After Elijah Lovejoy's murder, John Brown pledged to end slavery

Journalist and editor of the adamantly anti-slavery St. Louis/Alton Observer were Elijah Lovejoy. Lovejoy was assassinated in an attack on the newspaper's headquarters in 1837 by a mob after his articles infuriated those who supported slavery. Like Brown, Elijah Lovejoy had put his life in danger by standing out for black people in public. Similar to Brown, he persisted in his fight despite setbacks, and when facing defeat, he voluntarily decided to adopt the martyrdom of Christ.

The incident made Brown angry. Brown, a highly religious man, stepped up when he heard about Lovejoy's murder at an abolitionist prayer gathering in Hudson. He lifted his right hand and declared, “Here, before God, in the presence of these witnesses, from this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery." This story is considered one of the most interesting facts about John Brown. However, Brown couldn't keep his promise for quite some time. He borrowed thousands of dollars to speculate on land to gain a piece of the development boom, only to have his plans fail during the Panic of 1837. He attempted to raise sheep, open another tannery, and buy and sell animals, but he was unsuccessful each time. He was the target of numerous lawsuits from creditors; his farm equipment, furnishings, and sheep were sold at auction.