The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-12
HANNAH BROWN.
Another Patriotic Woman Joins
the Majority.
She Was the Slaves Friend and Helped to
Run the Underground Railway-The
Story of Her Brave Sons.

"When pioneer or patriot passes away
the country mourns its loss and gives ex-
preston TO its grief by placing flags at half
mast and penning long obituaries; but who
notices when a woman of '49 or 81 dies 2"
demanded a venerable looking attorney at
the City Hall yesterday. when asked why
he looked so low spirited.
''One OF my clients has just Joined the
majority. Nothing besides a mere death
notice appeared in the morning papers
making the fact known to the public, yet
she was one who did as much as any man to
free the negroes and put down the rebellion.
More than any one man, l may say, for her
five sons gave their lives to the Unions
cause"
At these remarks several clerks standing
by gathered around the venerable solicitor,
and CALL reporter who was present
pressed for a story. After much coaxing
the following facts were CLEANED:
HER LIES WORK WAS COMPLETED.
Hannah Webster Brown died at Oakland
on Monday, from no other cause than that
her allotted three score and ten years have
passed. and, life's work being done. nature
had at last demanded a surrender. But six
stalwart sons went before her, five having
laid down their lives in the Civil War.
The Browns belonged to the society of
HickSite- Quasers, and from the very first
had taken a firm stand against slavery.
Therefore the news of the firing on Sumter
no sooner reached their little Pennsylvania
village than five of the boys, of WHOM there
were seven, Immediately enlisted as volun-
tcers. The Oldest was unable, from ill-health,
TO enter the army, but Albert, the second,
came to California, where he organized a
company, of which he became Captain.
Through the entire war he remained on the
Coast his principal engagements being with
the Indians, who harasSed the settlers and
immigrants on every possible occasion. He
alone of the five survives.
Howard, the neXtIin age, joined the army
in the East, but an injury to his head
obliged him to seek his discharge, and sub
sequently caused his death. A similar fate
met Wilmer, but it remained to Webster to
gioriously lay down his life In the midst of
battle. lie had gone into the war as pri-
vate, but with the determination TO win the
laurelS of victory or die in the attempt.
Stal%art of form and handsome, he made
dashng soldier, and proudly his mother and
sister babe him good-by as he shouldered
his musket and marched away.
IN THE THICKEsT OF STRIFE
From the first lie was cast into the thick
est of the strife, but always managed to
communicate with the old home, telling of
his hopes and achievements. Soon he no
longer wrote as private; he had stepped
forward and another stripe was added to
tidings had reached his mother that q New
York paper announced the terrible battle
Of Bentonville, between JUhnson'S forces
and the Army of Tennessee. Captain Camp
bell remained to tell the story of Webster's
bravery As Orderly Sergeant of Company
c, Fourth Iowa Infantry, he had dashed
into the thckest of the fight, only to fall
helpless with his companions beneath the
merciless fire OF the rebel artillery.
Every one has heard of the underground
rdIl HTuN ll.l I,
ened SO bitterly the luminosity of the South
They formed vast system of conveyance
by which fugitive slaves were enabled to
escape from the South to the free States and
Canada. Thus thousands of the most rest
less, intelligent and desperate negroes were
taken away from the slave States. Those
who conducted the underground railways
underwent the greatest hardships and dau-
gers, and dire was the vengeance heaped
upon them when discovered.
SHE WAS INDEED A PATRIOT.
Husband and sons had departed for tire
war, leaving but daughter and infant child
as company and protection for Mrs. Brown
All the agricultural products available had
been used to ration the soldiers, and it fell
10 her lot, with no other help than her
daughter, to till the soil and raise the scant
supply of food they had. Under these hard
ships, however, she still found time to lend
her aid in the escape OF negroes by means
Of the underground railways. Nor was the
constant anxiety she felt for those departed
and sorrow for the fallen unworthy OF men,
tion among the burdens under which she
labored for her country. She was indeed a pa
triot and worthy of the honor of which the
venerable attorney spoke.
When life passed away she was almost
frendless and alone in strange land. Her
youngest son, who, il never given an oppor-
tunlty 10 show his patriotism. has proved a
loyal son, and Albert, were by her side, as
was also her daughter. But few else knew
the history OF the useful life which drew SO
quietly to a close.
The deceased will be buried in Santa
Cruz to-day beside the remains OF her son.
Wilmer.