Harold Brown, was the oldest of eleven children, and was born in 1897, to Charles S. Brown and Mary Halls in a little Mormon community in southwestern Colorado. He had to assume a man’s responsibility at an early age in caring for the family farm and dairy, because his father was away from home much of the time. In his mid teens the family moved to southern Arizona because of his mother’s health. The family operated a dairy near Tucson. There he met Mary Agnes Young who had left the Mormon colonies in Mexico, at the time of the revolution. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple, and in 1923 moved to Mesa, Arizona. He was a farmer most of his life, but later worked for El Paso Natural Gas Company. He was an accomplished pianist, but primarily played for his own enjoyment. He had a good sense of humor and enjoyed a good joke on himself, as well as others. He had an iron grip all his life, and said he lived poor, and died rich. He sold his farm in his later years. He was able to move to town where he kept he and his wife in a rest home when their health deteriorated. He was likable and fun to be with.
Notes:
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Harold- b 12 Feb 1897,
Mancos, CO, married Mary A. Young and had 4 boys and a girl James, Robert,
Louise, Harold, Floyd Cleon, died 11 July 1987
Grandma Elna told me that when
they were young, she, Rudolph, Harold and Mary Young would double date and have
a wonderful time together. But shortly after Harold and Mary were married, she
forbade Harold from seeing his family again. She thought they were a bad
influence on him. As far as I could tell he didn’t honor that and so he lived
in the “dog house” for many years. The
doghouse was an apartment behind the main house. There he had his beloved
organ. On visits in his later years, Clark and I would hear him playing the
organ even before we knocked on the door. I understand he was the ward organist
for a time. SH
I would see Uncle Harold often at
Farmer’s when we visited. It seems that it was Homer that was there fairly
often also. One memorable visit was when I was about 7. Harold, Homer, and Eva
were sitting around the kitchen table and they tried to get me to eat some Limburger
cheese with them. They were really enjoying teasing me and I wasn’t sure I was
going to get out of it. It seems either
Lucille or Grandma came to my rescue. Oh how it smelled! I nearly got sick
being in the same room with it. The other strong memory was that Harold always
wanted to kiss me goodbye on the lips, the smell of beer was so strong I never
needed to try it to know what it would taste like. SH
The little I remember about Aunt Mary was what a
somber woman she seemed to be. While she did not scare me, she appeared to be a
very serious woman, with little warmth to her personality. She was
part of my very early childhood when she came to visit her brother Will Young
in Binghampton - my Grandpa and Grandma Young (William H. Young and Effie
Butler Young) and I don't remember any interaction with her at all - just childhood
impressions.
Obviously, Uncle
Harold had problems in his life, but I came to feel long ago that we cannot
judge another man's life (or woman' life either) until we have walked a mile in
their shoes. I hope time spent in the hereafter has mended feelings
on everyone's part. Sometimes our best intentions are carried out
in less than positive ways. JD
Note: Grandma Elna told me that when they were young, she, Rudolph, Harold and Mary Young would double date and have a wonderful time together. But shortly after Harold and Mary were married, she forbade Harold from seeing his family again. She thought they were a bad influence on him. As far as I could tell he didn’t honor that and so he lived in the “dog house” for many years. The doghouse was an apartment behind the main house. There he had his beloved organ. On visits in his later years, Clark and I would hear him playing the organ even before we knocked on the door. I understand he was the ward organist for a time. Susan Halls
I would see Uncle Harold often at Farmer’s when we visited. It seems that it was Homer that was there fairly often also. One memorable visit was when I was about 7. Harold, Homer, and Eva were sitting around the kitchen table and they tried to get me to eat some Limburger cheese with them. They were really enjoying teasing me and I wasn’t sure I was going to get out of it. It seems either Lucille or Grandma came to my rescue. Oh how it smelled! I nearly got sick being in the same room with it. The other strong memory was that Harold always wanted to kiss me goodbye on the lips, the smell of beer was so strong I never needed to try it to know what it would taste like. SH
Note: Grandma Elna told me that when they were young, she, Rudolph, Harold and Mary Young would double date and have a wonderful time together. But shortly after Harold and Mary were married, she forbade Harold from seeing his family again. She thought they were a bad influence on him. As far as I could tell he didn’t honor that and so he lived in the “dog house” for many years. The doghouse was an apartment behind the main house. There he had his beloved organ. On visits in his later years, Clark and I would hear him playing the organ even before we knocked on the door. I understand he was the ward organist for a time. Susan Halls
I would see Uncle Harold often at Farmer’s when we visited. It seems that it was Homer that was there fairly often also. One memorable visit was when I was about 7. Harold, Homer, and Eva were sitting around the kitchen table and they tried to get me to eat some Limburger cheese with them. They were really enjoying teasing me and I wasn’t sure I was going to get out of it. It seems either Lucille or Grandma came to my rescue. Oh how it smelled! I nearly got sick being in the same room with it. The other strong memory was that Harold always wanted to kiss me goodbye on the lips, the smell of beer was so strong I never needed to try it to know what it would taste like. SH