Individual Details

Margaret first married Larkin T. Brasher, 17 Sep 1867, Cedar Co, MO.

1880 Census. Benton Twp, Cedar Co, MO, Hh 113
Larkin T. Brasher, age 39, b. MO, parents b. KY
Margaret E., age 38, wife, b. KY, parents b. NC
Drewry S. age 11, son, b. MO
Mary E., age 9, dau, b. MO
Nelly A., age 4 dau, b. MO

Apparently both daughters died. When Mag was giving her testimony after the deaths of her sister & James E. Comstock, she stated that D. S. Brasher was her only child and that she had no children by her second or third husbands.

Mag's 2nd marriage to J. H. Ewing, 10 Jun 1888, Cedar Co, Missouri. In the trial transcript it appears as "C. H. Ewing" They were not married long and he instigated the divorce in 1890. At the trial he stated that her son Sterling did not like him, nor did her "other connections".

License was dated 8 Jun 1888 - J. H. Ewing and M. E. Brasher, both of Jerico and both over the age of eighteen. They were married on June 10th by Elder J. B. Corrias, Minister of the Gospel at Big Springs Church.
There was evidently a divorce since on 29 Apr 1897, he married Frances Leekinzy in Cedar County.

Margaret married James Irving Comstock, 2 December 1892, Cedar Co., MO. I believe she and her son Drury poisoned James and her sister in 1893. James' youngest son, William Decatur Comstock, and a hired hand were made ill at the same time but recovered.

A marriage to J. R. Wallace, was on 6 Nov 1893, Cedar County, but appears to be to Lizzie Comstock - her stepdaughter who was with him in censuses - a younger man. Minerva, Margaret's sister, was married to John W. Wallace but of course she was poisoned the same night as James Irving Comstock.
The actual digitzed marriage record to Lizzie shows J. R. Wallace. Court documents cite him as J. W. Wallace. John W. Wallace remarried in 1898 to Mary Jane (Robinson) Shipman and lived until about 1912/1913. I have found no evidence that reconciles the initials with the same man - yet there was time for Mag, with her short marriage history, to be married to her sister's widower, and divorce him between 1893 and 1898. In one of her depositions during the murder trial, she stated she had been living with John Wallace for three months, but no marriage record found.

Cedar Co, 1900. I found a Margaret E. Comstock, b. Nov 1841 in KY; she was a weaver of carpets. She seemed not to be living with Wallace any longer, but this is surely the same lady. She lived a few houses from Lydia Bruster, the mother of Mag's daughter-in-law Minnie. Her residence given as Mill Street, Household 25. Margaret E. Comstock, b. Nov 1841, age 58, widow. Had three children, only 1 living. Born Kentucky, parents born in North Carolina. A weaver of carpets [her testimony after the murders described her as weaving in the barn on that day].

1910 Census. Benton Twp, Cedar, MO. Hh 99
John H. Hudson, 67, married twice - this time for 6 years, b. KY, Truck Farmer
Maggie E., wife, 67, married "twice" - had 3 children - 1 is living, b. KY

In the Brasher Cemetery, Jericho Springs, Cedar Co, MO is a stone for Maggie E. Hudson, b. 1841, d. 1926. Said on FindAGrave to have been married to John H. Hudson (b. 18 Jul 1842 - d. 24 Dec 1916) and Comstock. But evidence reveals she was married at least five times.

Birth	1841	Kentucky
Marriage	17 Sep 1867	Cedar County, Missouri - Larkin T. Brasher
Marriage	10 Jun 1888	Cedar County, Missouri - J. H. Ewing
Divorce	Ca 1890	J. H. Ewing
Marriage	2 Dec 1892	Cedar County, Missouri - James Irving/Ervin Comstock
Marriage	1904	John H Hudson

Spouse

James Irving/Ervin Comstock (1837 - 1893)

Spouse	Larkin T. Brasher (1841 - 1882)
Child	Drewry Sterling Brasher (1869 - 1951)
Child	Mary E. Brasher (1871 - 1894)
Child	Nelly A. Brasher (1876 - 1894)

Spouse

J. H. Ewing ( - )

Spouse

John H Hudson (1842 - 1916)

Father	Drewry Petty (1790 - )
Mother	Jane [Petty] (1800 - )
Sibling	Rosey E. Petty (1820 - 1887)
Sibling	James Thomas Petty (1822 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth C. Petty (1826 - )
Sibling	Samuel P. Petty (1827 - 1864)
Sibling	Jane C. Petty (1829 - )
Sibling	John Carlen Petty (1833 - )
Sibling	Minerva A. Petty (1836 - 1893)
Sibling	Lucinda Petty (1839 - )