Person:Mary Thrap (1)

    Two census reports show her 4-5 yrs. younger than Franklin Charles, so this birthdate is perhaps in err. William Rose (wdr_yah@yahoo.com July 2001 on Ancestry.com) submits birthdate was 10 May 1836 (more logical than the 5 Oct 1831 that I had from elsewhere, so I am using the date from Rose until better documentation is collected.  Aunt Gertie Braught Stouffer Redshaw said her records showed that Mary E. Braught, mother of Cortes was born 5 Oct 1836 and died 6 Nov. 1911. These records disagree on the date, except for the same year of birth.
    In late 1999 Mary Lou Clegg helped me identify that Mary Elizabeth was the child of Barbara Chambers and Theodore Asbury Thrap, not Newton Thrapp.  I had long concerned that it appeared that Mary was born a few years before Barbara married Newton, and this new data clarified that concern.  Mary Lou works at the Allen Co., IN genealogy library and has produced a Thrap book.  This new data opened a new path of needed research related to Theodore Asbury Thrap.  It also means that Barbara Chamber was legally married as Barbara Thrap when she married Newton Thrapp, but it was as Mrs. Theodore Asbury Thrap.
     Mary's half- sister, Rachel, married Samuel M. Braught (Franklin's younger brother).  Thrapp-Braught ties obviously very strong.  See Mary E. Braught will (unsuccessfully contested by dau. Clara Cashman).   Much Thrapp data available in OH when time to search details.

See Des Moines, Iowa 1897 City Directory pg 144 showing Braught, Mary E. (wid. Franklin) bds 1339 E. 13th (I think that is address for her son Orville Braught). See Mary E. death certif. 77-01232 Polk Co, IA where she was living in Lee Twp. of Des Moines (3746 Bowdin Ave., DM .. home of her daughter Bernice. Was born Oct 5, 1883, died Nov. 6, 1911; age 75, 1 mo. 1 day. Born in Ohio; father recorded as Newton Thrapp*, birthplace unknown; mother Barbar chambers birthplace unknown. Interment at Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines Nov. 8, 1911, undertaker Wm. R. McBride; doctor P.L Parker, MD. Information provided by Mrs. Bernice Thomas of 3746 Bowden Ave., DM (her daugher). * Although Mary was reared with her step father Newton Baker Thrapp, it was later discovered in my research that her biological father was Theodore Asbury Thrap, a distant cousin to Newton Thrapp. Theodore died very soon after Mary was born in OH.

    I have several photos of this Mary on file.
    Mary apparently had marriage #1 to Moses Hoagland who was born 21 Apr 1835 (reported in Sep. 1981, pg.8 Gilboa Gazette), but very brief and no children to that marriage (unless Clara was conceived in this marriage but claimed by Mary and FC as theirs for some reason). Clara is a mystical element in many ways.  Added info. on her would likely produce several  interesting insights.
     Rollie Short thought Mary (he called her gramma Elizabeth) had a first husband with name Thatcher or such -- he was not sure of accuracy. It is useful to me that he was aware that she had a first marriage, which points me towards finding that data.
     When I visited Catherine Reddin in Findlay, OH she said she was certain that there were many records on the Thrapp family of that area, but I have not yet pursued that opportunity. I have many Thrap records from Mary Lou Clegg.  However, there needs to be more documentation of Theodore Asbury Thrap, Mary's biological father.

I have a typed copy of her will (Mary E. Brought) was written after her husband died (stated in the will), but my copy does not show the recording data needed for good documentation, although it might be on file in Polk Co., IA. The will states that her estate shall be administered by an executor (not named in my copy) who shall build a suitable gravestone for her late husband, Frank C. Brought and next to it her gravestone. She left her possssions equally to her children Mrs. Clara Cashman, Mrs. Bernice Thomas and C.C. Brought and personal affects, however she stated that the real property should be divided as the three of the children agreed in writing (this was no doubt the basis of the suit filed by Clara to contest the will, as there could be confusion between the statement of equal division vs. agreed written division). The writing of the wil suggests that it was not drawn by an attorney, but in simple (but a bit unclear detail) language.

1. ↑ Death Certificate Martha Owen Motley Turbett.
2. ↑ Des Moines, IA Woodland Cem.