Who Was This Man?
Mary Louella Brown's Beau
Taken at Richards Photographic Art Studio
Sullivan County, PA About 1890
Photo from Pauline Wood Ashby, contributed by Shirley Yarber

Mary Lou's Beau
A Tale of Abandoned Love
 Shirley Yarber is the great-grandniece of Mary Louella Brown, the female protagonist in our story. Mary Louella was the sister of Margaret Eldora (Brown) Dieffenbach, Shirley's greatgrandmother. The picture of Mary Louella Brown, shown below, was received from Shirley's cousin, Margaret Dieffenbach Weyer. The photo and information on Mary Louella's amour was provided by another cousin, Pauline Woods Sparks, granddaughter of Mary Louella Brown. We are grateful to all these parties for the story and supporting materials.

Mary Louella Brown was the daughter of Mary Ellen Bartley and Nathan Lewis Brown of Colley, Sullivan county, PA. Nathan died on September 3, 1871 from complications due to Civil War injuries, and Mary Louella was born 24 days after his death. Her mother, Mary Ellen (Bartley) Brown, remarried William Mosier, son of Christian and Catherine (Yonkin) Mosier. The family moved west to California in 1890. Mary Louella was 19 years old and didn't want to leave her beau behind. However, her stepfather and mother insisted. With a broken heart, Mary Louella left this handsome young man. His heart was probably broken too. But who was he?!!

Can our readers help solve the mystery?



Mary Louella Brown
Age 19 in 1890
Photo from Margaret Dieffenbach Weyer, contributed by Shirley Yarber

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