Isaiah Brazzel

November 18, 1848-March 14, 1917

Born in Union Co., Ark
Buried in Corinth Cemetery Married Martha Ann Swint February 9, 1871
Married Eliza Alice Odom March 11, 1875

Isaiah first married in 1871 at the age of 22. His wife, Martha Ann, died November 1872; they had been married less than two years. Then at age 27 Isaiah took his second wife, Eliza Alice. She was the daughter of Pinkney Odom and Mary Caroline Ward.

Mary Magdeline (December 13, 1875 – November 11, 1878) was the first of eight children to be born into this marriage. The names of the other children are: Gordon Pinkney born 1877, Frances Idaline born 1880, Robert Harrison born 1882, Martha Amanda born 1883, Louellan “Louisa” E. born 1886, John Madison born 1888, and Elmer “Elmo” Gee born 1895.

Four of these children lived to adulthood. Mary died Nov 11, 1878 almost three years old, Robert died Feb 20, 1882 at one month of age, Louisa died Oct 6, 1904 almost 18 and John Madison died Jan 20, 1898 almost 10 years old.

A member of the Isaiah family, Margie Norman Duke, wrote a book familiar to the Brazzel family, BRAZZEL-SLAYTER and Related Families. Isaiah’s child, Martha Amanda, had a son, Calvin Rodell Duke. Calvin’s second wife, Margie Norman Duke, compiled this book in memory of his ancestors.

Isaiah’s youngest son, Elmo, had a son, Ralph Kenneth Brazzel, who is interested in the family history and served on the building committee for the Brazzel Memorial Reunion Center. Ralph recalls that all the families lived on farms in the area. His grandfather, Isaiah, was a farmer as were his uncles, and they all lived close to each other. There were few roads and the family farms were behind or beside one another arranged much like a patchwork quilt. So when you went someplace you often traveled across another family’s farm. This made it easy to communicate with others. You would tell the family that lived next to you and they would pass the message on and on till it got to the right person. He remembers attending Corinth School and Corinth Baptist Church. The school had two rooms but when he attended only one room was used. It went to 6th grade. The men in the community repaired the country roads. They would organize a workday and all would join in as a community effort. This was before the days of the state highway department.

Isaiah lived to be 69 and Eliza Alice born April 25, 1853 died May 13, 1934 at age 81. She survived Isaiah by 17 years. Ralph said his grandmother was a happy woman known as Aunt Liza. She and Isaiah owned land that he farmed until his death. Upon her death the land was sold and a relative bought it. They were married for 46 years and are buried at Corinth Cemetery.