The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-05
JOHN BROWN-MAY, 1859.

tainly," when the Doctor read chapter
sang. and prayed.
Mr. Life slept in the same room with
him. You enquire If he was at my house
after he was at Tibkling Spring. on leiN-
ing my house. he went in that direction,
and / heard that he preached there aiter-
wares of its correctness 90 not Know.
In the morning when he LETT, as my
children had to cross the creek On theil
way 10 school. he carried them over ana
sang "A Il. c." for them. the Iirst time.
doubt not, il was ever sung IN our sec
ton. and they haven't forgotten 1t. !
rode behind his carriage some distance.
and on parting he went in the direction
of Thinking Spring | cannot recall the
date, yet doubt not. Mr.. Life can.
VIM. S. HANGER. "
append Mr.. LIES communication. lie
Is an intelligent. progressive farmer. and
a brother of Rev. VIM. Life, ID. d., at
Rye Westchester. New York. so long
and Familiarity known as the principal OF
its celebrated Female Seminary.
ELK Run, Augusta Co. Va.
December g. 1881.
Dear Sir-In reply TO yours making
enquiries about old john Brown, aiias
DR. McI.ain' / remember the fact OF call
Ing at Mr.. VIM. $. Hangers, when resid-
ing on Christians Creek, TO spend q
night. Meeting a cordial welcome, he
said TO me. we have guest, Il Rev Mr..
McLain. who is also Doctor of Medi-
cine The Doctor and myself spent the
evening in free and pleasant converse
ton. At the hour of retiring. |, perhaps,
conferred with Mr.. Hangers about his
conducting family worship, which he did.
We occupied the same room. yet such
has been the lapse of time ! can't recall
any points in our diversified converse
ton. He was selling truss, for the cure
of hernia, and L was struck with re-
mark he made as touching the negro,
that as a class, he was more subject TO
that disease than any other. You ask n
he preached at Thinking spring IL was
borhood that he did, and the Rev. MI.
See the pastor at the time. VIII, no doubt
remember the fact. ! thought little about
him until after the Harpers Ferry kaid.
when one of the EDITORIALS, having the
likenesses of those executed. / at once
recognized the Rev. DR.. McLain, as John
Brown l have no data by which | can
fix the dates but il was several months
before the John Brown Raid
VERY truly yours,
SAMUEL LIFE.
The Rev. c. S. NJ. Lee. for fifteen years
perhaps, pastor Of Thinking Spring. writes
Milford. Ellis county. Tex.
November 80 1877.
Dear riend.-Your interesting letter of
October 30th was long time on the way
We have been trying hard to recall ali
that was said and thought OF DR.: McLain.
alias John Browns. trip through Angus
ia county. and the Tinkline Spring neigh
DOTnoOu.
l am satisfied that the impression that
DR.. McLain took part in the public wor-
ship at L. 5. church, is erroneous. For
was too much interested in the John
Brown affair. and the general opinion
that Or. McLair was John Brown IN dis
gllise. to have forgotten the fact that |
had been in the pulpit with him. The
man who was mistaken for him, was
Rev. Mr.. Lackey. travelling agent OF
the American Bible Society. or of the
American Sunday-school Union. of whom
J formed sc poor an opinion, that | dis
eouraged his canvassing the congrega-
lion. He was In the pulpit with me and
took some part In the services.
/ remember quite distinctly hearing OF
DIR. McLain's having been at Jacob
Swisher's house, a son-in-law of Mr.. Rob-
ert Freeman, and having trusses for her
MIA, and other mechanical contriyances
for sale Mrs. Swisher bought one of the
trusses and thought it was OF material
advantage to her.
| have no doubt you could prepare an
exceedingly interesting article for one OF
the leading monthlies, on the subject OF
John Brown. And there can be little
doubt that DR.. McLain and he were tie
same person.
If Mr.. and Mrs. Swisher are living. |
doubt not they could give you some inn
portant points.
l am. sir. sincerely yours.
c. $. NJ LEE.
Soon after receiving the Rev. Mr.. Lees
letter / met Mrs. Swisher She Is about
sixty years OF age. and may be described
as woman OF unusual strength OF In
tellect. and well informed Upon mention
ing the motive which prompted me to call
TO see her and asking II she remembered
odd John Brown. alias DR.. McLain' her
fine eye sparkied with an unwonted fire.
Yes. sir. as we'll as II II was Yesterday.
lie found his way to my fathers who
lived where you came from. Mr.. Lies,