Mary Jane Rannells

Published in The Rochester Sentinel
Friday, January 28, 1898
Mary Jane Rannells (Brown Osborn) was born May 20, 1820, in Hampshire county, West Va., and moved with her parents, William and Susan Rannells, in 1825 to Crawford county, Ohio, where she resided until Feb 18, 1838 and was united in marriage to Henry W. Brown. They moved to Hancock county, Ohio, where she remained until 1839. She then moved to Fulton county, Indiana. Henry W. Brown died Nov 19, 1851, and to this union was born seven children, all dying in infancy except one, Benjamin F. BROWN, who is now living in Oklahoma. In 1852 she was united in marriage with Thomas J. Osborn, and to this union was born seven children, all living except one. Alfred [OSBORN], Schyler [OSBORN], Ella [OSBORN] RANNELLS, Lincoln [OSBORN], Leilia [OSBORN] WEBER and Louis OSBORN. All were present at her death except Louis who is living in Iowa.

Her death occurred Jan 25, 1898, aged 77 years 8 months and 5 days. She died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Levi Burch, with whom she had been visiting. She leaves but two sisters of her father's family, Mrs. Levi Burch and Mrs. Levi Mercer. She united with the M.E. church at the age of fifteen years of which she has been a faithful member. She was a faithful and true wife, and a loving, affectionate mother. She was never known to murmur or complain of her lot in life although often burdened with the cares of life. She had great faith and trust in God and had learned to cast her burdens upon the Lord who careth for his own. In her death her children have lost their best earthly friend, the church a worthy member, the community a kind neighbor. She now rests from her labor and her works do follow her.

Mary married Henry W. Brown, son of Sovereign Hitch Brown and Mary (Polly) Bell, on 18 Feb 1838 in Crawford Co., OH. (Henry W. Brown was born calculated 18 May 1814 in Highland Co., OH, died on 20 Nov 1851 in Fulton Co., IN and was buried about 23 Nov 1851 in Mt. Hope Athens Cemetery, Athens, Fulton Co., IN.)