French Republic Honors John Brown With Medal, Son Tells Secret Six Member Sanborn John Brown Jr.

JOHN BROWN JR. (July 25, 1821 - May 3, 1895), son of the famous abolitionist John Brown writes a wonderful 2 pp, 8 1/2 x 11, ALS to F.B. SANBORN (December 15, 1831 - February 24, 1917), a member of the famous Secret Six who helped finance Brown raid on the Harpers Ferry Federal Arsenal. Brown Jr. also mentions WILLIAM LEEMAN, a follower of his father, who was killed in the raid. In 1874, the French Republic presented a gold medal to Mary Day Brown, the widow of John Brown. The medal honored Brown and his family for their sacrifice in the cause of freeing enslaved people in the United States. Writing from Put-in-Bay Island Lake Erie, Ottawa County, Ohio, 10th Nov. 1887 (Thursday), Brown Jr. addresses "My Dear Friend. "I can only write you briefly before the mail leaves here this morning. "On Saturday last, the 5th, I recd. a letter from Sarah in regard to the medal, and I enclose the letter, as it will probably be of interest to you. On Monday last, the medal reached me by U.S. Express safely and in good condition except a few slight indentations on the edge as if some person had used a pocket knife or other sharp instrument to test the quality of the medal. Shall at once forward it to the Kansas Historical Society together with the original letter of the French Committee, which Mother gave to me at the time of her last visit east. "Have letter from Jason and from Ruth, and some pictures (photographs), California scenery, all of which I will send you shortly. Have been extremely busy this Fall; in fact during all of this year, so much to be done that I felt obliged to almost give up hope of answering more than half the letters which come to me. "Our grape harvest is now over. All safely gathered from freezing weather. Have a few baskets which I will send to friends, putting up for shipment in such manner that they will not be injured by severe cold. Hope the grapes I sent you by Express a few days ago reached you in good order. "I enclose a letter from Mrs. S.H. Brann, Cor. Pearl and Hight Sts., Charlestown, Mass, who claims to be a sister of William Leeman. I enclose a P.O. Money Order for you of $5.00 the proceeds of which I desire to have you pay over to her small contribution from me, provided you find her claim genuine, and her statement of the facts in the case, true, as she represents. "Will write you further, very soon "Ever faithfully yours, "John Brown, Jr. "F.B. Sanborn Esq. "Concord, Mass." Brown was found guilty of treason against Virginia. He was hanged on December 2, 1859. His last words on the day of his execution predicted the Civil War. WILLIAM LEEMAN left his job in a shoe factory in Massachusetts and moved to Kansas with a group of anti-slavery settlers. He became a member of Brown's "Volunteer Regulars." During the raid on Harpers Ferry, Leeman was shot and killed while attempting to escape across the Potomac River. Sanborn was a journalist, teacher, author, reformer and abolitionist who founded the American Social Science Association in 1865 "to treat wisely the great social problems of the day." He also introduced John Brown to other abolitionists. Sanborn and others from the Secret Six provided Brown with needed funds to carry out their raid. Brown Jr. did not participate in his father's raid, but served as his intelligence agent and liaison. He was the captain of Company K of the 7th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry from 1861 until his resignation in 1862. The letter is in excellent condition with even, expected toning. The handwriting is exceptionally fine.