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

| BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT how1 CITY.
In reading the history Of johnson
County from 1896 to 1889, we found
chapter in it telling bout John Brow
being in this state and we thought i
would be OF interest to the many read
ers OF the Bystander; his first visit t,
this city was in 1856 he was enrout,
East from Kansas and was accom- pan
led by one OF his sons, Hon. w. Penn
Clarke was q member of the Kansa
National Committee for Iowa and hi.
residence being here he made this towr
the chief headquarters west Of the
Mississippi who were sympathized with
free state men of Kansas
On his journeys through Iowa, he
was generally accompanied by slaves
and he could always find food aud
shelter and words of encouragement
at the home of Hon. Jno. g. Grinnell
OF Grirnel and his next stopping place
would be Psdee, IA quaker settlement
a 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 1878 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 consisting OF
his SON Owen, Aaron D.. Stevens John
Kagi, John e. Cook, Richard Realf,
Chas w. Motif, Luke ]. Parsons, G..
Il Tidd, VIM. Leeman and Richard
Richardson, the latter colored man
who with his wife and three ,children
b d made his escape from slavery in
Missouri besides those named above
who accompanied Brown from Kansas,
the aceessions to his company from Pc.
dee settlement 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 a railroad
bridge the 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 Mex
son about three miles North. east OF
Springdale and this was the first ce-
ment or gravel house built in the state
on April e2nd 1858 Brown having re-
turned from the east bid his men pre-
pare for the movement and they left
on the 27,h of April, 1t was their inten.
ton to go 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. =, 1859 we find him
on his way again to this city, crossing
the Missouri at Nebraska City and
went to Mt. Tabor (ske 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 q
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.
istsr paid their ferriage Teesdale aud
Brown had been personal friends in
Ohio on Feb. Goth they reached Grin
nell and were the temporary guest of
the present representative OF the fourth
district in Congress DION. j. Grinpell)
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 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,
He was able to secure car and 90 to
Canada and it was at this time it nigh
be we'll to repeat that Brown seized the
U $. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Va,
on the night of Oct. is, 1850. The
next morning few soldiers and citi
zens attacked him wtthont success sc.
veral being killed on both sides, bu,
in a few, hours he was surrounded by
1900 State and Federal troops and cap
tured John Brown aud six Of his meu
being still alive, while twelve had been
killed Oct. II, they were and on De.
cember 2nd he and his six subordinate
were hung then began that era oil
history and song when "John Brown.
body lay Wondering 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 for bis Harper 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 is with Dr.. Bowen who present
ed it to the Historical Society.
John Browns Night Escape From
Iowa City.