Update to Cemetery and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part V)

The following additional information to the post of August 21, 2013, "Cemetery and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part V)" was received from John Wright. The information pertains to the ninth paragraph, Quaker Cemetery on Amawalk Hills near Amawalk Railway Station, Westchester County, N. Y.

"Regarding your post of August 21, 2013, titled Cemetery and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part V). Quaker cemetery on Amwalk Hills.

I may have some answers to the uncertainties you noted in your post. You mentioned a few unknown Browers in the Armwalk Cemetery, and I can identify them.  James H. Brower and Mary A. Brower were my great, great grandparents. They were both born in Wastchester County, N.Y. In 1827, they were married in Westchester in 1847. The Bedford 1850 census lists Jas H. Brower, 23, Mary Brower, 23, and a daughter, Louisa, 4 months. The 1860 Somers County (next to Bedford) Federal Census, which is a sloppy mess, lists the family as James H. Brown. 33, Mary, 33, “Laura” (Mary Louisa), 10, Sarah E, 9, Annie A, 9, and James H. Jr., 4.

After his father, John Brower, died in 1864, James H. and family moved to Rockland County. The 1865 Clarkstown NY census shows James H., 38, Mary A, 38 with children, Mary L., 15, Anna A, 11, James H, 4, William H., 4, and Harriet H, 2 3/12.

The 1875 Clarkstown NY Census includes the county of birth. It shows James H., Mary A, William and Harriet were born in Westchester County.

In the 1880’s, the family used a last name of Brewer. My grandfather, Earl J. Brower (b. 1888), told me that his Victorian, biddy aunts decided that Brewer sounded too much like brewery, and changed the name back to Brower.

James A and Mary A are buried in Germonds Cenetery in New City, Rockland County. 

The Katonah Cemetery in Westchester County was taken in the 1890’s to make way for the Croton Aquaduct and reservoir. The graves were moved to various nearby cemeteries. The Browers were moved to Amawalk Hills Cemetery. The following is a link to a document prepared in 1907. It is an alphabetical list of the graves moved: Cemeteries, Katonah, Westchester Co., N. Y. Brooklyn N. Y., unknown, 1907.  

If you look at line 30, you see Brower: Sarah E ——, April 13, 1863 aged 11, 4, 17 of James H and Mary, and See 12A: Tuttle 389

Line 389 shows: Tuttle: Louisa wife of J— A—

Sarah E Brewer (or Brower) daughter of James H (owner)

Line 390 shows John Brewer (or Brower) his stone is right next to Sarah’s.

Louisa Tuttle is James H’s daughter, born in 1850. She married James A Tuttle (b. 1841 d. 1919).

I have not been able to prove that John was the father of James H., but I think it's a strong possibility. The inscription on the stone gives the dod, February 4, 1864, 83 years."

Thanks John for the contribution. 

View Above the Croton Dam, Croton Histories & Mysteries

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Cemetery and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part V)

Here is the final installment of cemetery and gravestone files found in the William B. Bogardus Collection. A word of caution: In checking through this group of files I found a few errors with dates, and whether they are errors in the sources that were used, or whether they were errors in note taking, I can't say. My advise is to check and compare with the BGD website, which will be updated soon and will include those found in the files below.

Sections of Vale Cemetery, Schenectady, New York. The source for these notes is not certain. A film number is given, but no repository for the film is mentioned (it is not in the FHL catalog). These are all 19th century burials with a few deaths in the early 20th century. Giles Brower, his wife Ellen Vrooman, their daughter Matilda and her husband John Lodge are recognized but most, probably all, of the others are not found on the BGD.

Revolutionary War Soldiers - Rockland County, N. Y. The handful of entries are taken from the D.A.R. Shatemuc Chapter, Spring Valley, New York, 1976. Included here are Abraham Brouwer/Brower (1753-1806); David B. Brower (1755-1841 sic); Uldreck (Ulrich) Brouwer/Brower (1728-1801). Uldreck and Abraham (his son) are known, and are found on the BGD. The entry for David B. Brower is in error, as this David would be David Brouwer, baptized 8 October 1727 at Hackensack, New Jersey, son of Isaac Brouwer and Rachel Demarest. The "Brower Family Plot" in New City (a hamlet in the town of Clarkstown) is stated to be located "just back of the State Police Headquarters (1936) in Germonds, New City, N.Y.," when it was said to be in bad condition.

"Cast in Stone: Selected Albany, Rensselaer and Saratoga County, New York Burials." Notes on two burials taken from a published work of the same name by Diane Snyder Ptak (Rhinebeck, NY: Kinship Press, 1990).

Gravestone Inscriptions of the Reformed Dutch Church, Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, Rockland Co., N.Y. Notes from the 1931 typescipt by Minnie Cowen. Here, David Brower (the same David B. Brower mentioned two paragraphs above) is listed with a date of death as "8-18-1844" which is also in error. David's correct date of death is most likely 18 August 1814, as he died aged 85 years and 11 months, which although calculates to a date of birth of 17 September 1728 (after his baptism of 8 October 1727). It's probable that his age at death was 86 years, 11 months, rather than 85 years, 11 months. The date of death noted for "Sarah Palmer, widow" is also incorrect. All entries in this file will be found on the BGD when it is next updated.

Tombstone Inscriptions of the Huguenot Cemetery, River Edge, New Jersey. The notes in this file are from as article by Everett L. Zabriskie in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, volume 41, no. 4 (October 1910), p. 294. A photo copy of the page in included. The one BROWER entry is for Mary Brower, wife of John Heaton, but the photocopied page as a number of other names that may be of use to some.

Inscriptions from Unionvale, Westchester Co., N.Y. Copied December 27, 1907 (Dutch Reformed Church) as per the note card. No other clues are given for the source. Another tough one, largely due to the lack of a source citation, and also because I know of no location called "Unionvale" in Westchester County (there is a Union Vale in Dutchess County). The only Dutch Reformed Church I know of in Westchester County would be the First Reformed Church of Tarrytown, a.k.a. the Old Sleepy Hollow Dutch Reformed Church, now known as the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns. The two entries here are for a Cornelia Amanda Brower, who died in 1837, aged 1 and a half years, and for Elijah Brower (who could be her father) who's entry is missing the year, but gives his age as "72-11-0." I know of an Elijah Brower, found on the 1850 census at New Castle, Westchester Co., age 38, with a wife and four children (see the BGD). This could be him, but more research needs to be done.

Old Dutch Chuch of Sleepy Hollow in 2009, Photo by Daniel Case, Wikimedia Commons

Westchester County, New York Cemteries - Etc. From film #913005, which gives me this page when searching the FHL online catalog. A few nineteenth century entries from the Town of Mamaroneck Cemetery. I do not have the individuals listed on the BGD, unless the Oliver Brower (no dates) is the Oliver Brower (1813-1881) who lived at Westport, Bristol Co., Massachusetts; Hempstead, Long Island; and then Dobbs Ferry, Dutchess Co., New York. I do not anticipate trying to track down any of the others anytime soon.

Quaker Cemetery on Amawalk Hills near Amawalk Railroad Station, Westchester County, NY. The source for this brief file is noted stated with any more detail then what is described in the title. John Brower, d. 2-4-1864, age 83 yrs, is someone who I cannot readily identify. There are a few filmed sources found in the FHL Catalog when searching with the keyword "Amawalk." Sarah, daughter of James H. and Mary, d. 4-13-1862, age 11-4-17, is also not known to me. (Please see the post of December 15, 2016 for an update).

This post completes all of the files pertaining to cemetery records and gravestone transcriptions found in the William B. Bogardus Collection. Please consider the warning mentioned above when using this last group in particular. Next up will be a small group of census records, which will then be followed by a few dozen files described as "church records."

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Cemetery and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part IV)

Seven more files pertaining to cemetery and gravestone inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection.

Inscriptions from the Methodist Cemetery at Pleasantville, Westchester Co., N. Y. The cover card says, "Copied Dec. 1907," but does not state who did the copying or the source of the notes. There are three sets of notes here, the first being just one, Warren Hamilton Brower (1863-1866), who I have not placed. The second is for members of the family of Jacob Brouwer, baptized 12 April 1772 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church, son of Abraham Brouwer and Rachel Sebring. This file adds the date of his death and the date of death for his second wife, Hannah Hill. The third set covers members of the family of Abraham Brouwer, born 27 September 1809, the son of the just mentioned Jacob Brouwer and Hannah Hill. The Find-A-Grave website calls this cemetery, "Palmer Cemetery." The families can be found on the BGD.

Pleasant Valley (Presbyterian) Cemetery. This file of Drake burials is taken from The Dutchess, vol. 9. no. 4 (Summer 1982), page 13. It apparently is the family of Edward C. Drake, who can be found on the 1880 U. S. census at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., New York. The Arthur Drake who is on this list had a daughter named Mabel baptized 26 October 1896 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pleasant Valley, and can be found on the DGD. The others will be added with the next update. I do not know how this Drake family relates to any of the other numerous Drake families found in the greater Ne York City area.

Seal Township Cemeteries, Pike County, Ohio - Tombstone Inscriptions. Here are eight pages of photocopied material from The Pike County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, 1986. There are a handful of BREWERs interdisperssed among the many names in this file. I have not looked any further into any of the individuals in this file.

Tombstone Inscriptions - Concord Township, Ross Co., Ohio. The BREWERs found here are all died during the 20th century and I have not researched further into any of them. No source is given, but the year 1988 is on the note card, so this may have been a cemetery walk and these inscriptions might not be published elsewhere (although I cannot be certain of that).

Tombstone Inscriptions of Grandview Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ohio, Ross County. The notes in this file are from a published book of the same title, by Marie Taylor Clark, published in 1972. The persons referred to were all born in the second half of the 1800s. Lot owners are Columbus D. Brewer (1856-1919) and Pinkney Brewer (1858-1931). I have not researched either of them.

Tombstone Inscriptions of Ross County, Ohio. The BREWERs in this file are from another book by the same Marie Taylor Clark mentioned above. Tombstone Inscriptions of Ross County, Ohio (1974). The link for it on Google Books is broken, but it is listed at Amazon. The entry for "Brewer, Elizabeth, wife of Isaac, d. 15 July 1853, age 82 yrs." in Scioto Twp. is for someone born prior to the American Revolution and might be worthwhile to follow up on. Page 2 in this file has individual listings from two other books.

Early Schenectady Cemetery Records, Schenectady, N. Y. The cover card cites "File #4426" but this does not match what is found in the FHL Catalog, and as this is the third instance I have encountered in which a file number does not match up, I can only conclude that the film (and the two found on previous posts) came from some repository other than the Family History Library. The FHL does have "Early Schenectady Cemetery Records," a typecript by Charlotte Taylor Luckhurst at the Queens Borough Public Library, as FHL film #17911, and perhaps this is the same film. The inscriptions in this file are of descendants of Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck, and should be found on the BGD.

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Cemetery and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part III)

More transcriptions, notes and files from the William B. Bogardus Collection relating to cemetery and gravestone records.

Old Cemetery, Near Maywood, New Jersey. The two pages here are photocopied from "Passaic Co., Historical Society, Paterson, N. J., Cemetery Records, William Paterson Chapter DAR, 1939." There is only one BROWER record, which pertains to a Jacob Brower, died 26 August 1784, age 58 years, 4 months and 19 days. Maywood is in Bergen County, New Jersey, which was incorporated in 1894 out of Midland Township, which itself was created in 1871 out of New Barbadoes Township. This record gives us a date of death for Jacob Brouwer, son of Abraham Brouwer and Elizabeth Ackerman, who was baptized on 17 April 1726 at the Dutch Reformed Church at Hackensack, New Jersey. Jacob Brouwer of New Barbadoes, Bergen Co., New Jersey, wrote his will on 11 August 1784, but it was not proved until 1797. His wife was Jannetje Van der Beek, and his correct placement among the descendants of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island, is covered by William J.Hoffman in "Brouwer Corrections," published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, vol. 69 (1938) page 172. While Jacob is the only BROWER found on this list, researchers of Bergen County Dutch families will recognize the other names found on these two pages - ACKERMAN, BANTA, BERTHOLF, BOGERT and DEMAREST.

Unpublished Records - Irondequoit Cemetery, Monroe County; Friends Cemetery, Ontario County. Both of these cemeteries are in western New York State. Only one page from the Irondequoit Cemetery is included here. The oldest transcription is for a Jacob Brower, 1829 to 1919 (or 1914). I have noticed this individual in the past when searching through Monroe County, New York census records, but have not had the opportunity to pursue just who this Jacob Brower is any further. They are not found on the BGD.

The Presbyterian Church, New Hamburgh (NY) Cemetery. This annotated list taken from Old Gravestones of Dutchess County, New York, by. J. W. Poucher (1924), was put together by one of Bill Bogardus' many correspondents. It is a list of 62 gravestone transcriptions beginning with the surname ALLEN and running through to, and including, BROWER. Many of the BROWER names have been transcribed and published elsewhere and, although I have not checked each one, most should be on the BGD.

Sparta Cemetery, One Mile South of Ossining on State Rd., Westchester County, N. Y. The source of the three entries is not given. Nicholas Brower, d. 2-14-1814, age 67 yrs., would be the son of Nicholas Brouwer and Mary Dutcher, and is found on the BGD. Although there are a handful of men named Frederick Brower, who were born in the 1800s, I am not certain who the "Mary E. Brower, wife of Frederick," is in this file.

Ocean County Gravestones: Whitesville Cemetery. Only one entry. This is from the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, vol. 24, no. 2 (April 1949), page 26. The transcription is for James F. Johnson (1852-1930) and his wife Hannah E. Brower (1851-1908). Hannah has not been identified but she may be the Hannah E. Brower, age 6 on the 1860 census at Brick, Ocean Co., New Jersey, and age 16 on the 1870 census at the same place, daughter of William H. Brower and Sarah Ann Cook.

Some Burials at the Old Cemetery, West Main St., Phelps, N. Y., Ontario County. The photocopied page is from Yesteryears, volume 6, number 23 (March 1963). The one BROWER entry is for "Thedrena, wife of John, d. Nov. 23, 1840, age 43." Three sons (Joseph, John and Peter) of Johannes Brouwer (1728-1809) and Tryntje Waldron, settled at Phelps, Ontario County, New York soon after the American Revolutionary War. However, I have not been able to identify this burial record within this family.

Cemetery Records - Oneida County, New York. This group is from Tree Talks, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 50. The burials are at Lee Center Cemetery in Oneida County, New York. There are six BROWER entries and all are new to me. The eldest one here is for John Brower, d. 15 Nov 1881, age 82 yrs. 8 mos. 15 days, which would place his birth at 28 February 1799. I have not identified him, or the others in this cemetery.

Barrett Hill Cemetery, Carmel, Putnam Co., New York. The note card states that the entries in this file were taken from FHL film #4382, but this cannot be correct as that film pertains to Land Records in Glastonbury, Connecticut. A search of the FHL catalog finds film #17128, items 36-38, Putnam County Cemeteries, which does include inscriptions from Barrett Hill Cemetery. They are also found in "Graveyard Inscriptions, Putnam County, New York," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, vol. 56 (1925), page 309. I have not placed any of the names and do not know if these individuals are descendants of one of the original New Netherland BROUWER families, or is they are descendants of New England BREWER families. All will be included on the BGD with the next update.

Above are eight more files. Hopefully they will be of help to someone working at retracing their Brouwer, Brower or Brewer ancestry. If you do have any evidence as to who those who are unplaced are, please feel free to leave word using the Comments feature below.

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Cemetery and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part II)

Following are more links for files from the William B. Bogardus Collection pertaining to cemetery and gravestone records and transcriptions. It is a varied collection.

"DAR Graves" - Brower. The cover card is not any more specific with regards to the original sources, but volume and page numbers are provided. This is an assortment of listings from various sites in New York State.

Essex County Gravestones: Old Methodist Churchyard, Belleville, N. J. Just three records here. They were transcribed from issues of The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey.

Book of the Dead of Monmouth. Six pages of transcriptions and photocopies taken from George Castor Martin, Book of the Dead of Monmouth (Asbury Park, N.J.: Martin & Allardyce, 1915-1916). Pertains to the "Old Cemetery between Farmingdale and Squankum." Many of the individual records have also been published elsewhere. I have not gone through each one but I suspect that many of those named can be found on the BGD. A few photocopied pages include some names other than Brewer or Brower.

Cemetery East of Christ Church, Marlborough, Ulster Co., NY.  This transcription is from FHL film #931485. It pertains to John Brower, his wife Althea Merritt, and their daughter Charlotte A. Brower, none of who are currently found on the BGD.

Mercer County Gravestones: Titusville Methodist Episcopal Cemetery. This file is from material published in The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, vol. 50, no. 2 (May 1975). One (or part of one family) here, that of Henry S. Brower, his wife Hannah A., and son D. Urmstom. I believe they would be Henry Brower, his wife Hannah Evenston, and son Daniel Brower, who are found on the BGD. Henry's middle name was Striker, and he is probably a son of Thomas Le Foy Brouwer and Magdalena Van Aulst.

Monmouth County Gravestones. Bethesda Methodist Church Cemetery, Adelphia. The notes here are taken from the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, vol. 21, no. 4 (Oct 1946), p. 89, vol. 22, no. 1 (Jan 1947), p. 19, vol. 23, no. 1 (Jan 1948), p. 18, and vol. 23, no. 4 (Oct 1948), p. 89. It is suggested that researchers consult both of these issues for clarification. The couple, Clarence L. Brower and Florence E. Murray are on the BGD, but "Sarah Wagner, wife of William Brower," is new to me.

Mercer County Gravestones: Titusville Presbyterian Churchyard. Also from the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, vol. 29, nos. 3/4 (Jul-Oct 1954). The notes pertain to a Richard Brewer, his wife Rhoda, son Smith Titus Brewer, and a likely daughter (of Richard & Rhoda) named Francina. Smith T. Brewer and his father Richard are found in 1850 at Hopewell, Mercer Co., New Jersey, and this limited info is online on the BGD. This file adds considerably more to Richard Brewer, including a birth date of 1787.

Middlesex County Gravestones: Three Mile Run Cemetery, North Brunswick Township. The notes are for Maria Brower, wife of Rulaph Neefus. "Neefus" was a phonetic spelling of the family name more commonly seen as NEVIUS. The couple is found on the BGD, but this record adds a death date and place of burial for Maria. The source is the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, vol. 23, no. 4 (Oct 1948).

Graveyard Inscriptions, Blooming Grove and Montgomery, Orange Co., NY. The notes in this file are from Ray C. Sawyer, Graveyard Inscriptions of Greycourt Cemetery, Bloomingrove and the Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery, Montgomery, both located in Orange County, New York (1931). This file adds a date of death and burial place to John Brouwer, Jr., baptized 10 October 1773 at the New York Dutch Reformed Church, son of John Brouwer and Catharine Duryea. John Brouwer/Brower's wife was Magdalena Duryea. Their daughter, Catharine Ann, who died in 1803, at age 8 mos., 22 days, is buried here as well. The family is found on the BGD.

Cemetery Inscriptions - Montgomery County. The photocopied page is from Tree Talks, vol. 13, no. 9 (Sept. 1973). The Elizabeth Brouwer found here was a descendant of Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck, while Mary Anthony Brouwer, daughter of Jacob and Jane (DeReimer) Brouwer, was a descendant of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island. Both are found on the BGD.

Above are ten new files and in exploring them some new info was discovered. As usual, I recommend that researchers use the above as only a starting point and strongly recommend that you consult the original source for each file. As we all know, errors can be made when transcribing and when taking notes.

And a passing observation - this post marks a mile-stone, it is the 300th post on Brouwer Genealogy, and the past month of July marked five years since the Brouwer Genealogy Database was launched online along with the old Mac based Brouwer Genealogy blog, the precursor to this current blog. So thanks to all who stop by and read, and to all who have contributed and e-mailed in the past, and I hope at least some of you have found something of use along the way.

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Cemeteries and Gravestone Inscriptions from the William B. Bogardus Collection (Part I)

The files linked from this post, all from the William B. Bogardus Collection, relate to various cemetery records and gravestone transcriptions. They are taken from sources that were previously published in one form or another. Some may be difficult to track down, but in all cases the researcher is advised to seek out the original source for confirmation of the data and information found in the files. There are roughly forty or so files concerning cemetery and gravestone records, and they will be made available in a series of postings.

Miscellaneous Record of Bogardus and Brower Cemetery Inscriptions. The cover card says "possibly from New Jersey." They were collected from FHL flm #868290, item #7, which is found online here. The records are from a New Jersey chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) and they pertain to locations in Ocean Co., and also to Paramus, Aquackanonk, Pascack, and Passaic Co. Most of the Browers in this file are not found on the BGD website, and I have not had the opportunity to try and identify them.

Gravestone Inscriptions from Cemetery at Brownback's Church, Chester Co., PA. These pages are from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly vol. 44 (March 1956). There is an introduction to the records. Brownback's Church was a Reformed Church (I believe German). The Browers on this list are not currently found on the BGD website.

"Old Tombstones & Unusual Cemeteries in Columbia Co., NY". This one entry is transcribed from a 1973 book by Gerda E. Divine which can be found through Google Books. The entry for Sarah, relict of Joshua Brewer, may pertain to a New England Brewer family originally from Tyringham, Massachusetts.

"Monument Inscriptions Prior to 1900 from Cemeteries in Clermont Co., OH". The transcriptions here are from a D.A.R. collection. One, A. H. Brower, was born in Kingston, New York in 1818. The Browers listed in this collection are not found on the BGD website.

"Cemeteries of Chester, New York". The Town of Chester is in Orange Co., New York. The record here pertains to the family of David Grosset Drake who is a great-grandson of Aeltje Brouwer and Josias Jansz Drats. He can be found on both the BGD and DGD.

"Dutchess County, N. Y., Tombstone Readings". The pages were published in Yesteryears Magazine, volume 17, no. 67 (Spring 1974), pages 153-154, by William L. Huffman. There are a lot of Browers here and believe that most, if not all, can be found on the BGD.

"Cemeteries - Dutchess County, New York". Just a couple of entries here. Susanna, wife of Elisha Brewer may pertain to the Elisha Brewer born ca. 1805, living in 1850 at Fishkill, and found on the BGD. The cover card states the source as FHL film #3989, but according to the FHL Catalog, this film covers Land Records in Cheshire, Connecticut, so there must be an error here. I have not discovered the original source.

Cemetery Records - Delaware County, New York. This short list was transcribed from Tree Talks, vol. 15, no. 1 (March 1975), p. 37. The three burials were in Pepacton Burial Ground in Delaware County, New York. Two are of unnamed BREWER children, while the third is for a Mary A. BROWER. I have not placed these individuals.

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Brower Gravestone Photos

The photos below of Brower gravestones were sent to me a few years ago by Mary Kay McDowell. They were taken at the Mennonite Cemetery at Parker Ford, Chester County, Pennsylvania. I do not know when they were taken. The community of Parker Ford is in East Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, and so I suspect that the gravestones belong to members a family, or families, descended from Hubert Brower. I am not, however, certain of this. As I do not see myself spending any time trying to track down just who these persons are, I figured I would simply make them available online to anyone who may be interested. If any one who does come across them believes they know just who these individuals are, please feel free to leave that information using the Comments section for this entry (below). And feel free to download the images for your own use.

Abraham Brower

Hannah Brower

Isaac Brower

Magdalena Brower

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