John Brown's Hideout

09/09/2025

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05/28/2025

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www.JohnBrownsHideout.com

05/25/2025

"Old John Brown was at my house several days at various times in 1858. We had a long talk over the political difficulties of Kansas. He asked me ‘how do the people on the Creek regard the killing of the Sherman’s etc at this time.’ My remark was that I did not know a settler of ’56 but what regarded it as amongst the most fortunate events in the history of Kansas-that the event saved the lives of the free state men on the creek: that those who did the act were looked upon as our deliverers.”

For more great historical information go see Grady Atwater at the John Brown Museum State Historic Site. He wrote the linked article below about the Pottawatomie "Massacre".

https://www.republic-online.com/opinion/columns/james-hanway-believed-the-pottawatomie-massacre-was-justified/article_604a5de6-e2a0-11eb-bb4d-dfc3e520e5c7.html

05/25/2025

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On this night. At about this time. 1856. Five Proslavery settlers in Kansas Territory would be hacked to death with broadswords. The "Pottawatomie Massacre" is what it would be called. These pro-slavery men were part of a intentional effort in the area to undermine local Free-State voters and abolitionists.

The Brown family had plots of land nearby where the killings happened and were targeted for not only being abolitionists but pro-black as well. This terrorism in the territory was not uncommon and experienced by many anti-slavery settlers. Brown is said to have used his surveying skills to "run lines" through pro-slavery areas and spy on them. It is even said that this is how he confirmed that he and his family were to be "burned out and shot" by the pro-slavery terrorists flooding the area.

Theodore Weiner a European immigrant and proficient swordsman ran a store on Mosquito creek and was terrorized by the Sherman's. He was told to leave the area or die. Weiner likely either delivered or instructed how to deliver the fatal blows to the Pottawatomie victims. He was very adamant about fighting back against the pro-slavery terrorism occurring in the area.

Oliver, Owen, Watson & Frederick Brown would accompany their father, brother-in-law Henry Thompson, & neighbors James Townsley & Theodore Weiner to 3 homes along the Pottawatomie and Mosquito Creeks. By morning 5 would lay dead. William Sherman, Allen Wilkinson, James Doyle and two of his sons Drury and William. All of these men were involved in pro-slavery tactics of suppressing votes, enforcing bogus laws, and aiding terrorists. A few other men's lives at the Sherman's crossing were spared after being questioned by the party along with the youngest Doyle.

James Hanway a local settler is quoted as saying:

“I was personally acquainted with the Doyals, Wilkinsons & Sherman; and I am fully satisfied , as every body else is who lived on the Creek in '56; that a base conspiracy was on foot to drive out, burn, and kill: - in a word the Pottawatomie Creek from its mouth to its founded head was to be cleared of every man, woman, or child who was for Kansas being a free state.”

05/25/2025

The Pottawatomie "Massacre" occurred May 24th - May 25th, 1856 in Territorial Kansas along the Pottawatomie & Mosquito Creeks. 5 pro-slavery men were taken from their homes in the middle of the night and killed with swords.

Local history states that John Brown would pretend to be a government surveyor and "run a line" with his surveying equipment towards the encampments of southerners near Osawatomie as to figure out their intentions. The southerners readily gave out the info that they were there to run off any abolitionists and kill them if necessary. Brown's family was specifically mentioned. They also relayed who gave them this information...Doyles, Wilkinson, and Sherman.

Neighboring homes and businesses had been burned, and death threats were left at abolitionist residences. James Doyle, his two adult sons Drury and William, Allen Wilkinson, and William Sherman were all involved in both threatening their anti-slavery neighbors like the Browns and trying to enforce the bogus laws from the fraudulent election of 1855. The Doyle's were former slave catchers and now enforcers for the bogus legislature. They were said to be tasked with arresting Brown and his sons on bogus charges. Wilkinson was a part of this very bogus legislature, and Sherman was a known militant pro-slaver whose brother was also on John Browns list that night, but he was out of the territory.

John Brown, His sons Frederick, Owen, Watson, Oliver, son-in-law Henry Thompson, neighbors Theodore Weiner & James Townsley split into two groups that night and proceeded to capture these accused men and held a quick trial as to their involvement against Brown and others.

Mahala Doyle is said to criticize her husband about his involvement terrorizing his neighbors as he was dragged out of the house. "When we entered the Doyle cabin," says Salmon Brown, "Mrs. Doyle stormed, raved at her men, after we had taken them prisoners. ' Haven't I told you what you were going to get for the course you have been taking?' she screamed. 'Hush, mother, hush,' replied her husband."

05/23/2025

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05/23/2025

Their story goes marching on!

Amazing news! The Quindaro site in Kansas City, KS, has cleared the last hurdle to be signed as a National Historic Landmark! Thank you Representative Sharice Davids Rep. Derek Schmidt Press and Emanuel Cleaver II for your leadership to highlight this significant historic site! We can't wait to help people learn more. https://freedomsfrontier.org/news/quindaro-named-national-historic-landmark/

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05/23/2025

05/14/2025

African Archives published a post on Ko-fi

05/13/2025

Someone should tell the 🤡 in DC.

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05/13/2025

KCK

Save the Date! If you attended last year, you know the event was truly unforgettable. We continue to raise funds for capital improvements and quality initiatives that will empower our community!