MOLLY BROWN AND THE TITANIC
HISTORY LESSON

MOLLY BROWN HISTORY LESSON

Directions:

Print the Molly Brown reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the story silently, then answer the questions about the story that follow.

Excerpt from passage

Margaret "Molly" Brown was born on July 18, 1867. She was born in Hannibal, Missouri to hard-working parents in a modest household. Molly's father, John Tobin, was an abolitionist. He worked with John Brown prior to the Civil War. In fact, many people believe that he helped run a part of the Underground Railroad. Molly's mother, Johanna, believed that education was the most important thing in a person's life. Johanna sent all her children to school at Mrs. O'Leary's grammar school.

Molly went to school until she was 13 years old. Once she was 13, it was time for her to get a job. She found a job at the Garth Tobacco Factory. Her job was to remove the leaves from the tobacco stems and get them ready to be processed. This money allowed her to help her family have a better life.

When Molly was 18 years old, she moved to Leadville, Colorado. Some of her siblings had moved there before her. There were many stories about the mines in that area. People said you could become rich overnight. That was exactly what Molly's family would hope would happen. She moved in with her brother and tended to his house while working as a tailor. She did not plan to live in poverty for long, as she was with her brother. Molly had plans to marry a rich man! Molly met her future husband, JJ Brown, at a church picnic in June of 1886.

Continued...

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