484 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



his ancestors being of Puritan stock and among those sturdy immigrants who first 

 settled New England. The history of the early Colonial and Indian -.vars is replete 

 with recitals of the valorous deeds of John Brown's Pilgrim forefathers. 



He was the oldest son of Owen Brown, and named after his grandfather, John 

 Brown, a captain in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather Mills, on the mother's 

 side, was also a captain in the same war. Many of his direct ancestry and kinsmen 

 were distinguished people in their day and generation, among whom were several 

 noted preachers and teachers — men who mixed their religion and worldly business, 

 who practiced what they preached and fought for what they prayed. No plebeian 

 blood ran in his veins. He never had the thoughts or feelings of a serf or an inferior; 

 yet the lowly and oppressed always had his warmest sympathy and hearty assistance. 



His father was a tanner and shoemaker, and John was early taught the same 

 trade. The family moved in 1805 to the Western Reserve, in the State of Ohio. 

 John's early life in the western wilderness did much to form and develop his fearless 

 and independent character. From early youth he delighted in difficult undertakings 

 and dangerous exploits. At the age of twelve he was entrusted with taking a large 

 drove of cattle over one hundred miles through the almost unbroken wilderness, 

 infested by wild beasts and savages, to be delivered to the United States soldiers at 

 the front, the war of 18 12 being then in progress. On this trip he imbibed his first 

 impressions and hatred of slavery by seeing a well-disposed negro boy of about his 

 own age abused and cruelly beaten by his master with an iron shovel ; and he says 

 that he then and there swore eternal war on slavery. 



From the age of fifteen to twenty he lived at home, following his trade as a tanner 

 in his father's establishment, showing wonderful ability as managing foreman, and 

 exhibiting in a marked degree the qualities of self-confidence, positive expression and 

 imperious authority, combined with kindness and gentle consideration of others' 

 rights, for which he became so noted. 



He also acquired a great fondness for and knowledge of cattle. This taste he 

 gratified after moving onto this farm, which at one time he had stocked with a fine 

 herd of Devons, the first thoroughbred cattle seen in this section. 



Of a religious turn, he began to study for the ministry, going east to a theological 

 school kept by an uncle in Plainfield, Mass. ; but his eyes failing, he was forced to 

 abandon that ambition. He returned to Ohio, where he was married, in 1820, to 

 Dianthe Lusk, by whom he had six children. She died in 1832, and in 1833 he 

 married Mary Ann Day, of Meadville, Pa. In all, he was the father of twenty 

 children, of whom but ten grew to manhood. Three were killed while battling by his 

 side and upholding the principles he taught — Frederick at Osawatomie ; Watson 

 and Oliver at Harper's Ferry. 



