James Jeremiah Brower and Pearl Curtis (Rocelah "Rozella" Pearl Chase) Tombstone Pics

Never underestimate the kindness of a good neighbor and wonderful friend. My friend just so happens to have been visiting family in St. Joseph, Missouri. I had recently found my ancestor James Jeremiah Brower was buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. After calling the cemetery and getting a map of his tombstone location and verifying NO other BROWER family were buried there, my wonderful friend went on a tombstone hunt for me and not only did he find James Jeremiah Brower, but also his wife Pearl Brower CURTIS !! The date of her birth is the same date as the first wife, Rozella Pearl Chase. With this new information, I found Pearl returned to Jim about 8 to 10 years later after being estranged and they remarried. After Jim passed away, she remarried and because Pearl Curtis.

Gilbert Pierce

History of Taylor County, Iowa 
Biographical sketches; page 769

Gilbert Pierce born in Erie County, New York June 18, 1837. Husband to Jane Mallery (Mallory) and then to Susan Isabell Brower who at the time was widowed from Henry Stevenson.

Honor Tom Cooney 100th Birthday

June 14, 1956 -  Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa) 

Thomas Cooney born in Washington, Pennsylvania on June, 11, 1856

Obituary of Warren Daniel Pierce

Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa)

Warren Daniel Pierce born June 4, 1884, son of Gilbert Samuel Pierce and Susan Isabell Brower.

Including...

... several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services were held December 5, at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca. Burial was made in the Nodaway Cemetery.

Obituary of Susan Isabell Brower

Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa)

Susan Isabell Brower born April 7, 1855, daughter of Jeremiah John Brower and Sarah Jane Woods and mother to  Warren Daniel Pierce. 

Death Certification of Susan Brower/Susan Coleman

Brick Walls

A bit of humor as I chew on my cheeks a little more, trying to come up with new ideas on how to approach my brick wall. Hmm now where is that X ?!

Marriage License of James Jeremiah Brower and Rozella Pearl Chase - First Marriage

Marriage License of James Jeremiah Brower and Rozella Pearl Chase - First Marriage

MOMS - Minnesota Official Marriage System 

Hugh Woods of Pennsylvania, born abt. 1760. Newspaper article - Revolutionary War Veteran Discovered in Cass County, Indiana .

Revolutionary war descendants, Cass County, Indiana (1900) - Author: Wolfe, Barbara Schull

James Jeremiah "Jim" Brower

Jim left Lucas, Iowa to head to Canada for a new lead on life. Along the way he meets Ms. Rozella Pearl Chase, only 16 years of age and Jim is 34. Together they have 3 children, two surviving and one little girl named Bertha who died in infancy. When the boys were very young, their mother left the home and in 1920 Jim listed himself as widowed. Jim's parents relocated from Lucas, Iowa to Brainerd, Crow Wing, MN to help Jim with the boys. The stories I have heard is that Jim and the boys jumped box cars on their way to St. Joseph, Missouri, finally settling in St. Joseph, Missouri. His parents John Wesley Brower and Melissa Wheeldon later follow Jim to St. Joseph, Missouri and settled near Maryville, Missouri.  Nearly 8 to 10 years later, Pearl, Jim's estranged ex-wife and him remarry. They stay married until Jim's final days.


James Jeremiah Brower b. April 8, 1877 in Lucas County, Iowa. He married Rozella Chase on August 21, 1911 in Crow Wing, Minnesota.

James Jeremiah Brower and Rozella Chase had 3 children, little Bertha passed away a few months after she was born. 

1. John Everett Brower b. between 1912-1913 in Minnesota, probably Crow Wing County. Last known residence was in 1944,  St. Joseph, Missouri. 
2. Albert Herman Brower b. Feb. 20, 1914 in Crow Wing Minnesota, d. Nov. 28, 1996 in Sacramento, Calfornia. 
3. Bertha Lillian Brower b. Feb. 16, 1917 in Brainerd, Crow Wing, Minnesota, d. April 11, 1917 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Crow Wing, Minnesota.  

Rozella's parents were Franklin Chase and Syren Hathaway.

In 1930, James Jeremiah Brower and Pearl (Rozella Pearl Chase) marry a second time. They married in Missouri and she is also listed on his death certificate.

"Jim" James Jeremiah Brower

Rozella Pearl Chase

Picture of "Jim" James Jeremiah Brower and sons, Albert Herman Brower and John E. Brower

John Wesley Brower, son of Jeremiah John Brower and Sarah Jane Woods, his wife Melissa Wheeldon, their son James "Jim" Jeremiah Brower and his two sons John Everett Brower and Albert Herman Brower

James Jeremiah Brower

Jeremiah John Brower

My 4th Grandfather and my only brick wall. I have searched for him for over 10 years and cannot locate where his exact birth is, or his parents. 

A few years ago I had my father's DNA tested and it has been confirmed through the Brewer DNA Project (kit #107708) that we are descendants of Adam Brouwer  (sometimes called Adam Brouwer Berckhoven). 

The DNA results of my father also had two mutations, one unique that hasn't matched any of the others who have tested in this group, and one that matches a group who are descendants of Nicholas Adamsz Brouwer b. 1672, son of Adam Brouwer. 

I am actively searching for the connection between Jeremiah John Brower and Nicholas Adamsz Brouwer. 

Here are some facts about Jeremiah John Brower: 

• 1815: Born about 27 Aug 1815 - According to his tombstone.
• 1849: Married in Cass County, IN. Wife, Sarah Jane Woods; daughter of John Woods and Susannah Buffington.
• 1850: Lived in Cass County, IN - Listed as James Brown on census.
• 1856: Purchased land in Lucas County, Iowa
• 1860 - 1887: Lived in Lucas County, Iowa
• 1887: Died on 02 Apr 1887 in Lucas County, Iowa.

Children of Jeremiah John Brower and Sarah Woods:

1. John Wesley Brower b. 19 May 1849, Cass Co., Indiana
2. Mary Brower b. abt. 1851 Cass Co., Indiana
3. Susan Isabell Brower b. 07 Apr 1855, Lucas Co., Iowa
4. Albert W. Brower b. 20 Jul 1857, Lucas Co., Iowa
5. Eliza J. Brower b. 09 Nov 1859, Lucas Co., Iowa
6. James Allen Brower b. 20 Jan 1862, Lucas Co., Iowa
7. Martha C. Brower b. 03 Aug 1866, Lucas Co., Iowa

It's possible his father was named John and mother Mary or Polly, but not absolute. 

I did find what appears to be a John Brower in Cass County, IN in 1840 census records. Listed with him is a male between the ages of 20 and 30 and a female listed between the ages of 20 and 30. The other male listed between the ages of 70 and 80. The 70 to 80 year old could be Jeremiah's father or grandfather. The male between 20 to 30 could also be Jeremiah JOHN Brower and the woman his sister??  Seems more likely this would be his grandfather. No other information on this supposed John BROWER has been located. Other Brower's in the surrounding area of Logansport, Indiana all come from HUBERT BROWER, not from Adam Brouwer. 

Here are two pictures of Jeremiah John Brower and his wife Sarah Woods: 

If you have any information that could help me with this connection, please drop me a comment on this post.