The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-04-20

Reared in the atmosphere Of abolition
from the days Of this youth, in the very
hot.bed of anti.slavery feeling, it it
little wonder that Salmon Brown, son Of
John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame
has still some Of the old spirit left. Nor
ia It strange that, as he retells the story
Of anti-bellum days in Kansas, when his
father struck practically the first blow
OF the war that set people thinking seri-
ously, his eyes flash with the vigor of 20
years instead Of 66.
Salmon Brown is now a resident of
Portland, ,'and sitting in his pleasant
East Side home surrounded by pictures
of his father and Of John Browns grand
son and great grand son, told something
OF the history Of those exciting times.
He is happy now and the old days OF
murder aud bloodshed and bitter feel
ings have almost passed away, but as
the direct descendent of the now famous
character 10 American history sat in his
chair and lived again the past, one could
see that it would not have Jared so well
with Jeff Davis and others of the South
If they had suddenly appeared on the
scene. Salmon Brown has several
sisters scattered throughout California,
and oneshalf brother in that state, but
he himself residel in Salem until six
weeks ago, when he removed to Port
land with his family.
Looking closely at the portrait of
John Brow and then again at his son,
one can zee a strong resemblance, which
Mrs. Brown says lie growing as her
husband becomes older. The same
determined look lie set on the face, while
in the wearing Of his hair and the trim
ming OF his mustache, the son has
followed his father closely. More re-
markable, in lineaments the father, son,
grandson and great grand son, resemble
each other, showing that force Of
character can be traced from one genera
ton to another for some time.
Otherwise there is nothing remarkable
about the son of John Brown that would
particularly distinguish him from any
other man in the world. Yet he is the
son OF man whose name swept the
Nation from ocean to ocean, while
Salmon Brown himself participated in
some Of the outbreaks which signalized
the War OF the Rebellion. For these
reasone he is Of interest 20 the public
and his account Of his fathers early
days and the trouble in Kansas will be
OF real worth and interest.
Salmon Brown one of the youngest
sons Of John Brown, was born at Hudson,
Summit County, Ohio, where his father
resided at that time. The elder Brown
was engaged in the sheep business and
as tanner and nine years after the
birth of Salmon Brown, the family
moved TO Akron, Ohio, where John
Brown went into partnership with
Simon Perkins, son of General Per-
kins.
"The Perkinses were we'll known in
those days." said Salmon Brown, while
running through his narration of affairs.
Jake Perkins being Secretary of the
State at one time. Perkins and my
father established the fret wool com.
mission house in the United States at
Springfield, Mass. We left Akron,
Ohio, in lS42, to go to Springfield. The
commission business is not carried on as
it lie at present. Father and Perkins
we're agents for the producers, and the
manufactures combined to break their
back. This was done by means OF the
horizontal tariff OF ls49, which reduced
the price Of wool from 75 cents pound
10 20. The firm has been in the habit
OF advancing half the market price of
the wool when they took it and this
drop in prices injured them. Father
went to Europe TO dispose of the wool
and in the meantime located his family
in the Adirondack Mountains. You see.
Garrett Smith, son Of Peter Smith, who
was aPartner OF John Jacob Astor, had
offered 40 acres Of land TO every colored
man who would come there and make a
home. Father was a surveyor, so after
he returned from Europe, he surveyed
the lands ol the negroes for nothing"
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