Sunday, August 7, 2011

Backward Glance - Corinne May Brownell

This is one of Corinne's wedding rings.
Making her debut on December 14, 1897, in Leona, Doniphan County, Kansas, Corinne May (Mae) Brownell was the second daughter of six born to James Orson and Minnie May (Harper) Brownell. Her sisters were Frances Rachael; Marguerite Merle and Myrtle Pearl, who were twins; Elwinna Grace and Erma Elsie. The family lived in Gove County, Kansas, in 1910, but had removed to Rooks County by 1915 when the Kansas State Census was taken.

In Rooks County, Corinne met Russell Hugh Avery, the son of Austin and Nettie Avery. Hugh and Corinne were married on September 13, 1916, in Phillips County, Kansas. They had one son, Carl Orson, who was born on September 25, 1917. Hugh and Corinne were still married when the 1930 census was taken, and on October 20, 1930, when they signed paperwork as husband and wife selling land to Hugh's sister, Emma; but they eventually divorced.

Some time before 1952, Corinne was married to Melvin Horace Switzer. They lived in Midway City, Orange County, California, and Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Mel died on November 22, 1953, in Los Angeles County.

Corinne's third husband was Henry K. Mauldin. Henry was very interested in the history of Lake County, California, where they lived and where his family had settled early. Both he and Corinne were active in the historical society there. Henry wrote at least four books relative to their local history, as well as helping write numerous articles for the newspapers. He is considered Lake County's first historian.

Corinne died on September 4, 1969, in Lakeport. She is buried there in the Hartley Cemetery. Henry outlived Corinne by many years, dying on September 2, 1981, in Lakeport, California, after being hit by a car.



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