News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-02-27
son OF JOHN BROWN.
Resembles Paternal Ancestor Whose "SOuI
Goes Marching On"

l.. G. Clark of Stowe, VT, some
time ago read an article printed in
a Philadelphia newspaper about
man whose paternial ancestor, John
Brown, was the hero of Harpers
Ferry. Mr.. Clark was much interest
ed in the article and believed that
others, who had not already done
SO, would like to read it, so he brought
it to News AND CITIZEN Office and re-
quested its publication. The request
is granted, and while "John Browns
body lies moulding in the grave, his
soul goes marching on"
IAN historic figure, one of the men
who made history, in those days when
no man who believed in "free soil for
a free men" Was safe for an hour in
bleeding Kansas" is in Philadelphia
in the person OF Jason Brown, second
son of John Brown. Jason Brown
who is patriarchal, pleasant-teatur-
ed, grey-haired, and grey-bearded
gentleman of 6S years, strongly re-
sembling his father, has been living
for the past seven years near Pasa-
dena, Cal.
"On his arrival there with but $1.09
in his pockets, he took up claim of
120 acres of Government land in the
foot hills of the Sierra Madre, 1000
feet above the sea, and 1000 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. He is at
present on tour of the East. Mr..
Brown said yesterday: Il lost all |
possessed in Kansas during the
troubles of Sc and during the war.
There has been great deal said
about the cruelties and indignities
heaped 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 occurrence that happened
to me during that time.
When we settled in Kansas in $50
we took Government land, and very
soon after we were waited upon by
squad of prO-slavery men, mostly
from Missouri, who wished to find
out how we 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 Missourians
determined to destroy the town OF
Lawrence and in '56 they besieged it
for several days. Governor Shannon,
of the Territory, effected a com
promise. The bordermen went back
to Missouri swearing that as soon as
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 be attacked.
"About this time was taken pris-
oner by squad headed by a man
named Martin White, who immedi-
ately recognized as having been in
our, camp, and who [ now know to
have been spy. Ihad started across
the prairie to visit Free Soil Indian
called OJtowa Jones, and meeting
these men | inquired the way to Jones
house. AS soon as spoke his name
they leveled their guns at me and
yelled: You're one of the very men
we are looking for. They took my
revolver and what little money had,
and orded me to go on ahead. Be-
lieving that | was to be shot, back
ed about twenty rods and told them
fhat I uoo q Epoo Srota man op5 nv
Abolitionist, and if they wanted by
blood for that they might take it. At
the same time pulled open my vest,
saying: Thee is a mark for you.
Most of them threw theirguns across
their saddle-bows and told me that
they would not kill me at that time.
i was taken to their camp, where 300
or more men had gathered. They
had stout new rope and were all
ready to hang me. told them that
1 was son of John Brown and an
AbolitiOnist, but if they wanted my
life for this was ready to die.
Gas | said this, three brave Ken
tuckians-one of them a-slaveholder
saved my life. | was taken to the
house of this stakeholder, and was
never treated with more kindness in
my life, although a prisoner. The
gentleman's name was Jacobs. He
lived in Lexington, KY, and l after
wards learned was a Colonel in the
war.
{" This kind treatment from these
proslavery 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, and that slavery
was not sectional evil, but a nation.
al evil.
I" Notwithstanding we were ill-treat
ed, and three of my brothers killed
and my father and six of his men
hanged, buried thirty years ago all
ill-will, and unkind feelings that had
ever cherished to ward the Southern
people. This is also true of the re-
naming members of my family. The
people of the South have no trueI
friends than we are.'
"'Mr. Brown is accompanied on bis
tour by Rev. John II. Hector, sou
of slave parents, his father and moth
l. - Il