Betsey Doane Brace was the daughter of John Doane and Eunice Tuttle Doane. Born on October 23, 1795 Betsey was the first of John Doane's fourteen children. She later married Dr. Abel Brace of Catskill, New York. According to family tradition, Betsey attended the Litchfield Female Academy as a young woman. In 1817 she was married to Abel Brace, a Doctor practicing in Catskill, NY, and a nephew of Sarah Pierce and brother of John Pierce Brace. During their marriage Abel and Betsey had several children. Following Abel's death in 1863 Betsey lived with her brother George in Catskill for a time. She passed away in Catskill on July 12, 1881. Abel Brace was born in Litchfield, Connecticut on October 7, 1794 to James and Susan Pierce Brace. Abel was the second of five children, and the second son to be born into the family. Two years prior to his birth, Abel's aunt, Sarah Pierce, founded the Litchfield Female Academy. His older brother, John Pierce Brace would later play a pivotal role in assisting in the education of countless numbers of students at that school. At a young age, Abel traveled to Catskill, New York where he studied medicine with his uncle Dr. Thomas O'Hara Croswell, the first physician in Catskill. After completing his studies with Dr. Croswell, Abel began practicing medicine in Catskill as well, and continued in that profession for the remainder of his life. In addition to his personal practice, by the late 1820s he and Dr. Croswell were operating a drug store in Catskill together as well (Dr. Croswell had opened the drug store around the year 1795). On April 18, 1817 at the age of twenty-two Abel was married for a second time to Betsey Doane with whom he had at least seven children. On October 23, 1863 Abel passed away in Catskill.

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