Harry E. Brown Biography
From the Book: "Furrows Of Time: A History of Arrowwood, Shouldice, Mossleigh and
Farrow, 1883 - 1982"
Page: 176
Furrows of Time, Arrowwood-Mossleigh Historical Society
Northwest Printing and Lithographing Ltd.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1982
Link to Book
BROWN, HARRY AND FLORENCE, by Dorothy Brown
Dad, Henry (Harry) Brown, son of Milton Richard Brown,
was born in Appin, Ont. on Jan. 6, 1891. In his school years he helped his father in
their cheese factory. He studied for telegraphy but because of his father's ill health,
had to return home.
When 19 years old he came west with a carload of cattle to his uncle's
(W. W. Brown) "Hip O Ranch" at the top of the Carseland hill
on the north side. In 1910 he homesteaded at Handhills near the Dorothy ferry.
In 1914 he began a dray business in Gleichen.
Mother, Florence Mary Eddie, daughter of Alexander and Laura Ann (Quick) Eddie, was born at the home
farm near Appin on Dec. 15, 1891. Before coming west to get married, she worked in a bakery
in Niagara Falls for several years.
Dad and Mother were married in Calgary July 17, 1915 and resided in a two room shack in Gleichen.
Dad was owner of Brown's Transfer and had the agency for Canadian Oil and White Rose Gasoline just when
the south country, namely; Queenstown, Milo, Shouldice, Arrowwood and Mossleigh land was being broken
up. He had several drays hauling coal and freight around town.
In 1917 Dad bought a half section about one and a half miles south of Arrowwood
(SE 1/4-20-20-23 and NE1/4 17-20-23-W4) and they moved there with their two oldest children, Dorothy and
Fred. A stray collie also became an important member of their family, watching Fred while
he slept outdoors and also helping to bring in the milk cows.
Dad, a member of the Arrowwood School Board, along with Milt Ward, Frank Anney and others went on a delegation
to Calgary in 1918 and the group were instrumental in deciding the design and location of the
Arrowwood Consolidated School.
Although Mother wrapped bread in a bakery, she had to learn the fundamentals of bread making from Dad.
Shortly after they moved to Cluny, Dad worked in a meat market. One winter he worked for the
Revelstoke Lumber Company at Hussar and we spent the winter in Ontario. By this time they had
Dorothy (1916), Fred (1918) and Thelma (1920).
We moved to Arrowwood again in 1924, where Dad had the Post Office and Revelstoke Lumber yard.
In 1925 he bought a half section from the Mooney estate (E1/2 29-20-23=W4) just one quarter mile south
of town and the family moved house and all, to the present location there.
Mother and we children packed butter and eggs on foot to town, crossing over two stiles enroute.
Eggs brought about 12 cents a dozen at times. When Fred and I were old enough, we delivered milk
at 16 qts. for $1.00, each receiving a penny a quart. These earnings went straight into our bank
accounts along with "shin plasters" from Grandpa in Ontario. Shin plasters were small paper bills
valued at 25 cents.
Music played an important part in the home with Mother at the piano and Dad on the accordian and mouth
organ. Sing-songs from the Golden Song Book ended up with a hymn-sing, Dad's favourite
being "The Holy City".
Baseball and hockey were favourite sports. Due to failing health (epilepsy) Dad couldn't get
too involved in later years.
The Brown family were blessed in later years with a son, Robert Alexander (Bob) born Dec. 29, 1930.
Bob was very fond of riding and took part in rodeos at an early age. Mother was
furious when Jim Sheeran phoned and asked if she realized that his son, Harold and Bob were
practicing riding on her milk cows on the other side of the hill, which he could see from the
station. Bob worked for Glen House and later Milt Ward on the cattle drives to Bassano.
Bob was cook and if anyone dared to complain, he got the job. Bob married Ilene Richardson
of Herronton and they have four children, Rhonda, Raymond, Joyce and Roberta. Bob passed away
at an early age in 1960.
Thelma Madeline married Charles (Chuck) Bannister of Mayerthorpe and they have two daughters JoAnn
and Faye. (History elsewhere in book)
Fred Milton married Jane (Nan) Bruce of Aberdeen Scotland and they had two daughters and one son,
Elizabeth, Bruce and Sandra. After Nan's death, Fred married Thelma Hutton of Mossleigh.
(History elsewhere in book)
Dorothy Virginia: After five different schools in one year I took my schooling from
grade three on, at Arrowwood. Two favourite teachers were Elmer Lyle and Harry
McCullough as I loved basketball and soft ball as much as they did.
I also loved horse back riding and especially racing.
After working at Lawrence Irwins, the Buffalo Hills Ranch, Calgary and Carseland, I went into Nurses
Training in the Miscericordia Hospital, Edmonton. After graduation in March 1941, I worked at
Hardisty, Gleichen, the Colonel Belcher Hospital, the King Edward VII Hospital, Bermuda, and later
at Fort Erie, Ontario.
Then I was in Public Health in the Assiniboi area in Saskatchewan. Next I went to the Millar
Memorial Bible Institute at Pambrun, Sask., for three years. In 1953 I left as a missionary
under Gospel Missionary Union for Eucador, South America. My first year was spent largely
in learning the Spanish language at Shell Mem. Here was our fist clinic, which later led
to a hospital in the area. Our mission then invited me to help in a clinic in the south
jungle area 80 flying minutes from the main one, or eight days by foot. I was there about
seven years working with the Spanish and Jivaro Indians (Headhunters). The medical work
here was closed when the doctors came into the area. My next move was to a clinic in the
mountains, 9,000 feet at Illuchi among the Spanish and Quichua (descendents of the Inca Indians).
Here I worked with a doctor and nurse until I went on furlough Dec. 1969, doing mainly
the lab work and visitation. I was unable to return to the field on account of Mother's
failing health. Mother passed away January 16, 1977. I have been able to
continue nursing in the Vulcan General Hospital. I have enjoyed attending the Friendship
Club when off duty. I semi-retired from nursing in April 1981.
A dream of Dads is now finally realized since the road went straight south of Arrowwood instead of
winding around the coulee at Cochranes. Dad passed away Jan. 15, 1954.