Osawatomie in Miami County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
John Brown Country
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 31, 2013
1. John Brown Country Marker
Osawatomie - the name derives from a combination of Osage and Pottawatomie - was settled in 1854 by Free-State families from the Ohio Valley and New England. John Brown, soon to become famous for his militant abolitionism, joined five of his sons at their homes near the new town in October 1855. By the spring of 1856, local defiance of Proslavery laws and officials was so notorious that 170 Missourians "punished" the area by looting Osawatomie. Two months later Free-State men destroyed a nearby Proslavery camp. On August 30 occurred the second battle of Osawatomie, in which a Proslavery force of 400 drove out the defenders, 40 men led by John Brown, and then plundered and burned the town. Among those killed that day was Brown's son Frederick.
At the John Brown Memorial Park in Osawatomie is the cabin of the Rev. Samuel Adair, Brown's brother-in-law, with whom he often stayed. The Republican party of Kansas was organized at Osawatomie in May, 1859, with Horace Greeley, famous editor of the New York Tribune, as the convention's principal speaker.
Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 50.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR
this page online
Location. 38° 30.059′ N, 94° 57.091′ W. Marker is in Osawatomie, Kansas, in Miami County. Marker is at the intersection of 6th Street and Lincoln Avenue, on the left when traveling north on 6th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Osawatomie KS 66064, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Potawatomi Trail of Death (here, next to this marker); Land Office (here, next to this marker); Original Land Office (a few steps from this marker); Old Stone Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old Stone Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pat Devilin and "Jayhawk" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Soldiers Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Osawatomie (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Osawatomie.
Also see . . .
1. John Brown Museum State Historic Site. Kansas Historical Society website entry (Submitted on October 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 31, 2013
2. John Brown Country Marker
2. Territorial Kansas Online. Internet Archive Wayback Machine website entry (Submitted on October 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 31, 2013
3. John Brown Country Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 595 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
