Evaline Abidine (Gibbs) Brown (1853 - 1924) “asphyxiated by gas”

Question

Evaline Gibbs was born on February 24, 1853 in Moira, Franklin, New York, United States. Her parents were Ichabod Gibbs and Mary Race. She married George Brown on July 04, 1873. Together they had 3 children. She died on October 06, 1924 in Houston, Harris, Texas, United States. It appears the cause of death was “asphyxiated by gas/suicide”. I’m curious why her husband was living in Massachusetts and she was in Texas? It appears the couple passed in same year 1924. In one entry she hadn’t seen her mother in 18 years and visited her in August 1893. I’d like to find more sources and understand the complexities of the family during her lifetime. Her step father was her uncle John Gibbs who married the father Ichabod’s widow. 

Thank you

Answer 1

Andrew,

It looks like Evaline had separated from her husband/moved in with her daughter (Effie) prior to the 1920 US Census and was living in Massachusetts. Sometime after that census, they all moved to Texas.  If she had been living there for 3 1/2 years prior to her death, that would put it at about 1821. Since it was only a few months after the death of her husband, perhaps that could be used as a reason for the suicide (if it was a suicide and not an accident). That's just my best guess as I couldn't find anything else documentation-wise.

Hope this helps,

Ken

Comments

Thank you this helps put it together. 

Answer 2

If there is a strong/durable New York "connection," I would at least try the New York State Historical Newspapers site (https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org).

Passing the link along "just in case."

BTW, I didn't find anything useful as a result of ONLY a quick search...

Comments

That’s a great source I’ve used it often. Thank you