Harry Brown and Mabel Sides

 Harry Edgar Brown, son of William M. Brown and Sarah Dupes Aughey, was born on 05 Jan 1876 in Dakota City, Dakota, Nebraska, USA. He died on 23 Sep 1961 in Sioux City, Clay, Iowa, USA.

Mabel Elizabeth Sides, daughter of Jacob Augustus Sides II and Alice Elizabeth Wright, was born on 03 Jul 1877 in Dakota City, Dakota, Nebraska, USA. She died on 24 Sep 1955 in Sioux City, Clay, Iowa, USA.

Harry and Mabel met at the local school, Hileman Country School.

Harry Edgar Brown and Mabel Elizabeth Sides were married on 27 Dec 1900 in Salem Lutheran Church near Dakota City, Nebraska. They had the following children:

• Vera Elizabeth Brown was born on 16 Dec 1901 in On family farm near Dakota City, Nebraska. She died on 18 May 1960 in South Sioux City, Dakota, Nebraska, USA.

•  Franklin Edgar Brown was born on 12 Jul 1903 in On family farm near Dakota City, Nebraska. He died on 28 Dec 1984 in South Sioux City, Dakota, Nebraska, USA.

•  Mabel Marguerite Brown was born on 15 Jun 1905 in On family farm near Dakota City, Nebraska. She died on 19 Jan 1982 in South Sioux City, Dakota, Nebraska, USA. 

• Alice Irene Brown was born on 21 Apr 1907 in On family farm near Dakota City, Nebraska. She married Harold Henry Tallman on 12 Jun 1935.

• Sarah Viola Brown was born on 28 Apr 1909 in On family farm near Dakota City, Nebraska. She died on 19 Sep 2000 in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA.

• Harry Wesley Brown was born on 16 Sep 1915 in Dakota City, Dakota, Nebraska, USA. He died on 10 Mar 2012 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.

According to Harry, all the children in the family were born at home in the farmhouse (on the kitchen table!)

A highlight of Frank and Vera's childhood was the winning of a shetland pony in a magazine subscription contest. Father subsequently purchased a second shetland pony, harnesses for both ponies, and a pony buggy. These ponies and buggy provided great enjoyment to all members of the family for many years. A particular joy was to harness up the shetland ponies on a Sunday morning and for the children to go to Sunday School at the Salem Lutheran Church in the pony buggy. Dad and Mother could then come along later in their separate conveyance.

Music was an important part of life in Harry and Mabel Brown's family. Mabel was an accomplished piano player and provided musical instruction to the children from an early age. Vera played piano, Frank the saxaphone and cornet, Marguerite trap drums and bells, Alice the violin, Sarah the trumpet, and Harry Jr. the banjo. The five older children played together as the "Brown Family Orchestra" for many years. Numerous concerts were given by the orchestra at picnics, church gatherings, and other affairs in the Dakota County and Sioux City areas. Mother Brown was the Director, and Father Brown handled the transportation, finances, etc.

During the great economic depression in the 1930's, title to the original Brown farm home was lost, however, Harry and Mabel continued to operate the farm until 1943 when they moved to South Sioux City. Ownership and operation of the farm was then taken over by Leo Anderson.

Family photo around 1911, before Harry was born