Children of Margaret Bonzo and Abraham Brown:
Notes for Margaret and Abraham:
For more information on this family, you can Contact a Descendant.
For more information on the Peter Lewis Bonzo line, you can Ask the Experts.
Please bear in mind that these two contacts may be the same person.
MARGARET BONZO, daughter of Peter Lewis Bonzo and Margaretta B. Zahler, was born July 13, 1832 in New Sewickley township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and died May 24, 1912 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. She married ABRAHAM MOORE BROWN 1852. He was born April 03, 1831 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and died June 21, 1899 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania
Daniel Lewis Brown was born November 13, 1856 in Lima, Allen county, Ohio. In about 1881, in Pittsburgh, he married Elizabeth A. unknown.
Charles Madison Brown married Nancy Jane Trunick.
Henry P. Brown was born August 31, 1861 in McClure township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He died on May 8, 1875.
Lee Harvey Brown married Jane Harvey.
MARGARET BONZO:
Information is from Bonzo and Brown Family histories.
CENSUS: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1910
The 1910 census notes 5 children, 3 living. Birth and Baptism from St.Paul's records.
Burial: May 27, 1912, Uniondale cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Christening: March 17, 1833, St. Paul's, Zelienople, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Running A Boarding House For Railroad Workers In 1900
ABRAHAM MOORE BROWN:
Census: 1860, 1870, 1880
Burial: June 25, 1899, Uniondale cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Carpenter, Railroading, Bridge Builder, Restaurant Owner
The following is from his death notice in the 24 June 1899, edition of the Pittsburgh Gazette:
PANHANDLE BROWN DEAD
The Veteran Railroader and Temperance Advocate Abraham Moore Brown, widely known as "Panhandle" Brown, who for years has been closely associated with Francis Murphy, the temperance evangelist, in his work, died last evening at his home on Bedford Avenue. His career was an interesting one, crowded with incidents, and the man himself was of such a character that he became known to thousands. Mr. Brown was born in Pittsburg and lived here all his life. He spent practically 8 years in the Hill District. His father, many years ago, was also well known. He was the first municipal policeman to patrol Second Avenue with a long mace and lantern. The son began early to work for a living. He drove mules on the old canal for some time. Then he took to railroading, and was employed as a bridge builder on the Ft. Wayne road, then being constructed. After the road was completed, he entered the train service. Later, he became yardmaster at the Cleveland and Pittsburg yards at Penn Street, and held that position until the Civil war broke out. Mr. Brown was one of a number of Pittsburg railroad men who did good service during the war in handling troop and supply trains. He was employed under Frank Thompson, the recently deceased president of the PA Railroad. During his army experience he followed the march of Sherman's conquering army to the sea as conductor of a hospital train. For some time he conducted a restaurant for the government at Chattanooga, Tenn., and he was there during the battle of Lookout Mountain. After the war, he returned to Pittsburg and was employed by the Panhandle Railroad. He ran the first freight train out of Steubenville, Ohio, to Pittsburg, and became so well known that he was nicknamed after the road. In 1877 his health began to fail, and he opened a restaurant on Twelfth Street afterward removing to Fountain and Washington Streets. Railroaders were his chief patrons. It was about this time that Brown signed a "Murphy Pledge." He became actively interested in the temperance cause, but never became identified with the Prohibition Party, as he was always an ardent Republican. He became President of the Murphy Gospel Temperance Assn. Last winter Mr. Brown caught a heavy cold, and about three weeks ago his condition became so serious that he could not leave his house. He sank rapidly during the past week until death came. The deceased was a member of Elias Wildeman Lodge No. 549, I.O.O.F. He was married 47 years ago to Margaret Bonzo of Beaver County who survives him, with three sons, D. L. Brown of Steubenville, Ohio, passenger conductor on the Panhandle; Charles M. Brown of Sheridan, PA, a freight train conductor on the same road, and Lee H. Brown, yard clerk at the Sheridan Scales for the Panhandle. One sister, Mrs. Fanny Bates (husband-William), of Allen County, Lima, Ohio, and their children, also survives.
