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Harriet
Catherine (Halfpenny)
Horn Morgan Brior |
Harriet Catherine "Hattie" (Halfpenny) Horn Morgan Brior (1874-1942) was born on March 12, 1874, 1877 or 1878 in Rohrsburg, Columbia County, PA, the daughter of Calvin and Caroline (Minerd) Halfpenny. She was married at least three times.
Under the name "Hattie Halfman," she first wed at the age of 19 to 29-year-old Charles F. Horn (1868- ? ). He was the son of Frank and Caroline Horn of Nordmont, Sullivan County, PA. The wedding took place on Sept. 4, 1897, in Laporte, Sullivan County. On her marriage license, she fibbed that her age was 24, and did not disclose the names of her parents.
They are shown as a family in the federal census of 1900, of Bradford, McKean County, PA. At the time, they had one daughter, Frances, age nine months. Charles was employed that year as a wood chopper.
The couple is believed to have had four children in all -- Frances Horn, Claudia Irene Horn, Charles F. Horn and one who died very young.
By 1910, the marriage had ended. Hattie, age 36, lived with her children in Croyle, Cambria County, PA, at the time the federal census was enumerated. She supported herself as a servant with a private family.
Her second husband was 42-year-old laborer William "Melvin" Morgan (1876-1918), the son of William Gibson and Sarah Ann (Horn) Morgan of Nordmont, Sullivan County, PA. They were wed on Oct. 8, 1918, and established a home in Bloomsburg. Tragically, their lives together only lasted for three short weeks. Melvin contracted the deadly influenza that was sweeping the nation that year, and the illness developed into pneumonia. He died on Nov. 1, 1918, in Bloomsburg Hospital. His remains were placed into eternal rest in Rosemount Cemetery. Hattie thus was left a widow at the age of 45.
The federal census of 1920 shows Hattie widowed and residing in her old home region of Hemlock, Columbia County. All three of her children, ranging in age from 14 to 20, were under her roof. Clyde B. Hess, age 38, boarded in her home. She worked in "burling" in a local silk mill.
She married again on April 1, 1922, under the name of "Katherine Morgan," to 39-year-old Adolph George Brior (1883-1956), who was four years younger than she. Rev. J.V. Lewis performed the ceremony. Adolph was the son of Adolph Frederick and Augusta (Weigand) Brior, and was a native of Hazleton. Adolph was slender and tall, with grey eyes and black hair. At the time of marriage, he resided in Berwick, Columbia County, and worked as a fireman, likely on a railroad. Four years earlier, when Adolph registered for the military draft during World War I, he disclosed that he lived at 239 Sixth Street in Bloomsburg; was a night watchman for the Fred Frear Match Company in Bloomsburg; and had lost his left arm.
They raised a foster daughter, June E. Girton, born in 1919.
Tragedy shook Harriet and family in the fall of 1922. Her 19-year-old daughter Claudia, who was employed at Bloomsburg Hospital performing "general work," contracted tuberculosis of her right lung. She sought treatment but 14 months later, she died on Nov. 4, 1923. She was interred in Rosemont Cemetery in Bloomsburg, and her mother, "Harriet C. Brior," signed the death certificate.
Harriet was named in the 1924 Bloomsburg Morning Press obituary of her brother Ira, and at the time she lived in Bloomsburg.
The federal census of 1930 shows the Briors making their home in Lime Ridge, Centre Township, Columbia County. That year, Adolph labored as a steam engineer at the local lime quarry. By 1942, they were in rural Orangeville.
Harriet suffered from heart disease and at the age of 65 dropped dead in Fishing Creek Township, Columbia County in July 1942. Her body was not found for several days, until July 13, 1942. She was placed into rest in New Rosemont Cemetery.
Adolph survived her by 14 years, making his home on Third Street in Millville, Columbia County. He died on Jan. 10, 1956 in Millville, at the age of 73. Interment was in New Rosemont Cemetery.
~ Daughter Frances Horn ~
Daughter Frances Horn (1898- ? ) was born in August 1898.
~ Son Charles Horn ~
Son Charles Horn (1906-1977) was born in 1906. He married Mary E. (?) (1906-1985).
He earned a living over the years as a stone mason.
Circa 1942, with he signed his mother's death certificate, he lived in Salladaysburg near Jersey Shore, PA. In providing details for that document, he did not know his grandmother's maiden name of "Minerd."
He died in 1977 at the age of 71 and was buried in Summit Cemetery in White Pine, Lycoming County, PA. [Find-a-Grave]
~ Foster Daughter June E. Girton ~
Foster daughter June E. Girton (1919- ? ) was born in 1919.
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