Person:Rebecca Imboden (1)

  In phone conversation with Mrs. Closson I learned that Rebecca's deteriorating original Hewitt Cemetery stone (not her body) was removed by Mr. Closson husband (a professional grave stone maker in SD), repaired and placed next to grandson David in SD.  A new stone was later placed by them at the original plot in Hewitt Cemetery in Warren Co., IA.  After visiting the Hewitt Cemetery twice I suspected that they also replaced the stone for Daniel Braucht, but I forgot to clarify that with Lula Closson.  The large stone for Rebecca is enscribed, "Rebecca wife of Adam Braucht born Jan 12, 1793 died Jan 26, 1877" (see photo in my files).  Located nearly adjacent to her large (replacement) grave stone is an old smaller stone inscribed Sushanna Braucht, dau of A & (illegible data thereafter), only guessed to be a child of this Rebecca Imboden and Adam Braucht, Sr.
  Hewitt Cemetery is located by driving from Indianola, IA on Hwy 92 South at the Camp Wesly Woods road 6.8 miles (2.2 miles beyond the concrete road ending).  At the top of a hill there is a sharp right turn and the cemetery is at that curve on the left side.  It is a nonperpetual care cemetery, but usually adequately mowed.  Many of the stones are sinking or in sad condition, but some are rather new and when I visited there 25 June 2001 there were flowers at the large stone of Rebecca Braucht, wife of Adam.
  Rebecca Imboden filed two War of 1812 Widow Pension applications; one when living in PA shortly after his reported death in1832 and one later when living in IA.  Her daughter, Sophia, helped her with those applications, according to the signatures.  Rebecca apparently learned of husband's ruse and second family in PA when she was later challenged on a second veteran's pension application in 1871 because he attempted to claim veteran benefits after that date (must have been a huge shock to the family).
    Her marriage certificate translation is in my files, showing Daniel Braught, father of Adam,Sr.

Ruby Driskell reported Rebecca's birthday as 2 Feb. 1793 Her son Daniel had a diary that reported she was living at Jackson Twp of Dauphin Co., PA until the year her husband Adam (and she never remarried) disappeared after selling the homestead to John Nance'. She soon moved to rented property owned by her half-brother, John McAlister in the same area. In 1841 she rented a house from Joseph Kinderhoof, but as yet I am not certain of the location of that house beyond being in PA. One record incorrectly reports that she died in Burlington, Des Moines County, IA, and was born in Berks Co., PA (perhaps correct) and married at Campbelltown, PA. See Salem Church records of their marriage recorded there in Lebanon city, so perhaps she was recorded as from Campbelltown, only ten miles away? Although the marriage was recorded there, it is likely that the actual marriage did indeed occur at Tulpehoken, as that was typical processing then. I have a photo of the church holding that marriage record and still in use today.

  See Census 1850 PA; Dauphin County,, Halifax Twp, pg 289 for Rebecca Braught.  It is believed that she moved to Warren Co., IA about 1852.
 Rebecca was virtually, although apparently not legally, adopted by the Alexander McAllister's and happily reared with that family.  It is not clear what contact she had with the many other children of Philip Imboden's #2 marriage, but apparently not much.  This could suggest some strong emotion associated with the first (brief) marriage and their one child, Rebecca.   One report says that Rebecca was at Paul's Valley, PA in Aug.1849 (no more details).  She apparently move to Warren County, IA to live with her son, Daniel around 1852.
   On the same Hewitt Cem. row with Rebecca is a stone engraved, "Susan J. Braught, daughter of A & R., d. Jul 22, 1862"  If this is a missing daughter, when was she born and why was she not mentioned more often, such as some census after 1810, etc.?  Is this a daughter-in-law (of whom?)   See below.
   Note that in her petition for pension 13 Oct 1871 she signed her name with an X mark (did or could not write in English?).  She died about six years later, finally knowing that her husband Adam had simply run away from the family instead of going to Ohio (probably either Hancock or Putnam County where other family were already located).
   In Book Q Vol 2, pg 541 dated April 20, 1843, Rebecca Brought paid $25.68 for 2 acres of Halifax Twsp. land from John Sweigard (witnessed by Jacob Buchen and Israel Carpenter). Son Daniel named one of his daughters (by second marriage) Rebecca Jane, so I have wondered if his mother's middle name might not have been Jane as well.

1. ↑ Hewett Cemetery, Warren, IA