Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-04-14

THURSDAY, ): : APRIL "A. 1881
ruE WIDOW OF JOHN BsoWN.
A few weeks ago the San jose (cal.)
Mercury published an item to the effect
that the widow OF old John Brown. the
hero Of Harpsr's Ferry. was. together
with her two daughters, residing in SAINT
Clara county not many miles from that
place. II further stated that they we're
In rather crsmpsd circumstances. living
ON q small farm which they had pur-
chased and working hard to pay OF .
mortgage Of $500 incurred In buying
the farm. They were not in destitute
circumstances. but with their best Efforts
they saw NO means ahead Of meeting and
doing away with this membranes. This
item was telssrsphed east, but return
tslsgrams disputed the truth OF 1t. set
ting forth that Mrs. Brown ives not In
California at all. but IN Washington.
whore she vas diligently seeking to
secure . position in one Of the Govern
msnt Offices. ThsaSsn Jose Mercury,
however, still insisted that Ito item
was correct. Mrs. Brown. and daughters
had been incidentally met With on their
little farm - described. They were in
Q somsvhat retired but pleasant situA.
ton. asking no assistance. yet not object
ing to friendly kindness In the way Of
helping to clear Of the financial incum-
branse on their home.
In order to more fully decide this
matter. the San Francisco Chronicle sent
. special reporter to Santa Clara county.
He had no difficulty in finding the ladies
a. described on their little farm. situated
high up en- the mountains thirteen miles
from San Jose and about three miles
from the town Of Saratoga. A very in
tsrestips recount OF the interview ID
given in the Chronicle Of last Sunday.
from which We eondenss the following
extracts:
Mrs. Brown lives In the cottage with her
two daughters. . son-in-law and four
grandchildren. The son-in-law, j. Fab
finger, met the reporter and invited him
into the modest front parlor. saying that
Mrs. Brown would be In presently. From
the parlor window the view was extensive
and varied.
eve can see Oakland In . very clear
day" said Mr.. Fablinger.
The reporters attention was drawn from
the view by the entrance OF Mrs. Brown, .
tall. straight woman. apparently about
fifty years Of age. though fifteen years
older than that. Her hair 10 only tinged
with gray. but her face is furroved BY
lines. sorrow-graven.
1.-THE Ckronicie would like to set the
world right a. to your whereabouts, Mrs.
Brown. and also give II any information
concerning yourself you are willing II
should know
"Regarding my whereabouts-has there
been any dispute ~ to that?' replied the
lady. and then added, smiling. II have
had to identify myself once or twice al
ready. and may have to again."
'.Thsn you are not. and perhaps have
not been. at w~ashingtonl dispatch stated
that you were there"
THAT 10 . mistake. I have never been
there. have no business there"
"How long have you been living here
Mrs. Brown"
eve came here. my daughters and I. In
the frat Of last February"
In the conversation which followed th,
reporter learned that Mrs. Brown came Il
this State sixteen years ago, and aftsl
living In Red Bluff for six years. removed
TO Rohnerville, Humboldt county. wher'
one Of her sons and one Of her daughter
married. Owing to several causes, her son
in-law's Ill health among others, she de
cided to remove TO . milder climate, ant
fixed upon Santa Clara Valley.
my unmarried daughter came here nrs
and made tho selection. II 10 . mountain
ranch, which my son-in-law wanted. ant
had = house all ready for occupancy. which
wanted"
The ranch comprises l60 acres and wa
purchased for $3.50. Purchased. but no
yet paid for, a. the combined cash asset
Of the family allowed only . payment suf
fcient to bind the bargain TO DO made. 4
second payment Of $500 falls due II
August. and after that there will be Si00t
more to be paid. After Mrs. Brown hat
stated these particulars the reporter sug
gestsd. - delicately - he could. that Il
the patriotic citizens Of the State knew
that the widow OF John Brown. the hero od
Ossawatomie and Harper's Ferry Was liv
ing OF . m~ortgaged ranch. they wonlt
esteem ita favor to DO allowed to place III,
widow in different circumstances.
II should willingly accept any such ait
to clear our home from debt, II 1t cam,
only from people who thought . debt o
gratitude was due to the memory Of Johi
Brown" answered tho widow.
Over the plain parlor organ the reporteI
noticed . picture Of John Brown, svidentl,
some late work. at Is . reproduction o
that old photograph up there" explained
the widow. pointing to an old-fashiones
full.length portrait, taken whsn Brown
made his fruitless mission for aid 10 Bos
ton In 1856. II represents . large-frame,
man with long. busby white beard an,
darker hair brushed back from the fore
head and impaired. On either side Of |
hung . photograph Of two younger men.
Those were my boys, Oliver and Wat
son. who were killed before their faths
was captured at Harper's Ferry" said tn
widow.
"0ns wss . stepson. was he noti" aske,
the reporter.
"No." she replied. simply; ~ bore thos'
men. The stspson. Owen. escaped from
Harper's Ferry"
my husband" said Mrs. Brown, con
tinuipg. "was mary years older than my
self. He was 50 when hung. and woull
have been 81 now. I will b Gs the ISL
Of this month. I Was his second wife
His frst wife. by whom be had seven chill
dren. died In 1882, and . little over . zeal
later ! became his wife. in Meadville
Penn. i had thirteen children by him
four of whom are now living"
Before the reporter left the house hs
stood at . window by the side Of Mrs,
Brown looking out upon the little patch Of
160 acres that had been redeemed from the