Lola Belle Bruce Brown my great grandmother. Born in Decatur, IL. Married in March 26, 1885, in Green County to Francis Brown. This union had 11 children. Her father George died in the civil war and her mother died when she was around 8 years old leaving her an orphan. I think she went to live with an aunt. She spent her life in Jerseyville, Ill.

OBITUARY:

In loving memory of Lola B. Brown who passed away on November 11, 1953. With her death we lose another daughter of the pioneers. Mrs. Brown was the daughter of George and Nancy Bruce, born in 1865. Her father fought and was killed in the Civil War. Her mother died when she was six years old. In 1885 she married Frank M. Brown, son of Andrew J. and Susan Brown of Kane, Greene County, Illinois. From this union 11 children were born. On the death of her husband, April 15, 1917, she took up the duties of breadwinner and keeping the home together for her 3 small children. She succeeded in raising them to man and womanhood. Mrs. Brown cooking for the Colonial Hotel in Jerseyville for 25 years where she was well known for the savory meals she served. At the age of 70 her sight failed and she was forced to quit work and went with her daughter, Dollie (Mrs. D.M. Gent) to Detroit for 18 months where she was under the care of an eye specialist. However, she could not be helped and she insisted on returning to Jerseyville where she had lived and loved. She spent all her life in Jersey and Greene Counties and like all mothers she wanted to go to her own home and take up her own life independent of anyone. Her hands were her eyes and she learned to do many things and got a great deal of satisfaction in doing for herself. In early life she was a member of the Methodist Church, though she did not attend in later years.
She was at heart a Christian and it was her faith in God that helped her thru the trying years. Her's was a life of serving with a love of all mankind and a mother's love that passes all understanding. She was loved and respected by all who knew her, and leaves many friends to mourn her death besides her immediate family-four sons, Lee, A.J. , Wm. F. and H.O Brown, and two daughters, Mrs. D.M. Gent and Mrs. J. Smith of Detroit, twenty-five grandchildren, forty-three great grandchildren, and six great great grandchildren.

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Reading that obituary it painted a very pretty picture. Her life was far from a pretty picture. Her husband was a very abusive to her and the children. He would beat them often and leave them hungry while he drank up any money made by his children. She was left homeless pregnant with eight kids. The law stepped in and put kids in foster home and place her in the county poor farm. One newspaper article I found stated he beat her so bad he knocked her teeth out. She pleaded to the police along with her boys to lock him up as he was no asset to the family.
After Franks death she had 36 years to live her life without abuse...so maybe it was a pretty picture after all.