On April 18, 2016, Shelley Cardiel of Kirkland, Washington, wrote the following letter to nine people in Napoleon, Ohio; Ellensburg, Washington; and Seattle, Washington. The names and addresses of the recipients have been deleted to protect their privacy.
Shelley wrote:
I’ve “rescued” an old photograph album including a total of approximately 49 photographs, 14 of those identified or identifiable in some manner based on what is in the album. In addition, there are a number of loose photographs which are also connected to this same family.
Identified photographs in the album include:
Whitcomb BROWNELL
Johnnie VIANT
Lena (believed to be BROWNELL)
Martin COSGRO
Virginia RINCK
Mrs. BROWNELL
Carrie RINCK
Emma RINCK
Brown SHOEMAKER
6 Loose photographs include:
- Willie BROWNELL, an infant, no studio or location (1860’s or 1870’s)
- Ora BROWNELL, age 14 years, no studio or location {1890’s)
- Willie BROWNELL, age 17, Gardner Studio in Napoleon, OH (1880’s)
- Will BROWNELL (same as Willie in above), in his 20’s, no studio or location (dated 1892) including Frank STRIBLING; Jake WARD; George STRIBLING; and Hal HALL.
- Mr. and Mrs. BROWNELL, she in teens or 20’s + he in 40’s or 50’s, Gardner Studio in Napoleon, OH, (1860’s to 1880’s)
Based on limited research I was able to locate the following information those pictured in the album:
Whitcomb Josiah or Josiah Whitcomb BROWNELL was b. 4 Dec 1885 in Napoleon, OH to parents William Henry BROWNELL (b. 11 Sept 1832 in New York-1909) and Cynthia M. HUDSON (b. Jun 1841 in New York- 1917). Whitcomb appears to have been the only child born to this couple and had three half-siblings, Frank E. BROWNELL (1871-1931); May BROWNELL (1873-1964); and William Hudson BROWNELL.
Whitcomb died in 1969 and is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery in Napoleon, OH. He was listed as a mail carrier in Napoleon when he registered for the draft in 1917 and remained living in Napoleon OH during the World War II draft registration in 1942.
Census records provide the following details:
1900 census of Napoleon, OH:
William H. BROWNELL, age 67, born Sept 1832, married 23 years, born NY, parents born NY, a Bank Cashier
Synthia M. BROWNELL, wife, age 58, born Jun 1841, married 23 years, 1 child/1 living, born NY, parents born MA/NY
Frank E. BROWNELL, son, age 28, born Oct 1871, born IL, parents born NY, a Cage Maker
Mary E. BROWNELL, daughter, age 27, born Jun 1873, born OH, parents born NY
Whitcomb J. BROWNELL, son, age 14, born Dec 1885, born OH, at School
1910 census of Napoleon, OH:
Cynthia BROWNELL, age 69, a widow, 1 child/1 living, born NY, parents born MA/NY, Own Income
Frank BROWNELL, step-son, age 38, born IL, parents born NY, a Postman
May BROWNELL, step-daughter, age 37, born IL, parents born NY
Whitcomb BROWNELL, son, age 24, born OH, parents born IL, a Postman
1920 census of Summit, OH: -rooming in the home of Robert D. & Alice CRAWFORD
Whitcomb BROWNELL, age 34, born OH, parents born NY, a Rubber Mill Worker
1930 census of Toledo, OH: -rooming in the home of Stella G. HAGAN
Whitcomb BROWNELL, age 40, born OH, parents born NY, a Tire Manager
1940 Census of Napoleon, OH:
Lillian SHOEMAKER, age 83, a widow, born NY
Mary BROWNELL, cousin, age 67, born IL
Whitcomb J. BROWNELL, cousin, age 54, born OH, an Auto Repair Shop Service Man
Martin COSGRO was b. 1833 in New York and was married twice, first to Maria COSGRO (1827-1853) and second to Sarah E. HUDSON (1843-1925). Martin and Sarah had a daughter, Nellie COSGRO WEIR (1862-1897). Martin died 23 Mar 1899 in Peoria, IL and he is buried in the Springdale Cemetery and Mausoleum in Peoria, IL.
Census records provide the following details:
1870 census of Peoria, IL:
Martin COSGRO, age 40, a Miller, born NY
Sarah COSGRO, age 29, Keeping House, born NY
Nelly COSGRO, age 8, at School, born NY
Cynthia HUDSON, age 27, a Seamstress, born NY
+1 Domestic Servant
1880 census of Virginia, IL:
Martin COSGRO, age 49, a Miller, born NY, parents born NY
Sarah E. COSGRO, wife, age 37, Keeping House, born NY, parents born MA/NY
+1 Servant
I was able to locate the following information regarding the family members pictured in the additional photographs:
William H. BROWNELL was b. 9 Sept 1832 in New York to parents William Henry or Chase BROWNELL (b. 6 Oct 1804 Hoosick, NY-d. 26 Jul 1854 Napoleon, OH) and Lydia OSBORN (b. 27 Jul 1798 in Pittstown, NY-d. 1843). William was one of 7 children born to this couple including, Phebe; Mary; Ann; William H.; John; Stephen; and Daniel W. BROWNELL, all born in Pittstown, NY or Ohio between 1826 and 1838.
William married Laura A. HUDSON on 28 Jun 1869 in Henry Co. OH. Together they had three children including, William Hudson (b. 3 Apr 1870); Frank Edward (b. 1871); and May E. (b. 1873) BROWNELL. William’s first wife Laura died in 1875 and his second marriage was to Cynthia_M. HUDSON on 29 Nov 1876 in Henry Co. OH.
William and Cynthia had one child, Whitcomb J. or Josiah Whitcourt BROWNELL b. 4 Dec 1886. It is believed that William’s two wives were sisters. William died 22 Jan 1909 in Henry Co. OH and is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery in Napoleon, OH.
Census records provide the following details:
1880 census of Napoleon, OH:
William BROWNELL, age 27, a Bookkeeper, born NY, parents born NY
Cynthia BROWNELL, age 38, Keeping House, born NY, parents born MA/NY
William BROWNELL, son, age 10, attend school, born OH
Frank BROWNELL, son, age 8, attends school, born IL
May BROWNELL, daughter, age 7, attends school, born IL
1900 census of Napoleon, OH:
William H. BROWNELL, age 67
Synthia M. BROWNELL, age 58
Frank E. BROWNELL, age 28
Mary E. BROWNELL, age 27
Whitcomb J. BROWNELL, age 14
1900 census of Ellensburg, WA:
William H. BROWNELL, age 30, born Apr 1870, married 6 years, born OH, parents born OH, a Flour Mill Worker
Lena BROWNELL, wife, age 25, born Dec 1875, married 6 years, no children, born NE, parents born NE
1910 census of Seattle, WA:
William BROWNELL, age 40, married 15 years, born OH, parents born OH, a Flour Mill Miller
Lena J. BROWNELL, wife, age 35, married 15 years, no children, born Germany, parents born Germany, to USA 1886
1920 census of Seattle, WA:
William BROWNELL, age 49, born OH, parents born OH, a Flour Mill Miller
Lena BROWNELL, wife, age 44, born France, parents born France
Helen SEABURG, roomer, age 11, born WA, parents born Sweden/WA
Edward SEABURG, roomer, age 8, born WA, parents born Sweden/WA
1930 census of Seattle, WA:
William H. BROWNELL, age 58, married at age 24, born OH, parents born USA, a Cooperative Superintendent
Lena J. BROWNELL, wife, age 53, married at age 20, born France, parents born France, to USA 1882 Helen SEABURG, boarder, age 21, born WA, parents born Sweden/WA, a Dept Store Saleslady
Edward A. SEABURG, boarder, age 18, born WA, parents born Sweden/WA, a Laborer
I am hoping to locate someone from the families of those in the album and in the photographs so that all can be returned to their care. If you are a member of one of these families, or you know someone who might be, please contact me.
Thank you,
/signed/
Shelley Cardiel
Kirkland, WA 98033
