Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-16
0Q(urtestrr Daily Spp,
From the Hartford Press, Nov. II.
JOHN BROWNS EARLY HISTORY,

Want of space compcls us to abridge some
what communication received from VIM II.
Hallock, Esq, OF Canton Centre, designed to
correct many erroneous statements concerning
Capt John Brown. We give that portion re.
lating to his early life. The public are al
ready familiar with his history during the past
few years
"ln the burying ground near the church in
Canton Centre, Conn, stands a marble monu-
ment upen which is inscribed the following:
in memory of Capt. John Brown, who died
in the Revolutionary Army, at New York,
Sept. Sd, 1776. He was of the fourth genera
ton in regular descent from Peter Brown one
of the Pilgrim Fathers, who landed from the
May Flower at Plymouth, Mass, Dec. 3D.
1920
Captain Brown, at his country's call, led
forth company of West Smsbury (now
Canton) troops, to the deadly conflict, and fell
a victim to the then prevailing epidemic in the
American camp. He left numerous group of
little ones, who were reared by his widow with
singular tact and judgment to habits of indus
try and principles Of virtue and all became
distinguished citizens in the communities in
which they resided. One of the sons became
ajudge in one of the courts of Ohio One of
the daughters had the honor of giving to one
of our most 1ourishing New England colleges,
president for twenty years, in the person of
her son.
Owen Brown, Esq, one of the sons, and
father of the present Capt. John Brown mar
ried daughter of Gideon Mills, Esq, who
was himself (Mills) an officer in the revolu-
tlonary army, and was entrusted with the
command of the guard who had in charge a
large portion of the prisoners comprising Bur-
goynes army, thus proving that John Brown
inherits his military spirit through patriotic
ancestry Soon after the marriage of Owen
Brown, he removed with his family to Tor
ringford, Conn, where the present Capt John
Brown was born. While he was yet in infan-
cy or early childhood the parents returned to
West Simsbury, and there remained for few
years, when they emigrated to Hudson, Ohio,
where Brown became one of the principle pio-
neer settlers ofthat then new town, ever respect
ed for his probity and decision of character. He
was endowed with energy and enterprise, and
went down to his grave honored and respected,
about the year 1852 or 1858, aged 81.
alude to these circumstances merely that
whatever may be thought of the frailtes, the
follies, or the crimes of Capt. John Brown, he
derives his existence through an ancestry as
pure, as virtuous as patriotic, as those who ap-
parently exult in his approaching execution,
and whether he inherits i'll any degree the viz.
tues of his ancestry, the world will hereafter
decide
AT the age of eighteen or twenty, the pres
ent Capt John Brown left Hudson, Ohio, and
came east with the design of acquiring a liber-
al education through some of our New Eng
land colleges. His ultimate design was the
Gospel ministry. In pursuance of this object,
he consulted and conferred with Rev. Jeremi-
alb Hallock, then clergyman at Canton, Conn,
(whose wife was relative) and in accordance
with advice there obtained, proceeded to
Painteld, Mass, where under the instruction
of the late Rev. Moses Hallock, father of the
present senior editor Of the journal of Com
merce) fitted or nearly fitted for college.
While there pursuing his studies, he was at
tackled with inflammation of the eyes, which
ultimately became chronic and precluded him
from the possibility Of the further pursuit of
his studies, when he returned to Ohio Had
not this inflammation supervened, John Brown
would not have died Virginia cmlprit upon a
Virginia gaLo,cs, but in all probability would
have died on a feather bed, with d. ID. affixed
TO his name. Whether in the last supposed
case the world would have been gamers or
losers leave for the world to decide
| make no allusion to his subsequent his
tory other than to say, that up to his advent in
Kansas, he was characterized by his acknow-
lodged probity, his intelligence and his inter-
prise; sometimes successful and sometimes
unsuccessful in his business projects. 1t was
at the urgent solicitation of relatives and
friends that John Brown first appeared there.
The town of Osawatomie was settled princi-
pally from Ohio, a large portion of whom
were John Browns relatives, old friends and
neighbors among whom were three or four
sons, nephews, neices and one sister, the wife
of Rev. Mr.. Adair, missionary located at
Osawatomie. These, when the danger Of being
wiped out by the pro-slavery ruffians became
imminent, urgently appealed to their form
or friends and acquaintance for aid and assist
ance. 1t was not in the nature of John Brown
to turn deaf ear to that appeal, and once re-
solving to risk his own life in the defence of
lives as dear to him as his own, he proceeded
Immediately to Kansas"