Wealthy C. Brown and John Brown, Jr., letter, to Mary Ann Brown, 1855 September 16 : manuscript.

Osawatomie, Kansas Territory, 1855 September 16.

1 item (4 pages) ; 25 x 20 cm

English

Purchased from James Cummins Bookseller (Christie's sale, 2022 May 26, lot 246) on the Frederick W. and Carrie S. Beinecke Fund for Western Americana, 2022.

This material is open for research.

Autograph letter, signed, from Wealthy Brown and John Brown, Jr., in Osawatomie, Kansas Territory, to his stepmother Mary Ann Brown, in North Elba, New York. In 1855 Wealthy and John Jr. moved to Kansas with four of his brothers and their families as anti-slavery, or free state, settlers. At the time of this letter, 1855 September 16, they were living in a tent on the Kansas prairie and anticipating the arrival of John Brown, an abolitionist and John Jr.'s father, with supplies and arms. Wealthy's portion of the letter (pages 1-2), which she signed, details the hardships of pioneer life, including prairie winds, various illnesses suffered by family members, her loneliness, and her desire to move from the tent into a house. She writes positively about that year's harvest and her family's relationship with the Native Americans living nearby, and shares news of other family members. The final two pages, unsigned, are in the hand of John Brown, Jr. He mentions his depressed mood, the benefits of living in North Elba, New York, expands on the illnesses experienced by the settlers, and speculates about causes, including living in close proximity to and drinking stagnant water. He also briefly mentions the "Preemption law" and what it requires of a settler.

January 06, 2023

Wealthy C. Brown and John Brown, Jr., Letter to Mary Ann Brown. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Wealthy C. Brown and John Brown, Jr., Letter to Mary Ann Brown. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.