John Brown

Adair, Florella Brown

By Deborah Keating, University of Missouri-Kansas City

As the violence between free-state and proslavery factions increased along the Missouri-Kansas border, one family placed itself in the vortex of the conflict. Florella Brown Adair and her husband, Samuel Lyle Adair moved to the Kansas Territory from Ohio as missionaries of the Congregationalist Christian Church. Passionate abolitionists in their own right, Florella’s half-brother, John Brown, would involve her family in the border violence in ways that the Adairs had not anticipated.

Osawatomie, Kansas

The town of Osawatomie, Kansas was founded by abolitionist settlers associated with the New England Emigrant Aid Company in 1854 and named after two Native American tribes in the area: the Osage and Pottawatomie.

Franklin, Kansas

As one of the three proslavery strongholds in Douglas County, Kansas, the town of Franklin emerged as a target of Lawrence Free-Staters who were angered at the Sacking of Lawrence in 1856.

John Brown Hanged

Fri, 12/02/1859

Abolitionist John Brown is hanged for his raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry.

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

Sun, 10/16/1859 to Tue, 10/18/1859

Abolitionist John Brown leads a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in hopes of instigating a wider slave rebellion.

No Shots Fired in "Battle of the Spurs"

Mon, 01/31/1859

John Brown finally leaves Kansas after an incident outside Topeka.

John Brown Liberates Missouri Slaves

Mon, 12/20/1858

John Brown leads a raid into Missouri, freeing 12 slaves and leading them on the "Underground Railroad" across Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.

Missourians Siege Lawrence

Mon, 09/15/1856

Another militia force of proslavery Missourians surrounds Lawrence, with John Brown and some military companies preparing to defend the town.

Battle of Osawatomie

Sat, 08/30/1856

Abolitionist John Brown and 40 other Free-Staters unsuccessfully defend the town of Osawatomie, Kansas against 250-300 border ruffians under John W. Reid.

Attack on Georgia Colony, Osawatomie

Thu, 08/07/1856

John Brown leads an attack on the proslavery colony of settlers from Georgia at Osawatomie, Kansas.

Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict, 1854-1865