Given Names: Selina Jane Surname: BROWN Nickname: Jenny Married Name: Selina Jane LANHAM Married Name: Selina Jane EISENBARTH
Gender: Female
Birth:1 September 18683328 -- Letart, Meigs County, Ohio, USA Death:16 February 1950 (Age 81) -- 432 Front Street, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, USA
Note: I, Jennie B[rown] Eisenbarth, of Marietta, Washington County, Ohio....this 21st day of August 1945....debts to be paid, bequeath unto my sister Alice B. Chapman of Hartford, West Virginia, my white diamond finger ring and my old Grandpa Brown Sofa with the wish it remain in the Brown family...my son Eugene H my yellow diamond finger ring, which was my engagement ring, unto my daughter, Ignace Eisenbarth McCurdy and my son Eugene H Eisenbarth and my daughter Dennella Miracle an undivided one thir interest to each of them my home property at 432 Front Street...unto children and unto Alice B Chapman, George W Brown, Harry B Brown, Miles O Brown and Marlin A. Brown, my surviving sister and brothers in eight (8) equal shares all my household goods and personal effects...balance of estate to Ignace stepdaughter 20%, Dennella stepdaughter 20%, Eugene H stepson 20%, Alice B Chapman sister 8%, George W Brown 8%, Harry M Brown 8%, Miles O Brown 8%, Marlin A Brown brother 8%....daughter Ignace Executrix.....Charles Fogle of Marietta attorney
Note: A local newspaper described Jenny's wedding to Harry Lanham. "Today at high noon at the spacious country home of the bride's parents, M.D. Brown and wife of Hartford City Rev. Correll of the Methodist Church spoke the vows that united forever the destinies of Harry C. Lanham and Miss Jennie S. Brown. George Thomas of Charleston was the best man and Alice Brown, sister of the bride was maid of honor. The bride was attired in a cream colored lansdown with train, with trimmings of cream lace and pearl ornaments. The groom, in full dress, was the embodiment of manly grace. Refreshments were served to two hundred guests. Messrs. Thomas, Newton, Ginther, and Harpold did the serving."
Note: Mr. Ellsworth E. Eisenbarth of Washington County and State of Ohio and Mrs Jennie S. Brown of Mason County and State of West Virginia; to whom the accompanying Marriage License is issued.
The full names of the parties are as follows: His full name is Ellsworth E. Eisenbarth Her full name is Jennie S. Brown His age is 43 years. Her age is 39 years. He was born in Lawrence County, State of Ohio. She was born in Meigs County, State of Ohio. His place of residence is Washington County Ohio. Her place of residence is Mason County, State of West Virginia. The name of the party giving the foregoing information is Ellsworth E. Eisenbarth of Washington County, State of Ohio. Given Under My Hand, this 9th day of December 1907 W.R.B. Smith, Clerk. MINISTER'S RETURN OR ENDORSEMENT. I, Wm. E. Craig, a Minister of the Gospel of the M.E. Church do certify, that on the 10 day of Dec. 1907, at Hartford in Mason County, State of West Virginia, I united in Marriage the above named and described parties, under authority of the foregoing License.
Note: Several years after Ellsworth Eisenbarth's wife Julia died, his showboat, "The Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theater" pulled into Hartford, West Virginia. An irate schoolteacher came aboard to complain to Captain Eisenbarth that the boat's evening performance was interrupting a play being given by her students. How that dispute was settled is not know, but obviously they worked things out because that teacher was Jennie Brown, who married Ellsworth Eisenbarth.
Jennie was not happy with river life, so they settled in Marietta, Ohio, where they had a beautiful home near the river at 432 Front Street. Ellsworth died there in 1928.
I have always felt badly for Jennie (I was only 3 when she died so I didn't know her), but the story was always so heavily biased to the strong and ever-abiding love between Ellsworth and his first wife Julia. Ellsworth was taken back to new Martinsville to be buried beside Julia.
Jennie remained in the family home in Marietta until her death there in 1950. She died at home in Marietta, but her family took her to the Brown burial plot in Hartford, West Virginia.
Jennie was always in the role of stepmother. She raised Ignace, Denella and Uncle Gene because Julia Ann Eisenbarth had died soon after the birth of Julia Pauline. Julia Pauline was taken by her mother's sister and her husband and was raised in Sistersville. Jennie was obviously a good stepmother. Her notes and cards to the children were always signed "Mama." Uncle Gene always spoke highly of her.
Note: 1910: Ellsworth, 44 and Jennie, 40, had three children and a servant at home. The children were Dennalla, 16, Ignace, 11 and Eugene 5. Margaret Hagan, 46, was the "servant." I believe that Margaret Hagan had known the Eisenbarths--perhaps had nursed the mother of the children--in New Martinsville or Sistersville, West Virginia.
1920: Ellsworth is 54. They were renting their house. At home were Jennie, 51, Ignace, 20 and Eugene 15. Dennalla had left home.
1930: Only Jennie, 48 [actually 62] and Ignace, 28 were at home. Ellsworth had died. Jennie was renting her home for $35 per month. At some stage, she had rented out the lower part of the house and was now living upstairs. Ignace was a dentist's assistant.
Funeral
Note: Jennie's brother Miles Oscar Brown was in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, visiting his son Max and family in 1950 when Jennie died. Miles took the train to Parkersburg where his son Harold met him and took him to Marietta for the funeral.
Memories
Note: Jennie Brown Eisenbarth always looked like "the grand dame," with nice clothes, jewelry, etc. She was also jolly.
Note: On their honeymoon Jennie and Ellsworth went to various places in the East, including Richmond, Virginia, where Ellsworth mailed a postcard to his daughter Ignace in Marietta. Postmarked December 11 (Wed.) it said, "We are well Ignace. How are you? Papa" The picture on the card was of St. John's church, where Patrick Henry made his famous speech. "Give me liberty or give me death!"
The second card was addressed to little Gene from Jennie. Postmarked December 13, 1907, it read "Would love to see my little sweetheart. Mamma." The picture was a street scene in Norfolk, Virginia.
Note: Jennie and E.E. were married on 10 December 1907, and from all accounts had a happy life together during the 21 years of their marriage. Ellsworth's wife Julia Anderson had died very young, leaving him to bring up their four surviving children. Jennie became a loving second mother to the children.
Miss Jennie S. Brown and Mr. Ellsworth E. Eisenbarth were married Tuesday Dec. 10th at 10.30 a.m. at the home of the bride by Rev. William Craig, of the Methodist Episcopal church of Central City. Miss Brown is the daughter of Capt. Matt Brown of Hartford, and is a popular young lady. She has been for some time one of Mason county's prominent teachers. The groom is from New Martinsville and is a refined and well-to-do gentleman. He owns and manages the Eisenbarth show boat and is well known along our river. The bride wore a brown traveling suuit which was quite becoming. The groom looked his best in the conventional black. Only the relatives and a few intimate friends were present. A fine lunch was served and Mr. and Mrs. Eisenbarth left on the 5:15 train for Huntington. They will go to Washington, New York and other points of the east. Mr. and Mrs. Eisenbarth received the congratulations and best wishes of a host of friends. They will be at home after January 1st at 509 Front street, Marietta, Ohio.--Hartford Correspondent.
Cause of death: Coronary thrombosis; arteriosclerotic heart disease G.E. Huston, MD
Note: On the death certificate it says that the informant was Ignace McCurdy and that the embalmer and funeral director was Harry S. McCurdy, presumably Ignace's husband, brother-in-law or father-in-law.
On the death certificate we learn that Jennie died on the 16 day of February 1950 when she wa 81y 5m and 15d old. Her date of birth was September 1, 1868. She was widowed. Her father's name was Mathew Brown; her mother's name was Mariam Alex ander. She had no social security number.
The disease or condition directly leading to death was "Coronary thrombosis, acute 1 hour. For antecedent causes: "Arteriosclerotic heart disease 8 yrs?" and "Generalized arteriosclerosis 10 yrs?" [Why the question marks?]
Note: Jenny Eisenbarth, 81, widow of Captain E.E. Eisenbarth died Thursday at 6 p.m. at her home at 432 Front Street following a heart attack. She was born September 1, 1868 at Letart, Ohio. She taught in the schools of Mason County. She married November 10, 1908. The service will be at the First Methodist Church. Hood Funeral Home.
Note: Mrs. Jennie Brown Eisenbarth, 81, widow of Capt. E. E. Eisenbarth, died unexpectedly Thursday at 6 p. m. at her home, 432 Front St., following a heart attack.
Mrs. Eisenbarth was born Sept. 1, 1868 at Letart, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Brown. She lived at Hartford City, W. Va., in her early life and taught in the schools of Mason co., W.Va., until her marriage Nov. 10, 1908, to Capt. E. E. Eisenbarth. She lived on the Captain Eisenbarth showboat for a time before moving to Marietta after the turn of the century. Captain Eisenbarth, who was a pioneer in the show-boat business on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and who also had been associated with Al Fields Minstrels, died in Marietta in 1925. Mrs. Eisenbarth was a member of the First Methodist Church, Marietta Chapter No. 59, Order of Eastern Star, Marietta Shrine No. 12, White Shrine of Jerusalem and Marietta Temple No. 231, Pythian Sisters. She had served as treasurer of the order of Eastern Star. Survivors are her step-son and step-daughters, Eugene H. Eisenbarth, who is located in Florida with an entertainment group for men in military service, Mrs. R. C. Miracle of Philadelphia, Pa., Mrs. John Roberts of Bridgport and Mrs. Ignace McCurdy, wife of Dr. T.C. McCurdy of Marietta. Brothers and sister are Miles Brown of Mason City, W.Va., Marlin Brown of Lancaster, George Brown of Columbus and Mrs. Alice Chapman of Hartford City, W.Va. There are three step-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Hood funeral home, 318 Second St. The Rev. C. William Black will officiate. Burial will be in the cemetery at Hartford City. The Harry S. McCurdy funeral home at Beverly has charge of arrangements.