A Visit to John Brown Farm & Link Up On the Edge #308
During our recent family weekend trip to Burlington, Vermont, and Lake Placid, New York, we visited John Brown Farm in Lake Placid before heading to Olympic Stadium. I was wholly unfamiliar with John Brown before stumbling upon his farm on the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website when I was searching for things to do and see in Lake Placid. I am so glad that I found it because it was a powerful and moving educational experience for all of us.
John Brown was an American abolitionist born on May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut, the fourth of eight children of Owen Brown and Ruth Mills, a “poor but respectable” family according to John Brown himself. Both his maternal and paternal grandfathers were officers in the American Revolutionary War.
When Brown was very young, his family moved from Torrington to West Simsbury, Connecticut, then to Hudson, Ohio, in 1805. This area of Ohio was primarily wilderness but would soon become the most anti-slavery region of the United States. His father Owen Brown became an affluent and prominent citizen of Hudson, an opponent of slavery, and a participant in anti-slavery activity and debate offering a safe house to Underground Railroad fugitives. There was no schooling after elementary grades in Hudson for the Brown children so John received his education at the school of abolitionist Elizur Wright. In 1808, John’s mother Ruth died. He wrote in his journals that he mourned her for years and never felt an emotional bond with his father’s new wife.
When John was just 12 years old, he was moving cattle for his father and stayed at the home of a slave owner. He witnessed the slave owner beating a young slave boy with an iron shovel and asked why he was treating the boy in such a way. The slave owner replied “because he is a slave.” It was at this moment that the young John Brown dedicated his life to improving conditions for African Americans.
At the age of 16, he left for Plainfield, Massachusetts, to study to become a Gospel minister. He had planned to continue his studies at Amherst College but chronic inflammation of the eyes prevented him from traditional classroom studies. He returned to Hudson and taught himself from books. Back in Hudson, he took up residence with his adopted brother and met his first wife Dianthe Lusk who was the daughter of their housekeeper. John and Dianthe were married in 1820. During their 12 years of marriage, Dianthe birthed seven children, dying in childbirth along with her last child in 1832.
In 1825, seeking a safer location for fugitive slaves, John Brown moved his family to New Richmond, Pennsylvania. He lived more years in Pennsylvania than in any other residence during his life and has stated that Crawford County, Pennsylvania, is of great importance to him because two of his children and his wife are buried there. He ran a successful tannery in Pennsylvania that was an important stop on the Underground Railroad from 1825-1835. It is estimated that he helped 2,500 slaves escape to Canada through his tannery.
In 1831, Brown’s youngest son died at the age of 4 which was followed by the death of his wife and newest child the following year. Following these losses, Brown fell ill and his business suffered severely, leaving him widowed with children and swimming in debt. In 1833, he married 17 year old Mary Ann Day of Washington County, New York. She was the younger sister of his housekeeper. John and Mary would have 13 children together. Seven of them would join their father in his fight against slavery.
Brown moved his family back to Ohio in 1836 where he built a reputation as an expert in sheep and wool, winning 5 first prizes for his sheep and cattle at the 1852 Ohio State Fair. As an agent for wool producers, he moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1846, and in 1848, he purchased land in North Elba, New York (near Lake Placid) where he rented a house for 2 years before building the farmhouse that is preserved as the historic site at the John Brown Farm.
On October 16, 1859, Brown and his followers led an assault on the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), with a plan to capture the weapons and use them in a campaign for the liberation of Southern slaves. He was captured on October 18, tried and found guilty of treason by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and hanged on December 2, 1859, at the age of 59. His body was returned to his home in North Elba, New York, and buried in front of his house on December 8, 1859. In 1899, the remains of some of the men he lost in the raid at Harper’s Ferry were moved to the small graveyard on his property.
John Brown’s final prophesy would soon be realized shortly after his death when the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861.
“I, John Brown, am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.”
John Brown
A visit to this historic site is free to the public. We spent about an hour walking around the property, reading all the exhibits, and reflecting upon John Brown’s work, how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.
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53 Comments
Lucy Bertoldi
How wonderful that your family got to go there and learn about this fasinating piece of history. So emotional as well to read up on this. Thanks for sharing Shelbee!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Lucy! It really was a wonderful place to visit and learn the history behind John Brown’s work. I hope you have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
Looks like you and your family had a fun pre back to school mini vacation to Lake Placid! I love the pictures and enjoyed your thoughtful summery of your visit to the home of this important anti slavery activist. Also, thanks for the favorite mention, and the link up. Hope you have a relaxing weekend!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Di! We have really been enjoying these little weekend learning trips this summer! John Brown was a fascinating man with a rich history of compassion for other humans. We need more people like him in our world today! I hope you enjoy the weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
What a story, what a children! But very interesting.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I found it super interesting, too, Nancy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michele Morin
History always seems to include heartbreaking details. It does sound like a great place to soak in the story.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh Michele, it really does. But I definitely enjoy learning about the good compassionate folks from our history who fought for the right way!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
This is so interesting!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It was a really cool place to visit, Jennifer. I love learning about the good folks from U.S. History!
xoxo
Shelbee
ratnamurti
What an amazing, yet humbling story. Such a Great Man.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I agree, Ratnamuri! I do love learning about the good, compassionate people in American history!
xoxo
Shelbee
Mica - Away From The Blue
I love your outfit and it’s good that this man tried to be a force for good and kindness in the world, but I’m amazed how many kids he had, wow!
Thank you for the link up 🙂 Hope you are having a good weekend 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mica! It was a really great history lesson, for sure. I asked the museum guide how many of Brown’s children would have lived in this tiny house and he said only a maximum of 5 kids lived there at once. But even that would have been very cramped space! We are headed to a music festival today! Have a wonderful weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
I had no idea of John Brown’s history. I really only knew about his raid on Harper’s Ferry. That is a powerful place to visit, Shelbee. But, one has to wonder when (and where) he had time to father all of those children! Thanks for the link party!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It was definitely a really powerful learning experience, Marsha. My boys really enjoyed learning this history as well which made me a very happy mom!
xoxo
Shelbee
My Life in Our Father's World
A hidden gem indeed
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It absolutely is! A very moving educational experience, for sure.
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
That sounds like such a neat place to explore!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It was really moving and such a great history lesson, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
What an amazing place to explore.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It was such a moving learning experience, Tamar!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jill
What a cool place to visit and great history lesson! Thank you for the linkup!
Jill – Doused in Pink
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jill! It really was a very interesting and powerful place to visit!
xoxo
Shelbee
Carol
Interesting history! Family trips that include educational opportunities like this are immeasurably enriching for children’s development. Your boys will remember these trips for years to come. Thanks for hosting the link-up!
Carol
http://www.scribbingboomer.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Carol! I agree with you completely! Some of my fondest childhood memories are of educational family trips so I hope to create similar experiences and memories for my kids. I need to make a bucket list of places to visit soon for better planning!
xoxo
Shelbee
Laura Bambrick
I had no idea about his history. This was fascinating to read about. Thanks for sharing! You learn so much more visiting and experiencing than just reading it from a book.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Laura! It was a really neat place to visit and such a powerful learning experience, for sure. It makes me want to read a book about John Brown!
xoxo
Shelbee
Susan
Nice post, Shelbee! I have had a great interest in John Brown since my first visit to Harpers Ferry, and your subject coincides nicely with my current activity, which is taking the Wilmington Senior Center Bus on a tour of underground Railroad sites in Delaware. Harriet knew Delaware well and she also knew John Brown well. Her last home is also in NY state.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, Susan, thanks so much! That Underground Railroad tour sounds so interesting! I think I would really enjoy that. I need to find some more reading material on John Brown!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lauren Renee Sparks
I am such a history nerd. I would love this. We recently visited the Legacy Museum and National Memorial as a family and I was saddened, moved and encouraged all at the same time. An extremely moving experience.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, Lauren, you would definitely appreciate this place then! I am really enjoying that my kids are at ages now where they understand and appreciate trips like this well. I can see them tapping into empathy more which makes my heart feel like I am doing something right.
xoxo
Shelbee
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
And just as I hit reply on that last comment, my 9 year old dropped the eff bomb at a video game. Hmmmmm…
Heather Noire
That looked like such an interesting place. I can tell you had a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing this.
https://www.bauchlefashion.com/2022/08/how-5-iconic-fall-pieces-have-become-my.html
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It was really interesting and very moving, Heather. I do enjoy learning about the history of people, any and all people. Humans are fascinating.
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Such an interesting and historic place. John Brown was a man who tried to make a difference. Thanks for sharing this.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Patrick. It really was very moving history and he was a man whom I definitely admire.
xoxo
Shelbee
Pat
I knew somewhat of the legend of John Brown in history but enjoyed learning more about his life and seeing his homestead. I never knew he had so many children!! This was fascinating.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I found this history so fascinating, too, Pat! It was a really powerful place to visit. And can you imagine all those kids?!
xoxo
Shelbee
Hazlo Emma
Whoa! This is fasinating and very rich history.
I have learnt something new!
Emma
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, that makes me so happy, Emma! It was an incredibly powerful place to visit and learn the history of John Brown.
xoxo
Shelbee
Mitzi
It’s so much fun to go visit places that are preserved. It’s like stepping back in time!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I agree, Mitzi! Sometimes I wish I lived in those times when things were simpler. But some things were clearly much worse, too. It was a fascinating history lesson, for sure!
xoxo
Shelbee
Laurie
Interesting history there. I think I’ve heard of this man and this act, but had forgotten.
Thanks for sharing the interesting pictures. I always enjoy learning about new people.
Thanks for linking up at the Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop
Laurie
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Laurie. It really was a very interesting and moving place to visit. John Brown was a fascinating man.
xoxo
Shelbee
Lisa notes
What an interesting and important place to visit! I’m glad they’ve memorialized John Brown’s place. We still have so much to learn from those who have gone before us in creating positive change in the world, often at the cost of their own lives. Thanks for sharing this, Shelbee.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lisa! I agree with you completely. I am so glad we visited here and that I have a platform to share it.
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
What an amazing, heroic, and inspirational person! And great history to share with your sons. Slavery is such a horrific topic, but so important to teach.
I love your outfit! Beautiful!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Michelle! It really is a horrific part of our history and so important to teach and understand it. When I explained to Ralph the incident that set John Brown’s mind on his life’s work, the beating of the slave child with an iron shovel, he was completely appalled. When you really absorb the horror of that, it is difficult to comprehend. But we need to comprehend it in order to prevent such things happening again. While my kids enjoy their violent video games, they have never ever witnessed violence in real life and I hope they never do. I will continue to teach them love and kindness and hope they use it in the fight against the world’s evils.
xoxo
Shelbee
chickenruby
I love exploring new places regardless of whether I’m there in person or reading about others experiences. Thanks for linking with #pocolo
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am with you on that, Suzanne! I am glad that I have a platform to share my experiences with others!
xoxo
Shelbee
Helen Fern
Some great history there!! We love museums. Thanks for sharing at My Big Fat Menopausal Life’s Share the Wealth party!! Hope your week is fantastic!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Helen! I do love when I can learn something new on a family vacation!
xoxo
Shelbee