Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-03-09
John Brown in Iowa.
BY STAFF Correspondent. Iowa CITY.

1 BY Sll6 Correspondent. lou1 CITY.
In reading the history of johnson
County from 1896 to 1889, we found
chapter in it telling about John Brown
! being in this state and we thought i
would be Of interest to the many read
ers OF the Bystander; his first visit tt
this city was in 1856 he was enrout.
East from Kansas and was accom- pan
led by one OF his sons, Hon. w. Penr
Clarke was member of the Kansas
National Committee for Iowa and his
residence being here he made this town
the chief headquarters west Of the
Mississippi who we're sympathized with
free state men of Kansas
On his journeys through Iowa, he
was generally accompanied by slaves
aud he could always find food aud
shelter and words of ensouragements
at the home of Hon. Jno. b. Grinnell
OF Griunell and his next stopping place
would be Pedee, IA quaker settlement
few miles east of this city just over
the line in Cedar County, and his fifth
visit to that town was in the beginning
OF the winter ls57-s and now appears,
he intended to spend the winter there
in preparation for his Harper's Ferry
raid the plans of which he now dis
closed to some Of his confidants at Pc
dee and on this occasion he was ac-
companied by his band eonsisting OF
his son Owen, Aaron D.. Stevens John
Kagi, John E. Cook, Richard Realf,
Chas, w. Mofit, Luke J. Parsons, e.
Il Tidd, VIM. Leemau and Richard
Richardson, the latter colored man
who with his wife and three .childrsn
b d made his escape from slavery in
Missouri besides those named above
who accompanied Brown from Kansas,
the accessions to his company from Pc
dee settle msnt in the persons Of Geo.
Gill the two Coppic brother and stew
art Taylor, Edwin Coppic Washing,
while his brother Barclay escaped and
returned to his hone. but was killed
with many other union soldiers were
while train was crossing railroad
bridge tae support of which had been
partially burned by the Missouri bush.
wackers and when the train attempted
to pass the ,imbers fell and it plunged
into the stream many feet below.
Brown quartered his men during
that winter at the house OF VIM Max
son about three miles Northeast Of
SPringdale and this was the first ce-
ment or gravel house built in the state
on April 22nd 1858 Brown having re-
turned from the east bid his men pre-
pare for the movement and they left
on the 27th of April, 1t was their inten.
tion to 60 to Harper's Ferry at that
time but they went to Chatham, Cana.
da where convention was held and it
decided to postpone the movement for
awhile and Brown went to Kansas
again and on Feb. 4, 1850 we fnd him
on his way again to this city, crossing
the Missouri at Nebraska City and
went to Mt. Tabor (tke seat OF Tabor
College,in Fremont County, stopping
one night on the way at Or. Blanchard
after resting for week at Mt. Tabor,
they went to Des Moines stayed for
few days at the houses of the Messers
Tool, Wells and Murray they crossed
the Des Moines river on the 18TH, MIR.
John Teesdale then Editor of the Reg.
istar paid their ferriage Teesdale and
Brown had been personal friends in
Ohio on Feb. Goth they reached Grin
nell and were the temporary guest of
the present representative ofthe fourth
district in Congress (Hon. j. GrinnelD
On the 25th of Feb. Brown for The last
time visited Pedee having past through
this city the night previous, and after
some trouble they secured a closed box
car and went to Chicago and by the
aid of Mr.. Allan Pinkerton the very
man whose ''detective agency" is
known, hated and feared by outla rs
in every corner of the civilized world i.
He was able to secure car and 90 10
Canada and it was 1T this time it nigh t
be well to repeat that Brown seized the
U. 5. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Va
on the night Of Oct. IS, 1859. The
next morning a few soldiers and citi-
zens attacked him without success Sc
veral being killed on both sides, but
in few hours he was surrounded BY
1900 State and Federal troops and cal p
tured John Brown and six OF his meu
being still alive. while twelve had been
killed Oct. ~, they were and on De-
cember 2nd he and his six subordinate
were hung then began that era of
history and song when John Browns
body lay Mouldering in the grave bat
his soul went Marching on and there
is now in the State Historical Society a
two pound brass howtzer which was
used by John Brown in Kansas fight
ing for free state cause there, this he
was taking east Tor lis Harpers Ferry
prospect il is supposed, but. was to Cum.
berson TO ship when the other arms
were sent on as carpenter tools" and
he left it with Dr.. Bowen who present:
ed II to the Historical Society.
John Browns Night Escape From
Iowa City.
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