Notes for: Almira Sanders
Addison Avery Brown always gave his mother's name as Almira Saunders and stated that she was one-half American Indian. Almira's birth was in New York sometime between 1840 and 1844, based on the following: Age 9 at 1850 Census would put it in about 1841, age 20 at 1860 Census would put it in about 1840, age 41 at 1885 Census would put it in about 1844, and Addison's birth certificate gives her age at his birth as 39, putting her birth in about 1842. But with her sister Mary's birth date confirmed in both the 1900 Census and her death record as Feb 1842, and with Almira appearing in the 1850 Census one year younger than Mary, Almira's birth date is more likely to be about 1843.
Almira was with her parents and siblings in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Norwich, Chenango Co, NY, and she was with husband Ammi (and his father and son from a previous marriage) in the 1870 Census of Guilford, Chenango Co, NY.
Almira was not found in the Census of 1880. That year's census of Wadena County, Minnesota, lists an Almira as the wife of Albert A. Brown (b. ca 1840 in New York), giving her age as 35 (b. ca 1845 in New York) and reports her father's birthplace as Connecticut, and her mother's as New York. Despite the similarities in names and locations, this does not appear to be the same couple.
The 1885 Minnesota Census places her in the household of A. A. Brown with son Addison, identifies her as Almira and gives her age as 41 (b. ca 1844), birthplace New York.
No entry for her was found in the 1900 or subsequent censuses.
In an affidavit filed by son Addison in 1935 to establish his date of birth, he stated that his mother had died when he was about age six. This would put her death in about 1887 or 1888. In 1915, in an application for membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal beneficiary society, Addison stated that his mother died at age 44 of "inflammation of bowels." This would also put her death in about 1888. One question on that application was "Which do you resemble in general characteristics, father or mother?," to which Addison stated that it was his mother. This is noteworthy because Addison did have certain facial characteristics associated with American Indians.
Information provided at Addison's funeral identified his mother as Rachel Sanders. This reference is believed to be the result of confusing Addison's mother Almira with his stepmother Rachel. A funeral card found in family papers identified the deceased as Rachel A. Brown, died Feb 1 1904, age 53y 10m 25d, location not given. Based on age at death, the birth date would be Mar 7 1850. Through Veterans records, we have determined that Rachel was Ammi's fourth wife.
Thus, there is still some uncertainty as to the exact identity and birth/death dates of the wife of Ammi Brown and the mother of Addison. It does appear fairly certain, however, that her parents were Henry J. Sanders and Olive Mowry. If Almira died in 1887 or 1888 as stated by Addison, the location would likely have been in Minnesota, since she was there in 1885, husband Ammi is known from a land purchase to have been there in 1890, and his move to Washington State occurred in 1893.