Born: January 1897 (Grave Marker states 1896) in Hollywood, WV (Monroe County) – based on information given to 1900 Census takers; In book entitled “Descendants of Mary & Joseph Ridgeway”, dated 1987, Page 129 lists Pearl Gladys birth as 24 December 1896, but this book is known to have errors and does not list the source of the information.

1900 Census: Shows Pearl living with her parents Bernard Elliot and Mary Catherine Stuart in the Second Creek District of Monroe County; Birthday listed as January 1897; She has one older brother (George Hollie was born in 30 April 1895 – Confirmed by his birth registry at WV Archives) and one younger brother (William R or Willie who was born in April 1900 & died in 1901); Other information – Bernard could not read or write, worked as a Day Laborer, & did not work for two months in 1899; Mary (also listed as Molly) could read and write; and they rented their house.

1910 Census: Shows Pearl living with her Parents Bernard Elliot and Mary Catherine Stuart in the Wolf Creek District of Monroe County; Age listed as 12 when 1910 Census was taken which could mean she was born in 1898, not 1897; She has two brothers (George Hollie and one listed as “Babe”) and two sisters (Blanche Evelyn & Katie K – probably Sarah Catherine); Other information – Bernard worked as a Tractor Engineer; Mary (also listed as Molly) was listed as a housewife; and they rented their house.

1st Marriage: Emerson Preston Brown on 26 August 1912 in Union, WV according to Marriage License which lists Mr. Brown’s age as 21 and Ms. Ridgeway’s age as 16 which would mean she was born in 1896 not 1897 as stated by her parents in the 1900 Census.

1920 Census: Pearl is listed as living with Emerson and 4 children (Willard, Earl, Althea Marie, & James) in Huntington (Cabell County), WV and her age is 23, which means she was born in late 1896 or early 1897. Emerson and Pearl can both read and write.

1930 Census: Pearl is listed as living with Emerson and 9 children (Willard, Earl, Althea Marie, James, Burrell, Opal, Horace, Nellie, & Wilma) in Precinct 4 Cabin Creek District, Union Mines (Kanawha County), WV and her age is 32. It also asks what her age was for her first marriage and it is listed as 15 which means this is in error or they lied on the marriage license.

2nd Marriage: Earl McVernon Ambler on 3 June 1938 in Ronceverte, WV. Mr. Ambler was previously married to Pearl’s Sister “Evelyn”. List both of them being divorced with Pearl’s divorce being final on 17 August 1936 and her birthday is listed as 23 April 1900 which correlates with the age listed for her as 38. Also, states she was born in Hollywood (Monroe County), WV, which is likely but not confirmed. Lists her parents as B.E. & Mollie Ridgeway.

1940 Census: Pearl Brown (not using last name of Ambler) living in Fort Spring District, Ronceverte, WV with three of her children (Burrell - 22, Opal - 19, & Horace - 13). Her occupation is that she Irons and does Laundry. She reported that she earned $312.00 in 1939. She rents the house they live in and she has two boarders living with her as well. Her age is listed as 40, which means she would have been born in 1900 the same year as her brother William, but the 1900 Census states she is 3 years old.

3rd Marriage: Fred D. Huffman on 28 April 1947 in Hinton, WV. Pearl is listed as divorced and her name only states she is Pearl Brown, not Pearl Ambler. He is listed as 30 years of age and Single. Pearl’s age is listed as 43, which is definitely incorrect. Also, states she was born in Fayette County, WV, which is not correct either. In the 1960s, Pearl ran a restaurant in Ronceverte for many years.

Died: 20 November 1967 in Beckley, WV (Raleigh County). Specifics listed in recorded death record include: (1) Listed as Pearl Brown Huffman; (2) White; (3) Female; (4) Cause of Death was listed as Cerebral Thrombosis, Cerebral Arterio Sclerosis, and Diabetes Mellitus; (5) Age listed as 68.