Andrew Jackson Brawley (1835-1884) - Stock Raiser

 

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Born April 14 1835 in Carroll County, Tennessee, Andrew Jackson Brawley was one of eight children fathered by Milton Braley (sic).   His mother was Milton’s first wife, name unknown.  Around 1840, the Braley family moved to Franklin County, Arkansas, and took up land there.  After the first Mrs. Braley died sometime after 1843 (her last child was born then), Milton married a widow, Mary Catherine Green Moffett, in 1847.  They had two more children.

The second Mrs. Braley seems to have brought a considerable amount of property to her new marriage.  But Milton fell ill and died, probably early in 1852.  His estate consisted of 320 acres of farmland, farm implements, quite a number of cattle and one male slave.  Settling Milton’s financial affairs took years as lawyers worked out how to divide the assets between Milton’s heirs and Mary Catherine and the children of her first marriage to Mr. Moffett.

A guardian was initially appointed for Andrew and his younger brother Dennis but, by the time they reached the age of 21, they were living with their older brother Ephraim’s family.

Of the Braly siblings, only Andrew moved west, before the beginning of the Civil War.  By 1865, Andrew—or A. J. Brawley, as he had taken to calling himself--was in Fresno, California, where he married Arza Jane Stroud on September 10th.  Arza was the daughter of Ira Stroud and Rebecca Williams. 

Brawley evidently knew cattle, as he became a successful rancher.  When the 1870 federal census was taken, he was a stock raiser worth $2000.  He and Arza had seven children in quick succession.  Late in 1878, the Brawley family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and it appears that the Strouds came with them.

Once in Phoenix, Brawley opened a general store and became a butcher.  By 1882, he was supplementing his income by acting as night watchman and special constable.  Mrs. Brawley was busy, too; early in 1884, she and her oldest daughter Alice had opened an ice cream parlor on Washington Street across from the Phoenix Hotel. 

By 1884, Brawley was the proprietor of the Dublin Corral, where he boarded and rented horses.   A little after 6 AM on December 5th, he was going about his work when he was stricken by a sudden heart attack and died at the age of 49.   He was buried in City/Loosley Cemetery.

Brawley’s widow was left with several young children to raise.  Fortunately, her parents were also in Phoenix and she could count on their support.  In 1886, she married Eugene Bridgeman.

Arza died in Los Angeles on July 3, 1910, while visiting her adult children.   Her remains were returned to Phoenix for burial next to her first husband in City/Loosley Cemetery.

-  - by Donna L. Carr. 

Nathaniel “Nathan” Sears (1810-1885) - Farmer and Stockraiser

 

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Nathaniel Sears, or Nathan as he was usually known, was born about 1810 in Kentucky.  His parents were Jesse Sears and Margaret Ellen Cox.  Nathan’s paternal grandfather, John Lewis Sears, Sr., was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and had acquired bounty land there.

On April 16, 1830, Nathan married Nancy Mills in Pulaski County, Kentucky.  Their first two sons, Jesse and Thompson, were born there.  However, around 1835, the Sears family removed to Missouri, where Nathan and Nancy had five more sons in quick succession.  The 1850 census of Missouri records them as small farmers.

By 1860, the Sears family was living in West Point, Bates County, Missouri, and Nathan was running a grocery store.   Sons Eli, Winfrey and Alexander were still in the household, but the older boys were married and gone.

At least three of the Sears sons fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, although it is not known whether they served in regular regiments or as irregulars.  At any rate, they all left Missouri after the war.

1870 found Nathan and Nancy farming near Anaheim, California.  Five of their sons-- Thompson, James, Eli, Winfrey and Alexander--were also farming nearby.  Surprisingly, Nathan and Nancy’s household included two young African American children, George and Rhoda, who had been born in Missouri. 

Sometime between 1876 and 1879, sons John Marion and Eli moved to Phoenix, Arizona.  The 1880 federal census lists their occupation as freighters/teamsters.  Nathan and Nancy were also in John Marion’s household, although by then they were retired.

Nathan’s wife Nancy must have died between 1880 and 1882, for Nathan married a widow, Furlisa (Felicia?) Ann House Howerton, on November 16, 1882.  Nathan and Furlisa had only three years together, as he passed away on their wedding anniversary, November 16, 1885, in Tempe.

It is presumed that Nathan Sears was buried in the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, that being the only cemetery in use in 1885.   However, no grave marker has been found.

While Sears did have a will, it was not entered into probate until January 9, 1893.   His estate was estimated to be worth about $7000.  Per a prior agreement, he left half of his cattle and all his horses to his son John Marion, who was a rancher.  The other half of the cattle were to be divided equally among his other sons.  To his widow he left five milk cows and any offspring they might have.  Sons John Marion and James were named as co-executors.  There is no explanation for the seven-year delay in probating the will.

-by Donna