Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/542



After the long time that has elapsed, no full history can now be written of these perilous journeys from slavery to freedom, as no records were kept and most of the conductors have passed away. Among the Iowa men who were actively engaged in aiding slaves who were fleeing from bondage were Rev. John Todd, James C. Jordan, John Teesdale, Isaac Brandt, Dr. Edwin James, Thomas Mitchell, J. B. Grinnell, John B. Price, H. G. Cummings, Wm. Penn Clarke, Jesse Bowen, S. C. Trowbridge, Dr. H. G. Gill, John H. Painter, James Townsend and B. H. Randall. There were scores of others in various parts of the State whose names were not made public. The armed invasion of Kansas, in 1855-6, by Missouri slaveholders, for the purpose of forcing slavery into that new Territory, brought into prominence several Iowa men who became famous in the long conflict between freedom and slavery which led to bloodshed on its soil. Hundreds of young men from Iowa went to Kansas to help fight the battles for freedom. John Brown first became known to the public as one of the most fearless leaders of the Free State men in that conflict. He passed through Iowa in September, 1855, on his way to Kansas with a son and son-in-law to join four sons who had already settled there. He anticipated trouble on the prairies of Kansas, over the attempt to force slavery into the Territory, and went there for the avowed purpose of helping to resist its enlargement by arms. He soon became a recognized leader of the Free State men and among his followers were several young men from Iowa.

At the Battle of Black Jack his little army, in which five of his sons were serving, after a severe conflict, defeated and captured a force nearly twice the size of his own, under the famous Captain Pate. This was the first battle in the Kansas War; yet few, if any, besides John Brown then realized its mighty significance. His mission was to liberate slaves, and never, during the few remaining years of his life, did he for a moment waver from his