The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-30
"REMINISCENCES OF JOAN BROWN.
An Indiana Lady's Experiences in KansAs
Over Thirty Years Ago.

Over Thirty Years Ago.
MARTISsvILLE, March 24-[Special. i
Mrs. Juliet Hastings of Sullivan is visit
ing her sister, Mrs. Or. 5. 4. Tilford Of this
city.
Mrs. Hastings has had an eventful
career. She was daughter Of Benjamin
Wolt, one of the early settlers o. Sullivan
county. and who held several offices of
trust at that time. lie was a member of
the constitutional convention that formed
our present state constitution. Miss Wolf
was married in 1915 to William Hastings,
and they moved to Kansas, where they
settled on a claim in Franklin county
three miles from Osawatomie in 1856.
The border troubles soon began and the
settlers were greatly troubled BY the border
ruffians. Kansas City was their nearest
market, but he was unable to cross the
border to obtain necessaries. Starvation
stared them in the face. and Mr.. Hastings
determined to go to Nebraska, and load
ing up a few of his household
effects, he. with his family,
started for more hospitable
cline When about fifteen miles on his
journey he met John Brown and his little
army, numbering about zoo. Brown
stopped them, and being informed of their
intent, promised them protection If they
would return. Hastings gladly turned
back and was afforded the promised pro-
lection. Brown had claims near those of
Hastings, but he, too, had been driven
from them. Brown had two sons with
him, one of whom was John Brown. ir.,
now a resident OF Put In Bay, and who
came to this city in September, 1882, TO
identify the skeleton of his brother, Wat
son, who was killed at HRrper's Ferry In
October, 1859. The skeleton was in pos
session of DIR. j. J. Johnson OF this city for
almost twenty years.
John Brown, the elder, was a frequent
visitor at the Hastings homestead, and
Mrs. Hastings remembers him very well.
She saws be was a white haired, gray
bearded, taciturn old man, whom she never
saw laugh or emile. He WAS ever alert,
and continually ION the GO" He carried
o soldiers blanket and silent in the open
field, prairie or thicket, just as caution
dictated. Brown was with them a few
DAYS before the battle OF Osawatomie. in
which Brown was victorious, having lost
but three men. The battle was
IN the early morning, and she remembers
of distinctly hearing the firing, as il was
but three miles distant. Brown went 70
Lawrence, Kas., after this battle. and Mrs
Hastings saws they were troubled no more
by the border ruffians. She moved tc
Ottumwa. Cofey county, Kansas, in 1858
10 give their children the benefit OF the
schools Her husband went back to the
farm, sixty miles distant, for a load oil
wheat, and while there was paid a small
sum of money in the presence OF an In.
dian, who followed nine miles toward
home and shot him in the back. Mr.
Hastings, though mortallv wounded, un
hitcned his horses from the wagon anc
rode three miles 10 the nearest house
where he died next day. Mrs. Hastingl
then returned to Sullivan and has since
continued to reside there. Her life hal
been an eventful one, yet she is a cheerful
lady and shows but little signs OF tn,
many trials and sufferings she was called
upon 10 endure.