Little Hattie and the Button Shoe

Harriet Sanger Pullman (Carolan Schermerhorn) was the second child and second daughter of George and Harriet Pullman. She was born in Chicago, most likely at their then home on the corner of Michigan Avenue and 16th street. Her birthday was September 17, 1869, almost a year and a month after her older sister, Florence, was born.

Harriet outlived all her siblings, dying at the advanced age of 87. She married twice, the first marriage was to Frank Carolan of California and the second to her childhood suiter Arthur Schermerhorn. She was the first Pullman child to marry and did so in her parents newly renovated Prairie Avenue home in 1892. She was a fashionista from early on as the following story will tell.

As a child of George and Harriet Pullman she was photographed many times over the years. One of the earliest photographs of her was in 1872 when she was three years old. She noticed that a button on her left shoe was missing and was upset that it would be seen. So, they retook the photo with her other leg crossed so the offending missing button was not seen!

Years later she wrote the story on the back on the envelope that housed the two photos:

“I remember vividly – my distress over the fact that a button on my left shoe was missing! The reason for the changed position of left leg in the next pose.

Another memory – the doll was borrowed from Florence, and I was warned not to break it!

Notes by Harriet Pullman on the pictures contained in the envelope (shown above).