THE ROADS HOME: John Brown
Land records in Gasconade County Missouri

Two years before John and Cyrena Brown bought land in Lawrence County Missouri (Aug 1869), they sold the following property in Gasconade County (6 Aug 1867) to Henry Gerkin for $3000:

Brown acquired the first parcel, E 1/2 of Lots 1 & 2 of NE 1/4 S1T41R6, on 3 Nov 1852 from William Douglass and Harriet E. Douglass, his wife, (87 15/100 acres) for $500.

Brown acquired the second parcel, W 1/2 of NE 1/4 of S1T41R6, (80 acres) by patent, certificate #22,701 issued 15 Jan 1856.

I have not found how, or when, he acquired the third parcel, W 1/2 of Lot 2 of NW 1/4 S6 T41R5 (53 acres).

[Note: the land record of Brown to Gerkin lists the total acres for parcels 1 and 2 as 174 15/100 acres, and the third parcel as containing 53 acres.]

In an attempt to track John Brown, I'd like to get to know his neighbors. I noted during my casual browsing up to this point that many of the early settlers in this area apparently had ties to Green County Kentucky. I've also run across some names that lead me to believe that there may be more than a casual relationship between Brown and some of his neighbors.

John Brown's property was located near an area known as "Douglas Prairie," undoubtedly named for the Douglas family who settled in this area early. His property was west of Owensville and NNE of Canaan. Liberty Baptist Church is (and was) in this area. John Brown and Cyrena Thomson were married 21 Apr 1853 in Gasconade County by Benjamin Leach[1], Minister of the Gospel. At about the age of 22, John, still apparently a single man, purchased $500 worth of property. Where did he get the money for that purchase? Inheritance? Sale of other property, in perhaps Franklin County? The Gold Rush? Where was he in 1850?

Land patents filed in S6 T41N R5W:

William STEEN of Gasconade Co.; 1 Oct 1840; 40 acres; W 1/2 Lot 1 of NW 1/4
Francis R. DOUGLAS of Gasconade Co.; 1 Oct 1840; 80 acres; Lot 1 of SW 1/2
James H. DOUGLAS of St. Louis Co.; 1 Oct 1840; 140 53/100 acres; E 1/2 Lot 1 and Lot 2 of NW 1/4
Green RICHARDSON of Franklin Co.; 10 Apr 1843; 40 acres; SW 1/4 of SE 1/4
Green C. RICHARDSON of Gasconade Co.; 2 Aug 1852; 40 acres; NE 1/4 of SE 1/4
Green C. RICHARDSON of Gasconade Co.; 5 Jan 1856; 80 acres; NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 and SE 1/4 of SE 1/4
William L. WALTON of Gasconade Co.; 7 Sep 1838; 80 8/100 acres; Lot 2 of SW 1/4 "subj to vote at St. Louis"
Dudley FARIS of St. Louis Co.; 1 Oct 1840; 80 acres; Lot 1 of NE 1/4
George M. FARIS; 1 Oct 1840; 107 44/100 acres; Lot 2 of NE 1/4
Jonathan FARIS of Gasconade Co.; 1 Oct 1840; 40 acres; NW 1/4 of SE 1/4

Land patents filed in S1 T41n R6W:

Robert S. BILES[2]; 15 Jan 1856; 191 92/100 acres; NW 1/4 of SE 1/4 and N 1/2 of SW 1/4 and Lot 1 of NW 1/4
John BROWN; (see above)
William R. DOUGLASS[3] of St. Louis Co.; 87 15/100 acres; E 1/2 of Lots 1 & 2 of NE 1/4
Emsley FOUNT of Gasconade Co.; 115 72/100 acres; S 1/2 of SW 1/4 and SW 1/4 of SE 1/4
William J. REYNOLDS of St. Louis Co.; 121 24/100 acres; Lots 2 & 3 of NW 1/4
William L. WALTON of Gasconade Co.; 77.52 acres; E 1/2 of SE 1/4

Land patents filed in S31 T41N R5W:

Mary C. BARBER of St. Louis Co.; 2 Aug 1852; 37 4/100 acres; S 1/2 Lot 2 of NW 1/4
Jonathan CARDER of Gasconade Co.; 1 Aug 1844; 38 48/100 acres; N 1/2 Lot 2 of NW 1/4
Alexander D. FARIS of Gasconade Co.; 10 Apr 1843; 38 63/100 acres; N 1/2 Lot 1 of NW 1/4
Alexander D. "Harris" [looks like Faris on original] of Gasconade Co.; 10 Dec 1841; 160 acres; SE 1/4
George HOLT of Gasconade Co.; 10 Apr 1843; 40 acres; NW 1/4 of NE 1/4
George HOLT of Gasconade Co.; 1 Nov 1851; 40 acres; NE 1/4 of NE 1/4
Henry HOLT of Gasconade Co.; 10 Apr 1853; 80 acres; S 1/2 of NE 1/4
Moses W. OGDEN of Gasconade Co.; 10 Apr 1843; 38.63 acres; S 1/2 of Lot 1 of NW 1/4
Franklin RICHARDSON of Gasconade Co.; 10 Dec 1841; 40 acres; S 1/2 of Lot 1 of SW 1/4
Franklin RICHARDSON of Gasconade Co.; 10 Apr 1843; 40 acres; N 1/2 of Lot 1 of SW 1/4
Franklin RICHARDSON of Gasconade Co.; 1 Mar 1860; 76 4/100 acres; Lot 2 of SW 1/4

Land patents filed in S36 T42N R6W:

Ann DUFFEY of St. Louis Co.; 6 Jun 1857; 320 acres; S 1/2
Samuel MOULTON of St. Louis Co.; 10 Jun 1857; 320 acres; SE 1/4 Sec 25 and NE 1/4 Sec 36
Willibald SCHOEB of St. Louis Co.; 10 Jun 1857; 320 acres; NW 1/4 of Sec 36 and E 1/2 of NE 1/4 Sec 35 and SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec 25 and SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Sec 26

The patent records show who purchased land -- but that doesn't mean the buyer lived in this area, or even in the county. Other county records would have to be consulted to verify that these individuals actually lived on the properties listed above. Census, tax and voting records would provide better verification of residence. I doubt that any of the three individuals who purchased the land in in S36 T42N R6W were residents of Gasconade County, but were probably speculators or investors rather than farmers and settlers.

Since both John Brown and his wife, Cyrena Thomson, were born in Missouri (1830 and 1832/3 respectively) I assume there is a good chance that some of their "neighbors" were also family. I do not yet have parents or any siblings for either John or Cyrena.

Of the names listed above I am particularly interested in STEEN and RICHARDSON. Great-aunt Lula Misemer Panton erroneously listed John Brown's wife as "Emiline Steen or Skeen." Cyrena is documented on several sources as wife of John Brown. However, the proximity of William Steen in Gasconade County makes me believe that Steen may possibly a maiden name for either John or Cyrena's mother. The Richardson name is of interest because the 1860 Gasconade census does show a man named Jackson Richardson living near John and Cyrena who named a son born 1865 Jackson Richardson Brown. At this point I don't know why the name came into the family -- blood relationship, good friendship or possible military comrades. I have never found any documentation that John Brown served in the military during the Civil War but his movements during the war lead me to believe that he was probably engaged in some activity other than farming.

The neighbors listed above, within this rather small area do not give me any clues regarding Cyrena's family. I did find Israel Thompson listed on several grants about 4 miles SW (Canaan) of John and Cyrena's property. Thompson's grants were filed 6 days before Cyrena's marriage to John Brown and many folks lived on property for years before actually filing for the patents.

[1]Benjamin Leach: info taken from World Connect provided by B. Doerr
"Gene; 29 Jan 1996; Marshall, Mrs. Arch Bruce (Maudie Marie Holt). The Descendants of Michael Holt, 1967, pp. 529-537; Gasconade County Historical Society. Gasconade County History Owensville Misosuri Volume One 1979, p. 216; Hermann Advertizer, 01 Sep 1886, p. 3, col. 3 obit. Baptist preacher, state representative, postmaster, Union man. Moved to Gasconade Co. 1840. Marriage 1. Polly Holt, b: 1820 in NC; Married: 6 Jan 1837 in St. Clair Co IL."
Benjamin was postmaster at Owensville, appt. 11 Feb 1862, according to the work of Dr. Geo. E. Kohrman posted on the Gasconade GenWeb site.

[2]Robert S. Biles: was postmaster at Canaan, appt. 12 Sept 1854 according to work of Dr. Geo. E. Kohrman posted on the Gasconade GenWeb site.

[3]William Douglas: was postmaster at Owensville, appt. 17 Sept 1861 according to work of Dr. Geo. E. Kohrman posted on the Gasconade GenWeb site.

The Roads Home: Trip to Gasconade County 16 & 17 July 2002