Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Brown, Harrison J. November 11, 1835 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 7, 2009, 10:52 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

HARRRISON J. BROWN, miller at Altona, Hinton Tp., was born in Warren Co., Pa., 
Nov. 11, 1835.  His 

parents, Peter and Mary (Libby) Brown, were natives respectively of 
Connecticut and New York.  The father 

died in Pennsylvania, in 1855; the mother is still living, with her son at 
Altona.  Mr. Brown was a 

lumberman in Warren County until 32 years of age; two years he was owner and 
operator of a steam saw-mill. 

 When 18 years old he commenced to labor in the woods, putting in timber in 
the winter and rafting it 

down, in which business he continued for three years.  In the spring of 1865 
he was drafted for the Union 

service and procured a substitute, to whom he paid $1,000.  Nine days later 
Lee surrendered at Appomattox 

Court-House.  Mr Brown came to Michigan in the spring of 1867, and spent some 
months in prospecting in 

Flint, Chesaning and Greenville; and then came to Saginaw Co. and bought a 
farm of 100 acres.  The summer 

following he built a house and labored in clearing and improving his land.  
This place he owned two years, 

when he settled in Mecosta Co., in 1868.  In the summer of that year he built 
a flouring-mill on the 

Little Muskegon River, the first in the township.  In later years he bought a 
saw-mill of Wm. Egbert, and 

is now operating both and employing 12 men.  He had recently refitted his 
shingle-mill, its capacity being 

now 35,000 per diem.  The full product of the flour mill is 20 barrels daily, 
besides feed grinding.

Mr. Brown was married  in New York, June 9, 1865, to Maryette E., daughter of 
Thomas and Susannah 

(Stewart) Thomas.  Mrs. Brown's father was born in Pennsylvania, and her 
mother in Canada.  The daughter 

was born March 26, 1842, and is a member of the M.E. Church.  Mr. Brown is a 
Republican, and comes of 

patriotic ancestry, his grandfather Libby having been a soldier of 1812.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co., MI.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/brown467nbs.txt

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