Brown, John Mason (1837-1890), Diary, 1862

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Brown, John Mason, 1837-1890

Title: Diary, 1862

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for this collection, contact the Collections Department.

Size of Collection: 1 volume

Locator Number: Mss./A/B878d

Scope and Content Note

Collection consists of a diary kept by Brown as leader of an expedition to the Dakota and Montana Territories from May to October, 1862. The diary contains daily entries describing the trip up the Missouri River from St. Joseph, Mo, to Ft. Benton, Montana Territory, his encounters with traders, miners and hunters, as well as various Indian tribes in the Northern Plains, Rocky Mountains and southwestern Alberta, Canada, and the return trip down the Missouri. He describes the dangers of river travel and continuing conflicts between Native Americans and white hunters and settlers. Frequent mention is also made of wildlife and geographical features observed during his travels. Click here to download a PDF transcription of the diary.

Biographical Note

John Mason Brown was born in Frankfort, Ky., 26 April, 1837, the son of Mason and Mary (Yoder) Brown. He graduated from Yale College in 1856. He returned to Frankfort where he taught school and studied law. In April, 1860, he opened a law practice in St. Louis, Mo. He spent several months in 1861 and 1862 traveling in the Northwestern United States and British America. Upon his return from his trip to the Montana Territory in October, 1862, he was commissioned Major of the 10 th Cavalry. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the 45 th Kentucky Mounted Rifles regiment in December, 1863. He left the service in December, 1864 and resumed his law practice in Frankfort. He married Mary O. Preston, eldest daughter of Gen. William Preston, 25 November, 1869. They had 4 children. He eventually settled in Louisville, Ky., where he remained in practice until his death on 29 January, 1890, at the age of 53.

List of Folders

Folder 1: Diary, 1862 (1 item) [click to download a PDF transcription]

Folder 2: Typewritten transcript of 1862 diary, including photocopy of article, “A trip to the Northwest in 1861,” by John Mason Brown, printed in The Filson Club History Quarterly , April 1950

Subject Headings

Assiniboine Indians

Gold mines and mining – Montana

Hunting – Montana

Indians of North America – Montana

Iowa – Description and travel

Kootenai Indians

Missouri River – Description and travel – 19th century

Montana – Description and travel

North Dakota – Description and travel

Piegan Indians

South Dakota – Description and travel

Steamboats – Missouri River

Trading posts – North America

United States – Emigration and immigration

West (U.S.) – History – 1860-1890

Whites – Relations with Indians