Early Life and Family Background
Amanda Rivers Brown was born on February 19, 1857, in Mississippi during a time when the nation was heading toward civil war. She was the daughter of Henry Epps Brown (1820-1889) and Francis A. "Fannie" Shelton Brown (1830-1908). Henry was originally from Georgia, while Fannie hailed from Alabama, representing the mobility that characterized many Southern families of the era.
The Brown family didn't stay in Mississippi long. During the tumultuous years of the Civil War, they relocated to El Dorado in Union County, Arkansas, where Amanda spent her formative years. This move was typical of many families seeking stability and opportunity during the war's disruption.
Growing Up in Arkansas (1860-1880)
Amanda grew up in Union County, Arkansas, where census records show her living with her parents throughout her youth. The 1860 census captured her at about age 3, the 1870 census at age 13, and the 1880 census at age 23, all living in the Henry Epps Brown household in Union County. During this period, she would have witnessed the profound changes of Reconstruction in the South.
As a young woman in post-Civil War Arkansas, Amanda was part of a generation that saw dramatic social and economic transformations. The family appears to have been relatively stable during these years, providing Amanda with the foundation that would later enable her to pursue education and career opportunities that were unusual for women of her time.
Marriage and Family Life (1887-1900)
At age 30, Amanda married John Joseph Vogel on July 25, 1887, in Miller County, Arkansas. John, born in 1859, was 28 at the time of their marriage. Amanda had relocated to the Texarkana area by this time, while John was residing in Texarkana as well. The marriage record shows Amanda was living in Omaha, Morris County, Texas, just across the state line from Texarkana, Arkansas.
The couple settled in the Garland community of Miller County, Arkansas, where they started their family. Amanda proved to be a devoted mother, raising six children:
John Henry Vogel (1889-1975)
Fannie A. Vogel (1891- )
Primrose A. Vogel (1893-1977)
Florence J. Vogel (1896-1986)
Christine Vogel (1897-1981)
Robert B. Vogel Sr. (1899-1976)
However, the marriage faced serious difficulties. By 1900, John had apparently abandoned the family and left the state. Court records from Miller County show that divorce proceedings were initiated, with the court ordering John's arrest for contempt when he could not be served with legal papers. The divorce was finalized on January 1, 1900, leaving Amanda to raise six young children on her own.
Life as a Single Mother and Professional Woman (1900-1934)
Household Management and Economic Survival
After her divorce, Amanda demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination. The 1900 census lists her as a "Truck Farmer," indicating she was growing vegetables and other crops for market - a practical way to support her large family while working from home. This occupation allowed her to earn income while maintaining her household and caring for her six children, who ranged in age from 10 months to 10 years.
Amanda's role as head of household was both challenging and pioneering for the time. Single motherhood in rural Arkansas in 1900 required incredible resourcefulness, and Amanda managed to keep her family together and provide for their needs through her own efforts.
Career as a Public School Teacher
By the 1910 census, Amanda had transitioned into teaching, listed as a "Teacher, Public Schools." This career change represented both personal growth and professional advancement. Teaching was one of the few professions readily accessible to women at the time, and Amanda embraced it wholeheartedly.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, Amanda continued her teaching career with dedication. The 1920 census again shows her employed as a "Teacher, Public Schools," indicating her long-term commitment to education. Her work as an educator would have been particularly important in rural Arkansas, where qualified teachers were often in short supply.
Postmaster of Edson, Arkansas
In addition to her teaching career, Amanda achieved another notable professional milestone when she was appointed as Postmaster of Edson, Miller County, Arkansas, on September 11, 1897. This appointment made her one of the relatively few women serving as postmasters in Arkansas at the turn of the century.
The role of postmaster was significant in small communities like Edson, as the post office served as a vital communication link and often a gathering place for local residents. Amanda's appointment to this position demonstrates the respect and trust she had earned in her community, as postmaster appointments were federal positions that required reliability and competence.
Later Life and Family Relationships
As Amanda aged, several of her children remained close to home. The census records show various daughters living with her through the years, including Fannie, Florence, Christine, and Robert. By 1930, she was living with her son Robert B. Vogel and his young wife Venus E. Vogel, who was only 17 years old.
Amanda's children went on to achieve their own successes. Her son John W. Vogel became manager of the El Dorado News and Times, and her daughter Frances became the national secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association, eventually relocating to Pasadena, California.
Historical Context and Community Impact
Amanda's life spanned a remarkable period in American history. Born before the Civil War, she lived through Reconstruction, the settling of the American West, World War I, the women's suffrage movement, the Roaring Twenties, and the beginning of the Great Depression. Her professional achievements as both a teacher and postmaster placed her among the pioneering women who began entering public service roles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Her work as a public school teacher would have been particularly valuable during this era of educational expansion in Arkansas. The state was working to build its educational infrastructure, and dedicated teachers like Amanda were crucial to these efforts.
Addressing the Bar Examination Claim
Amanda's obituary in the Southwest American claimed she was "first woman in Arkansas to pass the state's bar examination." However, this claim appears to be inaccurate or at least unsubstantiated by available records. While Amanda was certainly accomplished as a teacher and postmaster, there is no evidence in the genealogical records provided that she ever attended law school or practiced law. The obituary may have confused her professional achievements or family members may have misunderstood her career accomplishments. The first female lawyer in the United States was Arabella Mansfield, admitted to the Iowa bar in 1869, and other women had been admitted to state bars throughout the country before Amanda's time.
Amanda's actual achievements as an educator and postmaster were impressive enough without this unverified claim, and they represent genuine pioneering work for women in her era and location.
Death and Legacy
Amanda Rivers Brown Vogel died on September 2, 1934, at age 77, at her country home near Texarkana, Arkansas. She was buried in Rondo Cemetery in Miller County. Her death certificate lists her as widowed and notes her parents as "Judge Henry Brown" and "Frances Brown," with slight variations in spelling that were common in records of the era.
At the time of her death, she was survived by her six children: sons John H. and Robert B., and daughters Fannie, Primrose, Florence, and Christine. Her legacy lived on through her children's achievements and her years of service to the educational system of Arkansas.
Conclusion
Amanda Rivers Brown Vogel represents the spirit of determination and adaptability that characterized many women of her generation. Faced with the challenges of single motherhood in rural Arkansas, she built a successful career in education while maintaining her household and raising six children to adulthood. Her work as both a teacher and postmaster made meaningful contributions to her community during a time when such professional opportunities for women were limited.
While her obituary's claim about being Arkansas's first female lawyer appears to be unfounded, her actual accomplishments - as an educator, public servant, and mother - represent the real pioneering spirit of women who expanded their roles and opportunities in the early 20th century. Amanda's life story is one of resilience, professional achievement, and dedication to both family and community service.
Amanda Rivers Brown Vogel is my 2nd Cousin 4X Removed.
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Endnotes
24 August 2025
1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 7 August 2011); Memorial page for Amanda R. Brown Vogel; (19 February 1857–2 September 1934); Find a Grave memorial # 67719488, Citing Rondo Cemetery; Rondo (Miller County), Miller County, Arkansas, USA.
2. 1860 U. S. Census, Union County, Arkansas, population schedule, EL Dorado, Union County, Arkansas, Page 316, Line 30, Dwelling/Family 704/652, Household of Henry BROWN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 31 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653 Roll 51.
3. 1870 U. S. Census, Union County, Arkansas, population schedule, El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas, Page: 510A; Line 36, Dwelling 342, Family 342, Household of Henry BROWN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 31 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M593 Roll 65.
4. 1880 U. S. Census, Union County, Arkansas, population schedule, El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas, enumeration district (ED) #278, Page 348A; Line 1, Dwelling 100, Family 101, Household of Henry BROWN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 31 July 2011); citing NARA publication Roll: T9-0058.
5. Appointments of U. S. Postmasters 1832-1971, U. S. Postmasters, https://www.ancestry.com
(https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1932/records/129518: online Appointment Date 11 Sep 1897), Amanda R Vogel.
6. 1900 U. S. Census, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, population schedule, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, enumeration district (ED) #120, Page: 188, Line 92, Dwelling 36, Family 36, Household of Mrs. Amanda R. VOGEL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 7 August 2011); citing NARA publication Roll: T623_0068.
7. 1910 U. S. Census, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, population schedule, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, enumeration district (ED) #0066, Page: 56A; Line 26, Dwelling 304, Family 307, Household of Amanda VOGEL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 7 August 2011); citing NARA publication Roll: T624_0057.
8. 1920 U. S. Census, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, population schedule, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, enumeration district (ED) 0067, Page: 9B/39B (stamped); Line 63, Dwelling 184, Family 184, Household of Amanda R. VOGEL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: online July 2025); citing NARA publication Roll: T625.
9. 1930 U. S. Census, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, population schedule, Garland, Miller County, Arkansas, enumeration district (ED) 15, Page: 3A/198A (stamped); Line 22, Dwelling 49, Family 53, Household of Amanda R. VOGEL; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: online July 2025); citing NARA publication Roll: T626.
10. Noxubee County, Mississippi, USA, Will Book B: page 331 Henry Brown WILL daughter Amanda; https://www.ancestry.com, Salt Lake City, Utah.
11. "Arkansas' First Recognized Woman Lawyer Dies Sunday," Obituary, Southwest American, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 3 September 1934, Page 3, Column 3; Digital on-line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : online July
2025); https://www.newspapers.com/.
12. Miller County, Arkansas, marriage certificate (25 July 1887), J. J. Vogel & Amanda Brown; County Clerks, Miller County, Arkansas.
13. Miller County, Arkansas, Chancery Circuit Court Record; Chancery Court, Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas.
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