Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-07-04
A SON OF JOHN BROWN,
Old Ossauatomie's Second Son Tolls the
Story Of His Trouble In Kansas.

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An historic figure. one OF the men
who made history, in those days when
no man who believed in "free soil for
free men" was safe for an hour in
''blccding Kansas" is in this city in
the person of Jason Brown. second son
OF John Brown. the hero of Harper's
Ferry. says a Philadelphia reporter.
Mr.. Brown who is patriarchal.
pleasant-featured, grcy-haired. and
grey-bcardcd gentleman OF 6S years.
strongly resembling bis father, has
been living for the past seven years
near Pasadena, Cal
On his arrival there with but 81 90 in
his pockets, he took up claim Of l2O
acres of Government land in the foot
hills OF the Sierra Madre. 1000 feet
above the sea. and /. 100 feet above the
town OF Pasadena. BY dint of hard
work he has succeeded in getting his
claim into some kind Of shape"
among other things having built a
road To the town below. lie is at
present on tour Of the East. Mr..
Brown said yesterday: II lost all /
possessed in Kansas during the troub-
les of Sc and during the war There
has been great deal said about the
crnellies and indignitics heapcd upon
free soil men during that struggle. but
very little about the kindness of the
Southern man. To set this matter
right | would like to tell of an oc-
eurence that happened to me during
that time.
When we settled in Kansas in '55
We took Government land, and very
soon after we were waited upon by
squad OF pro-slayery men. mostly from
Missouri who wished TO find out how
tre stood on the slavery or, as they
called it, the goose question. We
told them we were Abolitionists and
from that time we were marked men.
In the fall 1900 Mssourians deter
mined TO destroy the town Of Law
renee and in Sc they besieged it for
several days. Governor Shannon. ot
the Territory, effected compromise.
The bordermen went back TO Missouri
swearing that as soon as the grass
grew on the prairie the next spring
they would drive all Free State men
out of the Territory. They did come
back the following May and June in
squads. according to the size of the
town to he attacked.
"Abouy this time was taken prison.
er by 4 squad headed by man naped
Martin White, who | Immediately
recognized as having been in our
camp. and who / now know to have
been spy. | had started across the
prairie To visit Free Soil Indian
called Ottowa Jones. and meeting
these men inquired the way 10 Jones
house. As soon as spoke his name
they leveled their guns at me aud
yelled: You're one of the very men
we are looking for They took my
revolver and what little money | had.
and ordered me to 90 on ahead. Be-
lieving that | was to be shot. backed
about twenty rods and told them that /
was Free State man and an Abolition
ist. aud il they wanted my blood for
that they might take it. At the same
time pulled open my vest, saying.
There is a mark for you Most of
them threw their guns across their
saddIe-bows and told me that they
would not kill me at that time. |
was taken TO their camp where 800 or
more were gathered. They had Il stout.
new rope. aud were all ready TO hang
me. / told them that was sou of
John Brown and an Abolilionist. but
if they wanted my life for this / was
ready to die.
''As | said this. three brave Ken
tuckians-one Of them a-slayeholder-
saved my life. | was taken 10 the
house OF this Shareholder aud was
never treated with more kindness in
my life. although prisoner. This
gentleman's name was Jacobs. lie
lived in Lexington. KY, and l after
ward learned was Colonel in the
Southern army. and was killed in the
war.
This kind treatment from these pro-
slavery men led me TO think more
about who were most TO blame for the
continuance of slavery in the United
States. and / came TO the conclusion
that the people of the North were the
holders while the people of the South
were the owners, aud that slavery was
not sectional evil. but a national
evil.
Notwithstanding we were ill-treat-
ed. three of my brothers killed and my
father and six of his men hanged.
buried thirty years ago all ill-will. all
unkind feelings that had ever cher
ished toward the Southern people.
This is also true of the remaining menu
bers of my family. The people of the
South have no truer friends than we
are"
Mr.. Brown i, accompanied on his
tour by Rev. Jone II. Hector, son OF
slave parents, his father aud mother
having been slaves on the ground
where John Brown was hanged. He
served through the war. first rs body
servant 10 General Grant. and after
ward as an enlisted man. and is a
member OF the Grand Army. He first
made Mr.. Browns acquaintance in
Southern California and visited him in
his home there.