A fanatical abolitionist, John Brown maintained an Underground Railroad station in Ohio. In the mid-1850s, he moved to Kansas, where he led a guerrilla band responsible for the murder of five pro-slavery settlers that came to be known as the Pottawatomie Massacre. Supported by six wealthy patrons, he planned to capture the Federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry and distribute the weapons to slaves. The violent plot ultimately failed when he was captured by Robert E. Lee, tried, and hanged, becoming one of the most visible martyrs to the abolitionist cause. ALS, one lightly lined page, 7.75 x 4.75, Akron, Ohio, September 3, 1852. Brown writes to his son, John. In part: “It would suit me best to have you come to Akron in time to go on with me from Cleaveland [sic] on some day of the fair.... I have a strong desire to attend ... & to have the boys go. We are now expecting to take some cattle & sheep, to exhibit.... I now think I shall leave Cleaveland for Buffalo on the 16th & I should not see you before; or write you again, you may calculate accordingly.” On the reverse is an unsigned draft of a letter in Brown’s hand to A.B. Ely of Boston, regarding a lawsuit against Perkins & Brown over shipment of 200,000 pounds of wool. Accompanied by a circa 1890 ANS from Brown’s wife, signed “Mary A. Brown,” presenting this “old letter” to J. R. Bailey. A most interesting glimpse of a lesser-known side of Brown, with impeccable provenance! In very good condition, with light toning and soiling, rusty paperclip impression in upper left, remnant of an old catalog description affixed to the bottom blank margin, and an old pencil notation to upper right corner, the letter remaining entirely legible. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
