This photo, taken in the early 1990's, shows my mother, Dorothy Brown Walthall, with the old W. P. Brown mansion in the background.

The mansion sits upon land formerly owned by mom's great-grandmother, Mary E. Lavis Hicks.

Whenever I would accompany my mother down to Coffeyville (she lived in Kansas City) she would tell me about what she remembered of the old days, the stories and events of her youth. She would repeat some things over and over.

On at least several occasions mom made emphatic, but vague, reference to her great-grandmother, Mary Hicks.

She was very excited to tell me all about Mary Hicks, but her memories had faded over the years. She was unable to adequately tell her stories and it frustrated her to the point of tears. There was something she very much wanted me to know.

She did succeed, however, in arousing my curiosity about her grandparents and her great grandmother. I think she would be pleased that the story was not lost and that at least some of what she wanted us to know has now been documented.

I have transcribed this lengthy piece in the biography where it is much easier to read.

This is a letter I received from Mary Brown Stumbaugh (Lady Mary's granddaughter) in the early 1980's. She is responding to a letter I had sent to her brother Ted requesting information about the family. It is quite difficult to read, so I have transcribed it as follows:

Sunday

Dear Gene

Thelma, Ted's wife, sent me your letter as Ted is in a nursing home. I am glad of this opportunity to write and hear from you again I hope.

My daughter Virginia McMillion lives in Duluth Minn. We were in England and Scotland this June. It was the greatest! I shall try to not get carried away & just give you the facts of the Browns. I wrote to a Brown relative, my great nephew had located a few years ago so a link was established. They had a family tree back to Tom Brown born 1692 (his parents are there too on the tree). They took us to an old church in Silverton which had plaques (?) on the walls concerning very early Browns then to Kingerswill & the family church there at a village near Barton Hall. A picture of Barton Hall hung in my home & parents home.
My father was born there. 1862 his father was thrown from a horse & killed at the age of 25 so his mother came to the states when he was about 7 I believe. He had a brother Henry who never married.
I can see this could go on to quite a lengthy letter so will add one more bit of information & answer your questions. The Tom Brown of 1692 inherited from his godfather, who had no children or relatives with sons, several pieces of land. The godfather, Sir Henry Langford, requested the name Langford be used with Brown for all male children. My parents just named their first son, however Tom used it with his son & his grandson carries it too so that is interesting.
I live at Smith Center Kan half way across the state on highway 36. I have my house for sale, so don't know how long I will be here. Another month anyway. If you would like to get in touch with me again after that write in care of my daughter, Mrs. Jim Templeton 1011 East 10th Coffeyville, Kan. Write me about yourself. Weren't you & a brother Phillip (?) & sister at Joe's funeral? Seems I heard you were in the Air Corps.
Hope I haven't confused you.

Love
Great Aunt Mary

This appeared in the London Times on May 21, 1860.

Because the photo is so small and hard to read, I have transcribed it - hopefully without error - as follows:

"BARTON - HALL, near Torquay. - To be LET, for a term of one, two, or three years, with early possession, partially furnished, that splendid MANSION called Barton-hall, fit for the residence of a family of distinction. It is one of the most healthy and delightful situations in the west of England, surrounded by extensive pleasure grounds, shrubberies, and plantations, well stocked with abundance of game, and having most magnificent land and sea views. The mansion is of modern construction, having been erected about 20 years since by the late proprietor, at a cost of upwards of £10,000, and is replete with every convenience. There is a double coach house, stabling for 10 horses, capacious gardens with green-house and any part of 100 acres of land contiguous to the mansion may be rented therewith, and a right of shooting over 1,000 acres of land. The property may be viewed between the hours of 1 and 4, by cards of admission, to be obtained at the Directory-office, Torquay : or of Mr. John Wale, Kingerswill, near Newton Abbot, Devon : and further particulars may be known of him, or of R. Francis, Esq., solicitor, Newton Bashel, Devon."

Here, in the middle of the page shown above, is the will of Sealy Langford Brown of Barton Hall.


This page was sent to me by Jim Hicks on 8-13-2014. Jim told me that he has "been working to assemble a large number of related families who left the towns around Northlew Devon around 1850, many coming to Chicago and others to parts of the Midwest".

According to Jim, his "Hicks ancestors left Northlew in 1857 and settled near Waterloo, Iowa. My gr-gr-grandfather William Hicks had four siblings who went to Chicago, one of those, I learned recently, being Philip Hicks. The connection seemed tenuous, but I found the Lavis family came from the same area in Devon and the last name Ellacott showed up on the Hicks and Lavis side. I first learned of the story of Mary Lavis Hicks from a woman by the name of Brown in England. She sent me pictures of the estate of Brown (or Langford) though I do not recall which as I am away from home on vacation with my family. When I return I would be glad to forward you the info."

So thanks for this information Jim. It helps to clarify the picture.

This appeared in The Coffeyville Journal on Monday, January 22, 1906.

This is a letter sent me by my great-aunt, Mary Brown Stumbaugh. Her letter is not dated, but I believe it was written about 1979-81. Her writing is difficult to read. Therefore, I have transcribed it below:

Dear Gene

Thelma, Ted's wife, sent me your letter as Ted is in a nursing home. I am glad of this opportunity to write & hear from you again I hope.

My daughter,Virginia McMillion lives in Duluth, Minn. We were in England & Scotland this June. It was the greatest! I should try to not get carried away & just give you a few facts of the Browns. I wrote to a Brown relative my great nephew had located a few years ago so a link was established.

They had a family tree back to Tom Brown born 1692 (his parents are there too on the tree). They took us to an old church in Silverton which had plaques (?) on the walls concerning very early Browns then to Kingerswill & the family church there @ village near Barton Hall. A picture of Barton Hall hung in my home & parents home.

My father was born there 1862 his father was thrown from a horse & killed at the age of 25 so his mother came to the states when he was about 7 I believe. He had a brother Henry who never married.

I can tell this could go on to quite a lengthy letter so will add one more bit of information & answer your questions. The Tom Brown of 1692 inherited from his Godfather, who had no children or relatives with sons, several pieces of land. The Godfather, Sir Henry Langford, requested the name Langford be used with Brown for all male children. My parents just named their eldest son, however Tom used it with his son & his grandson carries it too so that is interesting.

I live at Smith Center Kan half way across the state on highway 36. I have my house for sale, so don't know how long I will be here - another month anyway. If you would like to get in touch with me again after that write in care of my daughter, Mrs Jim Templeton, 1011 East 10th, Coffeyville, Kan. Write me about yourself. Weren't you & a brother Phillip(?) & sister at Joe's funeral? Seems I heard you were in the Air Corp.

Hope I haven't confused you.
Love,
Great Aunt Mary

Mary Lavis married Sealy Langford Brown and became Lady Mary of Barton Hall. Sealy fell from a horse (in 1862 per Mary Brown's letter to me) and was killed.

Coincidentally, Barton Hall was destroyed by fire that same year. I found the following account online:

"At around 11.00pm on April 8th some of the servants in the Hall noticed smoke and then flames coming from the roof of the attics. The fire engines at Newton Abbot and Torquay were summoned but by this time the fire had a fierce hold and the furniture and contents were being carried out as quickly as possible. The fire was left to burn itself out which it did by 8.00pm. By this time the entire building had been destroyed with the exception of part of the out buildings at the rear. Restoration of the Hall was started immediately and the family stayed in Fluder House, some three quarters of a mile away, while reconstruction work continued."

However, Lady Mary apparently did not remain for long in Fluder House. With her husband now dead, she decided to go to America. One of more of her brothers were apparently already there and were living in Chicago.



This is obviously a photo of the reconstructed house. There are many questions left unanswered regarding exactly what transpired with regard to the estate and the events that brought Mary, her children, and her brothers to the USA. What little I know came from Mary Brown Stumbaugh and from searching the internet.

According to Mary Brown Stumbaugh:
1. "A picture of Barton Hall hung in my home & parents home. I gave the original to my nephew, Sealy. When Roy and I built our home west of Coffeyville he and his family gave us a copy which I have. You are most welcome to take a photo from it. Virginia and I saw it when we were over there last summer. A European Holiday company owns it now and shuttered it up. However there is enough of the original to verify its early appearance. It was built about 1820. From the family tree - Thomas Brown was given this land and several other pieces over in England by his father, Sir Henry Langford, who had no heirs. The name Langford was to be used with Brown for all Brown descendants. Barton Hall is a large house of 30 rooms."

2. "My father was born there 1862 his father was thrown from a horse & killed at the age of 25 so his mother came to the states when he was about 7 I believe."

Here is some additional information I found online:

"Henry Langford Brown, the great grandson of Thomas Brown, built Barton Hall in the 1830s in the then fashionable Tudor style, at a cost of £10,000. The site was chosen because of Langford’s interest in yachting. On arrival in Torquay he would fire a cannon to summon his coach to come and meet him at the harbour."

"The first recorded Lord of the Manor at Kingskerswell was King Edward the Confessor, 1042 – 1066, who was followed by William the Conqueror, 1066 – 1077. From then on it was passed down or bought until Sir Henry Langford was given the estate in 1710. This family originated from Langford, where stone effigies of the old family can still be seen lying in the church. Sir Henry Langford was the 3rd Sheriff of Devon and a Judge at Greys Inn, London. Sir Henry left the estate to his godson Thomas Brown."

In other words, this gold brooch had a long history connected with Barton Hall and the Brown family. And now its gone.

It's very tough to read the above, so I've done my best to translate below:


1. You said Sealy's mother came to the states when Sealy was about seven. What became of her? Is she buried at Coffeyville?

Mary Lavis, one of ten children, was born to Edward and Jane Lavis December 8, 1836. Her father was born June 24, 1803 to John and Elizabeth Lavis. His mother was born to George and Mary Ellicott (on) October 30, 1809. On the boat coming to the USA she, my grandmother, met and married E.O. Marlow. He had a wagon works (my parents said). They had one child, E. O. Marlow. Her husband in fighting the Chicago fire died from pneumonia. Later she went back to England married Philip Hicks, came back to U.S. They eventually came to Coffeyville (and) bought the land south of town. The land included what is now known as Brown Mansion - no relation of course. Not that house. He died, (and is) buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Coffeyville. She then married "Link" Clevenger. She sold the farm & moved to Hattiesburg Mississippi. There she owned a hotel, a pecan farm, and an oyster bed at Biloxie. She became ill. My father brought her back to Coffeyville. She is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, as are my father, mother, and your grandfather.

2. The picture of Barton Hall that hung in your parents home - what became of it?

I gave the original to my nephew, Sealy. When Roy and I built our home west of Coffeyville, he (Sealy) and his family gave us a copy which I have. You are most welcome to take a photo from it. Virginia and I saw it when we were there last summer. A European holiday company owns it now and (has) cluttered it up. However there is enough of the original to verify its lovely appearance. It was built about 1820. From the family tree - Thomas Brown was given this land and several other pieces ( one in Ireland) by his godfather, Sir Henry Langford, who had no heirs. The name "Langford" was to be used with "Brown" for all Brown descendants. Barton Hall is a large house - 30 rooms.

3. What do you know about your Uncle Henry?

My grandmother was declared his guardian. From that I gather he was not of sound mind. She cared for him until he died I guess. He is buried at Hattiesburg Mississippi - also E. O. Marlowe her son and grandson E. O. I met he and his wife in 1960-sometime after we retired and made a trip south. They came to the motel and we visited an hour or so. Sorry I hadn't known him through the years. He died shortly after we were there.) Also a granddaughter Anna May. She (is) married. Angus xxxxx, her son lives in Hattiesburg. I never met him. Eddies wife was remarried & lives there.

//////////////////////////////////////////////
Note: The above is Mary's understanding of the events, but there is a correction to be made. She may have met Philip Hicks in England, but he was already living in Chicago. That is where they purchased the marriage license, and almost certainly where they were married.

Mary purchased a farm near Coffeyville in 1881 and named it "Barton Hall Farm".

The farm Mary purchased was named "Graceland Farm" by its previous owner, Major Eldridge.

Eldridge was quite a guy, and a prominent figure in the early history of Kansas. Here is a link to his grave: Col. S. W. Eldridge

Here an article from the Chicago Tribune that addresses the subject of English titles. It is of particular interest in that it uses a fictitious "Lady Mary Brown" as one example.

This piece was published on July 11, 1891.

This was prime real estate, and Major Eldridge wasn't just anybody. Eldridge played a significant role in Kansas History and was a banker and VIP in Coffeyville's early days. The hotel in downtown Coffeyville was the "Eldridge Hotel".

This property would later belong to W.P. Brown (no relation). He too was a banker and community leader.

The W.P. Brown mansion replaced the Eldridge house, and probably sits on a somewhat different location and orientation.

Eldridge has a street in Coffeyville that bears his name. It is near Elmwood Cemetery and the W.P. Brown mansion.

The Brown Mansion is now a Coffeyville landmark and is open for tours.

This appeared in the Coffeyville newspaper on November 12, 1881.

Mary renamed the Eldridge farm, calling it "Barton Hall Farm". The Coffeyville newspaper, however, chose to call it simply "Barton Hall".

It appears that she was well suited to her role.

So many names!

Her husbands were:
1. Sealy Brown of Barton Hall, Devon England
2. E.O. Marlowe, a carpenter
3. Mr. Turner of Chicago
4. Philip Hicks of Devon England
5. M.E. "Link" Clevenger

As the article says, "she owned and lived on the W. P. Brown property", but this was before it was the the W. P. Brown property.

Mr. Brown purchased the land and the fine home that was already there. He then demolished the existing home and built a better one.

Here is notice of Henry Augustus Brown's death. This was published in the Coffeyville Journal.