St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-27
Letter from @. C. Brown Of Kansas

reasonably hope to accomplish"
Letter from @. G. Brown Of Kansas,
To his Ecerlleney Franklin Pierce, Prcsi-
dent of the United States:
DEAR SIR:-Permit private citizen
of Kansas Territory to address you.
More than two years ago, alone, and
with considerations connected with
my own health, and the selection of
quiet, happy home for myself and fam
lily, found my way to the Territory,
and located my claim at Ossawatomie.
1t was then wilderness country, and
but four or five white families were
then resident in that section of the
Territory. But soon from almost eve
ry State in the Union, that country
was peopled. We had no store, no
postoffice, no mail route, no mill or
blacksmith shop At our request
Government established weekly
mail route, and appointed Mr.. Samuel
Geer postmaster. Mr.. John Yelton
received the contract for carrying the
mail-four weekly mails reached us
from different points. Two good
stores were established and grocery
store. We had large steam saw
and grist mill, at cost Of $4,000 in
operation. We had blacksmith and
cabinet shop, and dwellings,, in all
NEARLY fifty, in town. The people
lived together in harmony; they were
enterprising-improving their farms,
planting crops, to the extent, in some
instances, of 100 acres. We had built
a school house, which was also to
serve us as temporary place of reli-
gious worship. Preparations were on
foot for the erection of two large
churches; various buildings and i'm
provements were commenced. We
had passed the first rough work of a
i pioneer life. We had all shaken with
the ague, we had all groaned under
the burning fever. We had passed
through winter beyond precedent.
The bright spring opened upon us.
We were cheercd The sun shone
as brightly as ever, and vernal show
ers came, and gave promise of a, fruit
full season. We began to plant our
crops, but rumors Of an attack from
the people of another State alarmed us.
But little could be done, and yet all
were diligent at work to provide for
those whom God had made dependent
, upon them. And while thus our peo
pie were busy in their fields, on the
, 9th day of June last, party Of about
, 100 horsemen, many Of them known
J residents of Missouri, visited our town
!, made several of our people prisoners
sacked and robbed all our dwellings
of their valuables, set several build
, ings on fire, stole eighteen horses
threatened and assaulted our citizens,
and retired with threat that at flu
ture time they would return and de.
stroy the town.
The people are in terror, sleeping in
the woods, and in constant fear OF
their lives! The arm of industry is
{ paralyzed! Our teams sent to West
port and Kansas city for provisions
are stopped, searched and robbed
| None but the ignorant or more coura
f geous dare leave home August 18th
Mr.. Ackerley, who drove the stage
from Ossawatomie to Westport, was
/ made prisoner at Westport to learn
the fate of his courier, and is detained
prisoner until the goth of August
t when, robbed Of his coach, harness
{ and one horse, he is sent late at night
, into Ossawatomie, with between SOC
and 400 letters.
, August 30th.-Early in the morning
, Gen. Reid from Missouri, with an ar
my variously estimated at $50 to 400
: men, march upon the town, having
previously murdered, one mile before
reaching the place, Frederick Brown
. and MI. Garrison, and left Mr.. Cutler
, for dead. They take Mr.. Williams ane
German called Dutch Charley prise
: ners. Mr.. W. is brutally murdered IL
, town; the German is murdered sool
4 after. They severely wounded Mr.
g Updegraft and Mr.. Collins. They alst
! kill Mr.. Partridge who was fleeing fol
) his life, and Mr.. Powers, sick man
3 while he is endeavoring toescape from
the burning houses. They then sacl
. and burn the town, leaving only
!, twelve buildings. Women fee from
| their beds in their night clothes, with
children under their arms. The sicl
crawl as best they can into the woods
the murdered Powers being one Of
them. They then visit my claim, hal
mile from town, rob and burn my
house, including piano forte worth
$500. They had burned my printing
Office, cut open my iron safe and rob
bed it of ali it's valuable contents, o
plate, money and papers. They take OF
my horse, wagon and harness, aftel
burning my three outkouses. They
kidnap my oldest son, and bear him
off to Missouri, where they for many
weeks detain him.
! Terror stricken the people flee from
the country. Cut offfrom supplies by
the Bordercrs sworn to accomplish our
destruction we have been compelled
to get out of the Territory, where no
protection Of life or property is en-
loved, to the protection Of the States.
we are robbed Of our all, and more,
we are hunted as the roe upon the
mountains. We are to-day thrown
upon the cold charity Of the world,