John Kagi home photograph

Caption reads: "Home of John Kagi, Bristol, Trumbull Co., O. Second in command of John Brown raid." In 1859, abolitionist John Brown was responsible for one of the most important events that led to the American Civil War. On October 16, 1859, John Brown lead a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia and intended to start a slave revolt. Although Brown and his men succeeded in capturing the arsenal, United States Marines arrived and stormed the arsenal on October 18, capturing seven men, including Brown. Charged with treason, Brown was found guilty by the court, sentenced to death, and was executed by hanging on December 2, 1859. He became a martyr for many Northerners. It was one of the events that led to the eventual dissolution of the United States and the civil war that followed