Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-10-27
OSawafomie Brown.

I The following history of this notabl
parsonage, which we extract from the Chi
eago Press and Tribune, will be read wit
great interest:
John Brown-variously known as "Ol
Brown" Fighting Brown" and "OSa
watomie Brown his first publ
/ appearance in Lykins County Kansas, il
the year 1855. That which probably vii
prove his last. took place, as the reader i
already advised, at Harpcr's Ferry, yir
sinia, on Monday and Tuesday last. S,
strange a career as his has not arrested tn,
public attention since Joe Smith was sho
in the Carthage jail His rank among thu
worlds notabilities will be among such
fanatics as Peter the Hermit. who believed
himself commissioned of God 10 redeem
the Holy Scpulchre from the hands Of the
lnhdcls-Joanna Southcote, who deemed
herself big with the promised Shiloh
lgnatius Loyola, who thought that the son
of Man appeared to him. bearing his cross
on his shoulders. and gave him Latin
commission of mighty importer Don
Quixote, (if we may give him place in
history who was persuaded that he had a
mission to rescue the prosecuted damsels
IN Spain 1t was Browns superstition
that he was divinely appointed to bring
American slavery to sudden and violent
end.
Of his birth place we are not advised
but we believe that his home, prior to his
appearance in Kansas, was in North Ohio.
and that he migrated thither from North
Elba, Essex Co., New York. In the lat
ter State he was tenant of the Hon. Ger
rit Smith. and was often bcfriended by
that gentleman after the desolation of his
farm and the breaking mp of his family in
Kansas, had made him guerrilla chief in
the border conflicts of that Territory
The earlier. skirmishes consequent upon
the Border Ruffian invasions Of Kansas.
developed fighting qualities in Brown,
which gave him immediate prominence
among the extempore military leaders of
the invaded country. The section of the
territory where Brown lived, not being
brought into action so early as the region
about Lawrence and Lcavenworth, Brown
took part, we believe, in the "Wa-
serusa war;" When the ruffian army.
nnder the lead of Atchison and Deputy
Marshall Fain, marched upon Lawrence
IA May, 1856, Brown preceded them with
! small company from Osawatomic, and
,ffercd to take the command in defence
If the town. Robinson, Pomcroy and |
'ther prominent citizens having decided to
'ffer no resistance to the Missourians.
Brown retired in much disgust. The in
aiding force entered and pillaged the town.
'attering down tho Free State Hotel with
six FOUNDER. and throwing the contents
{ the Herald of Freedom Office into the
law River Five days after this event a
ght occurred at Potowatomie. in which
We Ruffisns were killed. 1t is believed
hat Brown was in the secret Of their .fak-
'g off," On the I'd of june. Brown fell
/ with a party of marauders Under the
ommand III. Clay Pate. who had raised ]
company especially for the capture Of old ]
rown. This was the battle of Black I
ack. Pate was taken prisoner together !
ith twenty one of his fellow ruffians, and q
large quantity of plumber. which had been I
We'd on the country through which Ire
I'd marched. Those who witnessed this
fair say that the GOODNESS and skill dis ! il
aged by Brown, and tho awkwardness a
I'd cowardice of his antagonist. were y
ually noticeable. Browns force was Q
inferior to Pate's. The pris- O
.ers were liberated few days afterward. h
e believe that Brown was not present Ct