04/08/2026
Fourth in the John Brown's Men series!
Frederick Brown II
Born: December 21, 1830, New Richmond, Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Died: August 30, 1856 at age 26
Buried: Brown Cemetery/Soldier’s Monument, Osawatomie, Miami County, Kansas
Frederick was born on December 21, 1830, the sixth child born to John and Dianthe Lusk Brown.
Frederick and his four brothers, John Jr., Owen, Jason, and Salmon, and his sister and husband, Henry and Ruth Brown Thompson came to the Kansas Territory in early 1855 and settled along Middle Creek in what is now Franklin County, Kansas calling it Brownsville.
Although, he was present at the Pottawatomie Massacre, he was not involved in the murders. Suffering with periodic mental problems throughout his life, Frederick felt deep regrets about the incident. He later on told the New York Tribune that his family had nothing to do with the murders.
At the Battle of Black Jack, Frederick suddenly rode his horse yelling, “Hurrah! Come on, boys! We’ve got ‘em surrounded; we’ve cut off all communication.” It was then that Captain Pate surrendered and John Brown’s group was victorious.
On August 29, 1856, Frederick met with free-state leader, U.S. Senator James Lane, in Lawrence and later in the evening with his uncle, Rev. Samuel Adair, in Osawatomie.
On August 30, 1856, while approaching the Adair Cabin, Frederick was shot and killed by proslavery supporter, Rev. Martin White. Frederick was the first victim of the Battle of Osawatomie in Osawatomie, then Likins County, Kansas. He was buried in the Brown Cemetery/Soldiers’ Monument in Osawatomie, Likins County, Kansas. At the Soldiers’ Monument, Frederick along with three others lost in the Battle of Osawatomie: George Partridge, David Garrison, and Theron Powers are buried. It is also dedicated to Charles Kaiser and John Brown. Mr. Kaiser’s body was never found. It was later learned that he had been taken custody by pro-slavery forces and later executed.
