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William C. Brown Cemetery ~ Violet Ann Kersey
~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Kersey, Violet Ann
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| LAST NAME: Kersey
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FIRST NAME: Violet
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MIDDLE NAME: Ann
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NICKNAME:
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| MAIDEN NAME: Brown
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AKA 1:
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AKA 2:
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AKA 3:
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| GENDER: F
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TITLE:
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| BORN: 27 Apr 1851
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DIED: 22 Dec 1936
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BURIED: 24 Dec 1936 (William C. Brown Cemetery)
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| OCCUPATION:
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| BIRTH PLACE: Dallas, Polk Co, Oregon
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| DEATH PLACE: Dallas, Polk Co, Oregon
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NOTES:
Father: William C. Brown
Maiden Name of Mother: Martha J. Townsend
MARRIAGE - Wm. M. Kersey & V.A. Brown md 4 May 1869 at house of H. Hagood; J.L. Collins, Co Judge. Wit: W.S. Moore & Celia Harris
PHOTOGRAPH - the picture of Violet Kersey is shown courtesy of David Kromer
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DEATH CERTIFICATE:
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OBITUARY:
DEATH CALLS CITY'S OLDEST PIONEER DEC. 22
Mrs. Ann Kersey, Born Near Dallas In 1851, Passes After Long Illness; Funeral Services Set For Thursday
Mrs. Violet Ann Kersey, 85, the oldest native born resident of Dallas and Polk county, passed away Tuesday at her hoem here. Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 pm at the Henkle & Bollman chapel, with Rev. C.J. Cole, pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist church, officiating. Interment will be in the Brown cemetery.
Mrs. Kersey was born April 27, 1851, on her parents’ donation land claim north of Dallas where E.J Page now resides. She was the daughter of W.C. Brown, prominent early day Dallas resident who came to Oregon in 1847. His future wife, Martha J. Townsend, was in the same immigrant train. Mr. Brown came to Polk county in 1848 and married Martha Townsend August 2, 1848. They filed on a donation land claim of 640 acres and their first log cabin was built in the fall of 1848 on a spot 200 yards northwesterly of the present home of Mr. Page on Hawthorn highway. In this log cabin Mrs. Kersey was born.
In 1853 Mr. Brown bought out the Ellendale general merchandise store stock from J.W. Nesmith and moved it to Cynthian, as North Dallas was then called. In 1856 the courthouse and town was moved across the LaCreole to its present location and in 1857 Mr. Brown moved his store. He continued in the merchandise business until his retirement in 1903. He was in this business continuously for 50 years. Mr. Brown was known for his generosity and kindness to all. He gained wide recognition when he contributed thousands of nickles on the courthouse lawn for the children of the community. This unique act gained publicity for him far and wide and even appeared in an English publication. He was also prominent in civic affairs and served in the legislature.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of five children and with the passing of Mrs. Kersey the chapter in the life of the Brown family has been closed. Mrs. Kersey was the only daughter. The four sons were John G. Brown, Joseph L. Brown, Alonzo Brown and Henry M. Brown. Mrs. Kersey was married to William Mason Kersey May 4, 1869. The late Judge James Collins performed the ceremony. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom survive. They are Mrs. Ora Alice Grant, Mrs. Pearl Shaw and Frank E. Kersey, all of Dallas. Mrs. Kersey leaves five grandchildren, Mrs L.L. McCarty, Georgia McClanathan and Retta Mae Kersey of Dallas, Mrs J.C. Ponsler of Florence and Halden Grant of Salem.
Mr. Kersey, who was one of the early Polk county pioneers, passed away November 12, 1921.
Mrs. Kersey in earlier years was active in church affairs in Dallas and was a loyal worker in the WTCU. She leaves a wide circle of friends. She had spent her entire life in Dallas with the exception of two years in Missouri.
Itemizer Observer 24 Dec 1936 1:3, 12:4
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INSCRIPTION:
Kersey
Violet A., his wife
1851-1936
[shares marker with husband William M. Kersey; marker also mentions two sons and two daughters, no names or dates given]
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SOURCES:
Branigar Survey
Saucy Survey & Photographs
Polk Co, Oregon, Marriage Records, 1849-1879, p 45
Kromer Collection
IO 24 Dec 1936 1:3, 12:4
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