Siblings of David W. Brown: Harriet Brown (1862-1936)

Hattie Brown

Harriet (Hattie) Brown, the oldest child of Donald Brown and Sarah Ann Brignall, was born on August 6, 1862, in Mariposa Township, Victoria County, Ontario. She moved with the rest of the family to Listowel, Ontario, sometime in 1873-1874, and then to Baltimore, in the Dakota Territory in 1880 or 1881. The U.S. census of 1900 says she immigrated to the United States in 1871, but also says she had been in the United States nineteen years. The census of 1930 gives the date of immigration as 1881. 

According to the Brown family Bible, on September 4, 1884, Harriet was married to Harmon Leroy Fairchild of Midland, Michigan, in the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Illinois. (Although the 1900 census says that she and Harmon had been married for fourteen years, which would put the year of their marriage at 1885 or 1886, an online transcription of the vital records of Cook County, Illinois, from the Chicago Tribune shows that a marriage license for Harmon and Harriet was issued on September 4, 1884.) The record of their marriage in the Brown family Bible and the one in the Chicago Tribune list Harriet’s residence at that time as Baltimore, Dakota Territory. 

Harmon Leroy Fairchild

Harmon Fairchild was born in Oswego, New York, on September 4, 1857. His father Duane, who originally came from Connecticut, was a farmer. In the New York State census of 1875, Harmon is listed as being 17; his occupation is “farmer.” Harmon’s sister Julia, who was fifteen years older than Harmon, had married a cooper named William H. Foster. The 1870 U.S. census shows William and Julia living in Midland, Michigan, at that time. An older brother of Harmon’s, James, is living with the Fosters. At some point after 1875 Harmon must have moved from Oswego to Midland, where he taught school before being admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1881, at the age of 24. How Harmon met Harriet Brown is a mystery I have not been able to solve.

As a lawyer, Harmon seems to have prospered. In the Legislative Manual of the State of Michigan for the years 1887-1888 he is listed as the circuit court commissioner for Midland County. At another time, he served as Justice of the Peace.

Fairchild home

Fairchild home (with Harmon?)

Fairchild parlor

As mentioned in David W. Brown’s life summary, it seems likely that David lived with Harmon and Harriet before he graduated from eighth grade in Midland in 1891. Twenty years later, David’s son Harmon would live with Harmon and Harriet while attending high school. My father recalls sitting in Harmon Fairchild’s law office and that Harmon bought him a pair of high-topped shoes. 

According to the 1940 census, Harmon and Harriet lived at 502 Rodd Road in Midland, in a house that apparently no longer exists. The 1920 census lists them as having four lodgers living with them.

Harriet painted china and sold it to the wealthy families of Midland. She and Harmon had a kiln in their backyard. Our family has several examples of her work. Harriet was wealthy enough to lend money to other members of the family.

Sometime in the future I hope to visit Midland and look up the obituaries of Harriet and Harmon. Then perhaps I will be able to add more details about their lives to this account. 

Harriet died on October 30, 1936, at the age of 74. Harmon lived until May 22, 1941, when he died at the age of 83. Harmon and Harriet are buried in the Midland City Cemetery.