Biography

In 1864, John Farmer bought 25 acres of land from William H. Seward, directly north of Harriet Tubman’s seven acres.30 There he operated a brickyard and built, probably about 1870, the frame structure that Harriet Tubman bought at auction in 1896 and that ultimately became Tubman’s Home for the Aged. That land also included the brick building that became John Brown Hall, which Farmer may have used as a tenant house and/or office for the brickyard.


William Jr. writes to Fred in 18641200WSJ_FWS- "I have sold all the Burton farm to John Farmer with the exception of a lot on the south side the same size of Mrs Tubmans . The first sold to Farmer is about 25 acres and he is to have a deed, pay $500 down & give a Bond & Mtg for $2000 payable in four equal annual installments of $500 each with interest."