal land in section 24 of Middlefork Twp., Iowa. The homestead was at the SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 and SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of section 24, and lots #2 & # 3 of section 25 in T67N R30W containing 160 acres.
According to the 1870 agricultural table, Susannah Brown owned 100 acres, 10 of them improved, 20 woodland, 70 other. She owned 3 horses, 2 milk cows, 1 other cow, 4 sheep, 10 swine, and these livestock were worth $475. She owned 50 bushels spring wheat, 150 bushels Indian corn, 50 b. oats, no tobacco, 14 lbs wool, 1 b peas, 18 b. irish potatoes, 150 lbs butter, 6 tons hay and this produce was worth $275.
Soon after arriving in Iowa, Susannah organized a church called "Hickory Grove" because it first met in a hickory grove. Eventually the current building was constructed north from where Susannah lived.
In her will dated the 24th day of October AD 1874, she wrote the following: "I Susannah Brown do bequeath to my Daughter Rachael Dennis the sum of five dollars and to my son Joel Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Sally Cowan the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Malena A Brown the sum of five dollars and to my son William Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Grand Daughter Mahala M. Brown the sum of five dollars. And all the remainder of mu property both real estate and personal to my Daughter Mary Brown, the said Mary Brown paying all of my indebtedness.
Signed in the presence of Frank Conswall, E. W. Maudlin
Sealed up and delivered unto Ed Maudlin for safe keeping and I also choose for my executor Mary Brown"
The following account is from a letter by Pastor James E. McBrian of Mount Ayr, Iowa to Rose Cox Brown in 1951
"Now according to the account we found, it seems that Mrs. Brown, within a short space of time after the death of Mr. Brown, left Ind. And came to the community of what is now Hickory Grove and bought 80 acres of land apiece for her children and that very shortly after that (she being a religious woman) brought about the meeting of people in the neighborhood in a grove of hickory trees near her home and that through her influence they were continued in the grove and home until the first school house was built then transferred their meeting there; then when later a new school was built the meeting were held there until the yr. 1876 when a man by name of Marshal (whose father was a brother-in-law to Mrs. Brown, that is by marriage he was) gave the land etc. to the newly organized church and that is where and the way the Hickory Grove Church is today. Susannah (Waggoner) Brown was credited with the fact of being the mother of the Hickory Grove Church. It is believed that the church was started about 1854 in that area."
Susannah passed away in 1874, with her youngest son recently married, with her other children established on properties of their own, with many grandchildren, and with the church she had founded thriving and serving her family and neighborhood.
Susannah Waggoner was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky, on the 31st of May 1807. Her birth date is recorded in the Bible registry of her son William J. Brown. It is unclear from the records whether she is the youngest child of Henry and Sarah Waggoner or the oldest child of their son Henry and his wife Mary "Polly" (Blackledge) Waggoner. Some factors indicate it might be the latter.
Around 1812 much of the Waggoner clan moved to Lawrence County, Indiana. On 3 Apr 1828, Susannah married William Brown in neighboring Washington County, Indiana. Also in that same county, on 30 Sept 1830, William Brown's brother, Allen, married Mary Waggoner and on 2 Aug 1827 Mary's sister, Elizabeth had married Stephen Stark.
William and Susannah lived on the farm in Washington County that William co-owned together with his parents. In the 1830 census of that county William and Susannah had 3 children living with them, one female under the age of 5, who would have been their daughter Rachel, and two others: a male 5-10 yrs of age and a female 10-15 years of age.
Susannah and William had ten children, all but one of whom lived to adulthood. In 1852, when their youngest was only two, William passed away, leaving Susannah with nine children and a farm to manage. On March 19, 1853, Susannah filed a petition to sell the part of her husband's estate that was due to the six minor children for which she was guardian. The three older children handled their shares separately. Farmlands were needed for all the children who were coming of age, and new lands were becoming available in Iowa. So after the patriarch Joel died, Susannah and family moved to Ringgold County, Iowa. On April 15, 1858, Susannah was granted patent on federal land in section 24 of Middlefork Twp., Iowa. The homestead was at the SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 and SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of section 24, and lots #2 & # 3 of section 25 in T67N R30W containing 160 acres.
According to the 1870 agricultural table, Susannah Brown owned 100 acres, 10 of them improved, 20 woodland, 70 other. She owned 3 horses, 2 milk cows, 1 other cow, 4 sheep, 10 swine, and these livestock were worth $475. She owned 50 bushels spring wheat, 150 bushels Indian corn, 50 b. oats, no tobacco, 14 lbs wool, 1 b peas, 18 b. irish potatoes, 150 lbs butter, 6 tons hay and this produce was worth $275.
Soon after arriving in Iowa, Susannah organized a church called "Hickory Grove" because it first met in a hickory grove. Eventually the current building was constructed north from where Susannah lived.
In her will dated the 24th day of October AD 1874, she wrote the following: "I Susannah Brown do bequeath to my Daughter Rachael Dennis the sum of five dollars and to my son Joel Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Sally Cowan the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Malena A Brown the sum of five dollars and to my son William Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Grand Daughter Mahala M. Brown the sum of five dollars. And all the remainder of mu property both real estate and personal to my Daughter Mary Brown, the said Mary Brown paying all of my indebtedness.
Signed in the presence of Frank Conswall, E. W. Maudlin
Sealed up and delivered unto Ed Maudlin for safe keeping and I also choose for my executor Mary Brown"
The following account is from a letter by Pastor James E. McBrian of Mount Ayr, Iowa to Rose Cox Brown in 1951
"Now according to the account we found, it seems that Mrs. Brown, within a short space of time after the death of Mr. Brown, left Ind. And came to the community of what is now Hickory Grove and bought 80 acres of land apiece for her children and that very shortly after that (she being a religious woman) brought about the meeting of people in the neighborhood in a grove of hickory trees near her home and that through her influence they were continued in the grove and home until the first school house was built then transferred their meeting there; then when later a new school was built the meeting were held there until the yr. 1876 when a man by name of Marshal (whose father was a brother-in-law to Mrs. Brown, that is by marriage he was) gave the land etc. to the newly organized church and that is where and the way the Hickory Grove Church is today. Susannah (Waggoner) Brown was credited with the fact of being the mother of the Hickory Grove Church. It is believed that the church was started about 1854 in that area."
Susannah passed away in 1874, with her youngest son recently married, with her other children established on properties of their own, with many grandchildren, and with the church she had founded thriving and serving her family and neighborhood.
Around 1812 much of the Waggoner clan moved to Lawrence County, Indiana. On 3 Apr 1828, Susannah married William Brown in neighboring Washington County, Indiana. Also in that same county, on 30 Sept 1830, William Brown's brother, Allen, married Mary Waggoner and on 2 Aug 1827 Mary's sister, Elizabeth had married Stephen Stark.
William and Susannah lived on the farm in Washington County that William co-owned together with his parents. In the 1830 census of that county William and Susannah had 3 children living with them, one female under the age of 5, who would have been their daughter Rachel, and two others: a male 5-10 yrs of age and a female 10-15 years of age.
Susannah and William had ten children, all but one of whom lived to adulthood. In 1852, when their youngest was only two, William passed away, leaving Susannah with nine children and a farm to manage. On March 19, 1853, Susannah filed a petition to sell the part of her husband's estate that was due to the six minor children for which she was guardian. The three older children handled their shares separately. Farmlands were needed for all the children who were coming of age, and new lands were becoming available in Iowa. So after the patriarch Joel died, Susannah and family moved to Ringgold County, Iowa. On April 15, 1858, Susannah was granted patent on federal land in section 24 of Middlefork Twp., Iowa. The homestead was at the SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 and SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of section 24, and lots #2 & # 3 of section 25 in T67N R30W containing 160 acres.
According to the 1870 agricultural table, Susannah Brown owned 100 acres, 10 of them improved, 20 woodland, 70 other. She owned 3 horses, 2 milk cows, 1 other cow, 4 sheep, 10 swine, and these livestock were worth $475. She owned 50 bushels spring wheat, 150 bushels Indian corn, 50 b. oats, no tobacco, 14 lbs wool, 1 b peas, 18 b. irish potatoes, 150 lbs butter, 6 tons hay and this produce was worth $275.
Soon after arriving in Iowa, Susannah organized a church called "Hickory Grove" because it first met in a hickory grove. Eventually the current building was constructed north from where Susannah lived.
In her will dated the 24th day of October AD 1874, she wrote the following: "I Susannah Brown do bequeath to my Daughter Rachael Dennis the sum of five dollars and to my son Joel Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Sally Cowan the sum of five dollars and to my Daughter Malena A Brown the sum of five dollars and to my son William Brown the sum of five dollars and to my Grand Daughter Mahala M. Brown the sum of five dollars. And all the remainder of mu property both real estate and personal to my Daughter Mary Brown, the said Mary Brown paying all of my indebtedness.
Signed in the presence of Frank Conswall, E. W. Maudlin
Sealed up and delivered unto Ed Maudlin for safe keeping and I also choose for my executor Mary Brown"
The following account is from a letter by Pastor James E. McBrian of Mount Ayr, Iowa to Rose Cox Brown in 1951
"Now according to the account we found, it seems that Mrs. Brown, within a short space of time after the death of Mr. Brown, left Ind. And came to the community of what is now Hickory Grove and bought 80 acres of land apiece for her children and that very shortly after that (she being a religious woman) brought about the meeting of people in the neighborhood in a grove of hickory trees near her home and that through her influence they were continued in the grove and home until the first school house was built then transferred their meeting there; then when later a new school was built the meeting were held there until the yr. 1876 when a man by name of Marshal (whose father was a brother-in-law to Mrs. Brown, that is by marriage he was) gave the land etc. to the newly organized church and that is where and the way the Hickory Grove Church is today. Susannah (Waggoner) Brown was credited with the fact of being the mother of the Hickory Grove Church. It is believed that the church was started about 1854 in that area."
Susannah passed away in 1874, with her youngest son recently married, with her other children established on properties of their own, with many grandchildren, and with the church she had founded thriving and serving her family and neighborhood.
Inscription
wife of W. Brown d. 8 Nov 1874, age 66 y 5m 7d
Gravesite Details
Family Bible recorded after she died gives her b. date as 31 May 1807
