Compiled by Teresa
Martin Klaiber 2023
Mary
Ann McBrayer was the sixth child born to James R. and Anna Sanders McBrayer on
24 May 1834 on Williams Creek. When she
was ten her father got his deed for property on Four Mile in what is now Boyd
County, Kentucky. He purchased 200 acres
from William Carter and like many of Carter’s land transactions, the deed was
not clarified until 1852.[i] This property is at the end of Four Mile Road
today where Rush Off Road, known as Lowman property, is today.
I blogged about McBrayer Cemetery on
Four Mile in 2020.
According
to an article in 1919 she joined the M. E. Church South when she was 18 in
Cannonsburg, Kentucky under the ministry of Rev. Thornton.[ii].
She married 1 November 1855, Carter County, Kentucky[iii],
to German born John Andrew Klaiber, at the age of 21. James R. McBrayer along with John Andrew
posted bond for their marriage. The
actual marriage book spells John’s last name as Claiver living at Cannonsburg
(then Greenup County) age 24 born Hirlemburg Germany (sic). Mary Ann McBrayer was residing on Four Mile
in Carter County born on Williams Creek in Greenup County.
Granddaughter
Martha Klaiber Cox had a German bible in her possession for many years, said to
have come over with Klaiber, but it did not contain any family information.
Martha said that even in their elder years some in the area were suspicious of
his German accent. When the United States
declared war against Germany in April 1917, the Klaiber’s were in their 80’s,
yet there were still whispers of animosity even though John Andrew Klaiber had
become an American citizen in July 1859. As I write these blog bios, I heard
from another descendent, Pamela Wolf, who says that her family oral history
told of James R. McBrayer not wanting Mary Ann to marry the German.
But
marry she did, having ten children. They
are said to have buried German gold under a fence post and it was never
recovered[iv].
She lived through the Civil War and in the twilight of her years World War I.
The family lived first in Catlettsburg, then Catletts Creek, and eventually
settled on Long Branch. Besides their own
children, John Andrew also had several apprentices involved in his boot making
over the years. In 1870 her mother-in-law came over from Germany to live with
them. It was a full household. And yet as the McBrayer’s spread westward she
managed to keep in touch. A letter from
Maggie Culver to Mary Ann dated 1 June 1910 is still in my possession.[v]
Mary
Ann McBrayer Klaiber died 1 April 1919 at her home here on Long Branch. Ironically the article about the elder
Klaiber’s came out in the West Virginia
Methodist News just eight days later submitted by Mrs. J. C. McGlothlin.
The last paragraph reads “May their remaining time here on earth be the
happiest, brightest and best of their long lives is the wish of.”
Mary Ann was a member of Eastern Stars. She could join as a wife of a Master Mason. The Masonic order is open to all religious beliefs.
[i]
KY, Carter, Debk B p 339
[ii] West Virginia Methodist News, April 1919
[iii]
KY Carter M bk B p 29
[iv]
Which fencepost or which property is never mentioned in either John Henry Klaiber or
Martha Klaiber Cox family tales.
[v]
Maggie Culver was the granddaughter of Susan Board Corbitt McBrayer who married
James Riley McBrayer, brother of Mary
Ann.
