Tag: family

Isaack Walter Brumley is my great-grandfather and was born on August 6, 1875, in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska. He was the last child born to Willis Brumley and Nancy J Vaughn. His father was likely working for the railroad at the time of his birth. He was the only child born in Nebraska, children from his father’s other marriages were all born in Missouri.

Walter Brumley married his first wife Nancy Katherine “Katie” Cox on January 13, 1895, in Maries County, Missouri. To this union were born seven children, John Leo (my grandfather) 1895-1976, William Ralph 1897-1961, Thomas Clinton 1899-1971, Nancy Beatrice (Bea) 1901-1962, Henry Elmer Raymond 1905-1956, Walter Willis Brumley 1908-1968.

Walter, Katie and family were living in Miller Township, Maries County, Missouri as the 1900 Missouri confirms. Their family was not completed as yet.

In the 1910 Missouri Census Walter, Katie and family had moved to Union Township, Pulaski County. All seven children were born by this time.

Katie Cox Brumley died on August 28, 1912, of Pellagra in Vernon County, Missouri. Walter found himself a widower with seven children to raise. He likely at this time worked for the railroad and was not home much to care for his children. The older children went out on their own into the world to find work and to survive. The younger children went to friends to be raised while Walter worked out of town for the railroad.

Walter was married for the second time on May 7, 1914, in Springfield, Greene, Missouri Walter married his second wife, Margaret “Maggie” Elizabeth Powell 1876-1915. She had been married before to George Grant Smith (1864-1911) and she was the mother of seven children by George Smith. In August 1915 she gave birth to a daughter, name is unknown. Maggie Powell Brumley died November 7, 1915, in Springfield, Greene, Missouri of pneumonia. Once again, Walter was a widower and was now trying to raise a baby. The baby was not healthy when she was born and on December 13, 1915, she died as well.

By the time WWI was starting up Walter registered for the war effort in 1918, but he was forty-three years old and did not serve in WWI.

Walter, still working for the railroad married a third time to Martha Belle “Mattie” Brown Moon (1892-1964) on August 3, 1929, in Miller County. Arkansas. Mattie had been married before to Henry James Moon (1884-1927) and to that union were two sons Alonzo Henry (1908-1980) and Benjamin James Moon (1914-2002).

By the 1930 Census of Arkansas Mattie and Walter were living in Wynne, Cross, Arkansas. Walter was a carpenter for the railroad, and they also took in railroad roomers for extra income who also worked on the railroad.

On January 10, 1940, in Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas my great-grandfather, Walter Brumley died. He is buried in Kensett, White, Arkansas. He was sixty-four years old. Most of his life was spent working on the railroad being a carpenter. My grandfather, John Leo Brumley also chose the profession to become a carpenter but not on the railroad.

My mother, Nancy Gertrude Brumley Weik always enjoyed seeing Walter when he came around. He would be in and out of their lives up until his death. I never got to meet him but by doing my research on him and hearing my mother’s stories he always wanted to know about his children and their children.

My grandfather, John Leo Brumley died in 1976 and as my mother and her siblings were going through pictures, they discovered the picture below. They all agreed that they knew two men which was William Ralph and Walter Brumley, but the mystery was who was the other elderly gentleman? This picture was the beginning of my family genealogy journey in 1983. I have discovered many things about this Brumley family. The elderly gentleman in the picture below opened the door or should I say the flood gates to what has been a rewarding hobby ever since. His name John Brumley (my great granduncle) 1860-1941. His parents are Willis Brumley (my 2nd great-grandfather) and Mary (Polly) Johns.

There have been many twists and turns in this family tree and many people I am still trying to gather information on. I try working on this beloved hobby every day. I feel truly connected to all of them.

Thank you for reading my blog post.