H0254 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Wilma Elaine Brown

Born at Missouri in 1915 and last recorded at Butler in 1930.

born about 1915 at Missouri, United States died after 1930

Life story

Wilma Elaine Brown was a daughter of Troy F. Brown and Bertha Hegnauer, who had married at Butler, Bates County, Missouri, in April 1905.1 She was born about 1915 in Missouri, according to the census entries the old family tree attaches to her; by the 1920 entry she was then a daughter in a household in Hudson Township, Bates County, a few miles from Appleton City.2

The Browns made their home at Appleton City, just across the county line in St. Clair County. In March 1927 Wilma's grandfather, Martin Hegnauer, died near Rockville; his obituary, sent to the paper by her father, "Dr. Troy Brown", named among his survivors "two granddaughters, Arlene and Wilma Brown", and reported that "Mrs. Troy Brown and family of Appleton City" came to the funeral.3 Her sister was Ramona Arlene, called Arlene.3

In 1930, by the census entry attached in the old family tree, Wilma was still single and living with her family at Butler, the county seat of Bates County.4 Her later life has not yet been traced.

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Missouri, 1915
  • Death, 1930
  • 3 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Death. When and where she died is not yet known.
  • Sources. Her grandfather's obituary (1927) was read on the image.

Sources

Source 1

1 Bates County, Missouri, 1905

Bates County, Missouri, marriage licence and certificate: licence issued at Butler 3 April 1905 to Troy F. Brown of Appleton City, County of St. Clair, and Bertha Hegnauer of Rich Hill, County of Bates; certificate that they were married at Butler on 5 April 1905 by the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Butler; in "Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805–2002," database with images, Ancestry.com, Bates County record images 1903–1911, image 77 (image read 27 September 2026).

Source 2

2 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Hudson Township, 1915

1920 U.S. Federal Census, Hudson Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 9, sheet 5A, NARA T625, roll 905; database with images, Ancestry.com: the entry attached in the old family tree to Wilma Elaine Brown (daughter, single, born about 1915, Missouri); neither the index entry nor the image has been read by the study.

Source 3

3 Appleton City Journal, 1927

"Martin Hegnauer Dead," Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 31 March 1927, p. 6, Rockville department: survived by "two daughters, Mrs. A. J. Harden, of Rockville, and Mrs Troy Brown, of Appleton City," a son, Martin Jr., "and two granddaughters, Arlene and Wilma Brown"; the notice "was sent to the writer by Dr. Troy Brown, son-in-law of Mr. Hegnauer"; in the same column, "Mrs. Troy Brown and family of Appleton City, attended the funeral of her father"; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863945723).

Source 4

4 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Butler, 1915

1930 U.S. Federal Census, Butler, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 19, sheet 16A, FHL microfilm 2340911; database with images, Ancestry.com: the entry attached in the old family tree to Wilma Elaine Brown (daughter, single, born about 1915, Missouri); neither the index entry nor the image has been read by the study.

Life in time

about 1915

Birth , Missouri, United States

proven Sources 2, 3, 4

How we know

From the 1920 and 1930 census entries attached to her in the old family tree (not read by the study). She was living in Mar 1927, when her grandfather's obituary names her.

The old family tree attaches the 1920 and 1930 censuses to her, with a birth about 1915 in Missouri; the study has not read either entry. Her parents married in Apr 1905, and her grandfather's obituary of Mar 1927 names her among his granddaughters, so she was born between 1905 and 1927 on the evidence the study has read.

  1. 1915 Birth about 1915 · Missouri, United States · proven

    From the 1920 and 1930 census entries attached to her in the old family tree (not read by the study). She was living in Mar 1927, when her grandfather's obituary names her.

    The old family tree attaches the 1920 and 1930 censuses to her, with a birth about 1915 in Missouri; the study has not read either entry. Her parents married in Apr 1905, and her grandfather's obituary of Mar 1927 names her among his granddaughters, so she was born between 1905 and 1927 on the evidence the study has read.

    Sources 2, 3, 4

  2. 1920 Residence Hudson Township, Bates · proven

    Daughter, single, in the census of Hudson Township, Bates County (E.D. 9, sheet 5A), as attached in the old family tree; the entry has not been read.

    The old family tree attaches this census entry to her; the household has not been read, so it is not yet confirmed that it is her parents'.

    Source 2

  3. 1927 Residence Mar 1927 · Appleton City, St. Clair · proven

    "Mrs. Troy Brown and family of Appleton City" attended her grandfather's funeral; the obituary names his granddaughters Arlene and Wilma Brown.

    Her grandfather's obituary places her mother and family at Appleton City and names her.

    Source 3

  4. 1930 Residence Butler, Bates · proven

    Daughter, single, in the census of Butler, Bates County (E.D. 19, sheet 16A), as attached in the old family tree; the entry has not been read.

    The old family tree attaches this census entry to her; the household has not been read.

    Source 4

  5. 1930 Death after 1930 · proven

    Her death has not been found.

    She was living in Mar 1927 (her grandfather's obituary) and, by the census entry attached in the old tree, in 1930. No death or burial record has been found.

    Sources 3, 4

  • proven

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Places in this life

4 places, in order
1 2 3 4
  1. 1 Missouri, United States Birth about 1915
  2. 2 Hudson Township, Bates County Residence 1920
  3. 3 Appleton City, St. Clair County Residence Mar 1927
  4. 4 Butler, Bates County Residence 1930

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

This page Wilma Elaine Brown c. 1915–aft. 1930
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The evidence 5 facts with their grades, 4 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth about 1915 Missouri, United States proven 2 , 3 , 4
Residence 1920 Hudson Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 2
Residence Mar 1927 Appleton City, St. Clair, Missouri, United States proven 3
Residence 1930 Butler, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 4
Death after 1930 proven 3 , 4

Research notes

  • Sources: Her grandfather's obituary (1927) was read on the image. The 1920 and 1930 census entries are known only as record citations in the old family tree; the study has not read them, so the household members and her exact age are unconfirmed.3, 2, 4
  • Name: "Wilma Brown" in 1927; the middle name Elaine is from the old family tree only.3
  • Living flag: Born about 1915 by the censuses attached in the old tree, and before Mar 1927 on the obituary, she is treated as deceased under the study's 100-year rule, though no death has been found.
  • Leads: read the 1920 and 1930 census entries (they should show her parents, and the 1930 entry her father's occupation as "Dr."); the 1940 census; Missouri marriage records under Brown; her mother's obituary (Jan 1956, Appleton City), which would give her married name; the Social Security Death Index; Find a Grave.
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study, as a granddaughter of Martin Hegnauer.

Working notes

  • Daughter of Troy Brown and Bertha Hegnauer (H0013); 1920 Hudson and 1930 Butler, Bates Co. (6061/78177184, 6224/6133155); old tree 165462681 @I252718693588@

Sources

  1. 1

    Bates County, Missouri, marriage licence and certificate: licence issued at Butler 3 April 1905 to Troy F. Brown of Appleton City, County of St. Clair, and Bertha Hegnauer of Rich Hill, County of Bates; certificate that they were married at Butler on 5 April 1905 by the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Butler; in "Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805–2002," database with images, Ancestry.com, Bates County record images 1903–1911, image 77 (image read 27 September 2026).

  2. 2

    1920 U.S. Federal Census, Hudson Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 9, sheet 5A, NARA T625, roll 905; database with images, Ancestry.com: the entry attached in the old family tree to Wilma Elaine Brown (daughter, single, born about 1915, Missouri); neither the index entry nor the image has been read by the study.

  3. 3

    "Martin Hegnauer Dead," Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 31 March 1927, p. 6, Rockville department: survived by "two daughters, Mrs. A. J. Harden, of Rockville, and Mrs Troy Brown, of Appleton City," a son, Martin Jr., "and two granddaughters, Arlene and Wilma Brown"; the notice "was sent to the writer by Dr. Troy Brown, son-in-law of Mr. Hegnauer"; in the same column, "Mrs. Troy Brown and family of Appleton City, attended the funeral of her father"; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863945723).

  4. 4

    1930 U.S. Federal Census, Butler, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 19, sheet 16A, FHL microfilm 2340911; database with images, Ancestry.com: the entry attached in the old family tree to Wilma Elaine Brown (daughter, single, born about 1915, Missouri); neither the index entry nor the image has been read by the study.