Breaking News: Camp Sketch Features Families of John Brown & Wyatt Earp

April 11, 2024

This might sound crazy but… my family spent several days with (and PROTECTED) the family of Pre-Civil War Abolitionist John Brown. And I have proof.

Evidence for the 1864 John Brown Family Camp Corral Sketch

…is now out and news releases and in-depth articles will follow.

Blurb:
After John Brown, Underground Railroad Engineer and organizer of the 1859 Harpers Ferry Siege, was tried and sentenced to death for his treasonous crimes, his surviving widow and family were persecuted and oppressed. In 1863, they left their New York homestead in search of a fresh start. After staying one winter in Decorah, Iowa, they continued their emigration in 1864 to Red Bluff, California in a covered wagon train led by Salmon Brown.

During this journey, they became acquainted with the Pella Company wagon train from Pella, Iowa, captained by Nicholas Porter Earp. Their repeated connections along the Overland-California Trail were documented and illustrated in a one-of-a-kind sketch by trail diarist Mrs. Sarah Jane Rousseau.

Evidence for the 1864 John Brown Family Camp Corral Sketch contains claims and supporting evidence from Researcher-Historians Janelle Molony, Nicholas R. Cataldo, and Larry Cundall. Their findings offer irrefutable provenance for the incredible discovery.

Excerpts from Abbie Brown’s 1916 News Article

In 1916, Abbie Brown (daughter-in-law to John Brown) wrote a lengthy letter to a relative that was subsequently published in New York’s Lake Placid News. In the letter, she describes the family’s plan to go to California, their need to connect with other wagon trains for safety, and the dangers they faced in the Summer of 1864. See below to download the full article. (Image of Abbie Brown credited to the L. Clement Family Collection, used with thanks.)

AbbieBrown1916JourneyAcrossThePlains_CompleteDownload

Related Books:

Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids (A top-notch, all-in-one support for this claim)

The 1864 Diary of Mrs. Sarah Jane Rousseau (The award-winning, descendant-vetted transcription, now available to the public)

The 1864 Diary of Martha Roe (Another key resource for this discovery)

Meet the Research Team

Janelle Molony, Multi-award-winning nonfiction author and news journalist. Author of Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids and program director for the Wyoming Historical Society’s interview series, “Women of Wyoming: The & Now.”

  • Descendant-Historian & editor/publisher of the unabridged edition of the diary.
  • Made the original discovery.

Nicholas R. Cataldo, President of the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society, Columnist for the San Bernardino Sun, and author of several books, including The Earp Clan: The Southern California Years.

  • Photographer of the original item.
  • Has studied and written about the Pella Company wagon train journey over 20 years.

Larry Cundall, 2023 Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee and L. C. Bishop Award winner for Historical Preservation of the Oregon/California/Mormon Trails.

  • Born & raised on the historic property where incredible trail events occurred and archaeological finds have been made.
  • Has walked the land where the camp sketch is believed to have been drawn.

Would you like to see the incredible sketch?

At this time, premium digital images are only being released to select publications and news outlets. Thank you for your patience.

…Want to see the research claims, photographs, maps, and other supporting evidence?

An extremely limited run of full color, printed and bound editions of the research, was made on Amazon (sorry for the inconvenience). For a print copy or digital access, please send an email to Janelle Molony detailing the purpose of the request and if there is any intent to publish the material in any format.

Hear Molony talk about the Pella Company’s Connection to the Browns in this 3-minute video clip

What’s Next?