John Brown Family of Put-in-Bay

* See Note at bottom of page

John Brown Sr. the abolitionist is forever a part of American History. Four of his twenty children had South Bass Island history.

Oldest child, John Brown Jr. had a bounty on his head when he moved to Put-in-Bay about 1862. He helped survey the land, organized an island militia in 1864 when the Philo Parsons was seized by southern sympathizers intent on rescuing Confederate officers at Johnson’s Island. Brown was a Justice of the Peace and a highly respected member of the island community. His daughter, Edith, married actor Thomas Benton Alexander, who later owned the Crescent Hotel and was Mayor of Put-in-Bay for twenty years. The family is buried in the old island cemetery.

Jason Brown lived on South Bass in 1866, moved to Akron for 20 years, out to California, then returned to the island after his brother, John, died, to help his sister-in-law, Wealthy Brown. The Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote an article about him on 1 March 1908 “Living His Last Days on Put-in-Bay.”

Owen Brown also had a bounty on his head when he moved to South Bass with John Brown Jr. Owen worked for Jay Cooke as Gibraltar Island caretaker. He eventually moved out to Pasadena, California with Jason Brown, but Owen never returned.  

Henry and Ruth (Brown) Thompson are listed in the 1870 Ohio census for Put-in-Bay Township. Their daughter, Mary Thompson, was born on the island. Ruth and family also moved out to California.

The Brown Family Genealogy

1. John Brown Sr. 1800 – 1859 m. Diantha Lusk 1801 – 1832

    2. John Brown 1821 – 1895 m. Wealthy C. Hotchkiss 1829 - 1911

         3. John Brown 1852 - 1917
         3. Edith M. Brown 1866 – 1935 m. Thomas B. Alexander 1866 – 1936

    2. Jason Brown 1823 – 1912 m. Ellen Sherbondy 1827 - 1895

         3. Charles P. Brown 1853 – 1927

    2. Owen Brown 1824 – 1889

    2. Ruth Brown 1829 – 1904 m. Henry W. Thompson 1822 - 1911

         3. John H. Thompson 1854 – 1919 m. Evelyn A. Herrick 1857 - 1919
         3. Ella J. Thompson 1856 – 1948 m. Francis N. Towne 1858 - 1940
         3. Grace R. Thompson 1858 – 1921 m. John L. Simmons 1852 - 1926
         3. Dauphin O. Thompson 1861 - 1875
         3. Mary E. Thompson 1871 - 1938

*Note: In December 2008, the Museum attended an auction of John Brown Jr. & T.B. Alexander's letters, papers and diaries in Willoughby, Ohio. The collection may give an unparalleled view of island life during the years the family resided at Put-in-Bay. If the new owners would like to share any information pertaining to island life and islanders from this collection please don't hesitate to email director@leihs.org or call 419-285-2804. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Website design copyright © 2009, Infinidesigns LLC.
The Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum website
is proudly Designed & Maintained by Brian Cultice.