Richard Barth

Notes:

Immigrated from Germany in 1880. Both parents born in Germany. A sister, Lillie Maystrick, is listed in the 1900 US census as living in this household. Note that son, Otto Richard Barth (Brown)'s wife, Clementine Pokorny of IL, also has Maystrick/Maestrick ancestors. Lillie could be a sister-in-law.

From great granddaughter of Richard:
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I will call my grandfather's father Barth and step/adopted-father Brown to help prevent confusion. Also, I will call his mother Mary, since that was her name. I was told that Mary divorced Barth when my grandfather was around 5 years old. He remembered his father and loved him very much. However, Barth was not such a good husband. He beat Mary (which is why she left). She soon met Brown, married him and they moved to Mexico (where my grandfather was raised). Brown was a medical doctor and he adopted my grandfather and his brother, who was older (I didn't know of any other siblings). My grandfather was the youngest and learned to love his new father. His brother never accepted Brown, though. My Uncle Allen actually contacted this brother (his uncle) who lived in LA, but I don't know any other details.

In the meantime, Barth was very upset about losing his family. He was an excellent marksman and loved to hunt. My Uncle Allen had a picture of him with his dogs and he looked pretty majestic with his rifle. He decided to go after Brown and get his family back. He went to Mexico and shot at Brown, missing him. The police were called and Barth was arrested. This was the last anyone ever saw of him. No one knows why he missed since he was such a good shot. Many thoughts have been expressed, but no one will ever know.

This had to have happened before WWII because my grandfather was only a little boy at the time. As an adult who understood Mexican culture and could talk their language fluently, my grandfather never could find out what happened to his father. He went to Mexico several times searching for his father with no luck. I think he may have found the jail he was taken to, but lost the trail there. My grandfather was also a decorated officer with many Mexican contacts on at least one occasion. Since he lived in Mexico, my grandfather learned how to speak and read/write Spanish fluently. He also knew how to read, write and speak English, German, Latin, and 5 other languages fluently.
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Birth:
1900 Census gives Richard's name as Otto with a birth in Feb 1855 or 1858 (number written over).

Richard married Mary A. Maystrick. Mary (daughter of Joseph F. Maystrick and Marie A.) was born in Sep 1870 in Bohemia, Knox Co, NE. [Group Sheet]

1. Dr. Otto Richard Brown was born on 30 Jun 1893 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co, OK; died on 31 Mar 1980 in San Diego, San Diego Co, CA.
2. Frank Adrian Brown was born in Sep 1898 in OK.