The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-02-07
THE FUNERAL OF OWEN BROWN.
The Last Survivor of John Browns His
torie Raid on Harper's Ferry, Va, In


The Last Survivor of John Browns His
toric Raid on Harper's Ferry, Va, In
1859.
Died, at the residence of his brother-in law,
Henry Thompson, in this city, on January 5, 1889,
Owen Brown, aged "a years, months, and
days
Owen Brown was born at Hudson, o.,
Nov. 4, 1924, and was the third son OF
John Browns first family, there being
twenty children in all.
Owen was with his father all through
the struggle between the free State men
and the border ruffidns in Kansas in 1856
and following years, and took part in the
first pitched battle at Black Jack on the
Missouri and Kansas border, and also at
| Ossa watomie where his younger brother,
an unarmed lad, was deliberately shot
down in the street. Jaso was also in
these battles.
Owen was with his father at Harper's
Ferry, participant in that memorable
raid which struck the death knell OF
slavery, not only in the Uuited States
| but throughout the civil zed world. He
was one Of seven who escaped from
there through mountain Businesses and
swamps and forests and farms and
streams, in rain and snow and storms,
| living on raw corn, acOrns, sassafras
leaves, and such things ~ they could
possibly devour without making fire
to cook. For they were pursued by sol
diers and citizens with dogs and guns,
and a price WAS se' on their heads. The
Atlantic Monthly some Is or 20 years
ago published narrative of their escape
which exces in thrilling pathos and in
plain matler-of fact Inciden's of hard
ship, endurance, and apparently super
emily supernatural deliverances from
discovery and capture, the must vivid
conceptions of fiction, Two of them
made reckless ventures to get food and
were captured and hung. The remain
ing five escaped, Owen finally reaching
his brother Johns home on an island in
L Ike Erie.
About five years ago Jason and Owen
Brown took homestead on bench OF
mountain land five or six miles north OF
Pasadena, at the settlement now called
Las Cacitas. This they subsequently,
sold and moved higher up the mountain
side, built cabin, cleared and worked
a few acres, and lived there-two feeble
old men, alone. (Jason was with his
father in the Kansas struggle, but was
not at Harper's Ferry.) They were much
visited by tourists and citlZane, some
from mere curiosity and other from a
warm sympathy with the historic Ca
reer of the family. They had made a
good wagon trail up to their mountain
hermitage, and were continuing it as a
donkey to the top of the mountain
known as Browns Peak, but it is not
completed vet. Owen had desire to be
buried on thu top of Browns Peak; and
If Jason ever succeeds in finishing the
trail he will try to have his brothers
grave I'D there az he desired. But mean
while he is buried on a lesser peak on
their mountain homestead.
Owen Brown was never married.
LAST DAYS.
December Both the aged brothers came
down to the city to attend Col. Wood
fordis gospel temperance meeting in the
tabernacle. We met them there both
Sunday and Monday nights. But Owen
was taken sick and had chill after go
ing to his sister Ruth's home from the
meeting, and in week he died OF ty-
phoid pneumonia. He has been failing
for some months; this haG been noticed
by his relatives and friends. Monday he
mad worked pretty hard, then lay down
in the bright sunshine on the banks Of
the Arroyo and slept. In the evening
he went to the great temperance meet
ing, and being very deeply and ardeltly
interested in the cause, he put his last
cent of money into the collection: had
nothing to pay street car fare with, and
so walked over Two miles to his sisters
house, after the meeting. THESE over
exeriOns we're probably the imme late
cause of his last sickness, although he
was out some on several days after the
first attack, but was not able to attend
the meetings any more.
At the women's meeting on Tuesday
he and Jasen were elected honorary
members of the w. C. T. U. He was
much pie Ised with this, and said there
was no cause be would more gladly con-
tribute bis 81 membership fee to aid. So
he was buried with the white ribbon on
his breast,
The last words he uttered that could
be distinguished were "It is better
to be - in place - and suffer wrong
than to do wrong"
THE FUNERAL.
The last rites were paid to his mortal
remains on Thursday, January TO- 1t
WAS historic day in Pasadena. The
Tabernacle was well fiIled-about 1900
people in attendance. The exercises
were conducted by the Rev. r. II. Hart.
ley, pastor of the Friends Church. The
great churi1try was filled with singers
who sang appropriate hymns with fer.
vor and pathos as II the very spirit Of
he Browns had woven itself into heav-
enly music.
Prayer was offered by Rev. DR. .Breese,
pastor of the Methodist Church. went "a
the heart OF the bi.toric occasion and
. was an uplift OF soul in all noble aspirs-
! tions. Remarks were made by Rev. Mr.
Hartley; also by Rev. D. d. Hill, pastor
OF the Congregational Church; Rev, E.
L, Cvnger, pastor Of the UniversalisI
, Church; Col George Woodford, the gos-
'pel temperance evangelist; and by Il. N