clara brown (1800 - 1885)
Clara Brown was born into slavery in Virginia in 1800. At nine years old, she and her mother were sold to a farmer in Kentucky. By 18, she married and later gave birth to four children. At 35, her owner sold her at auction and tragically separated her from her husband and children. She vowed to work for the rest of her life to reunite her shattered family.
Finally freed at 56 years old, she was legally required to leave Kentucky. She began searching for her family. Hearing that one of her daughters, Eliza Jane, may have moved West, Brown headed in that direction. She journeyed to Denver by working as a wagon train cook in exchange for transportation.
Unable to locate her daughter, Brown traveled with gold seekers to Central City, where she established the first laundry as a way to make enough money to live independently and find her family. She also worked as a midwife, cook, and nursemaid. By 1866, she had accumulated $10,000 and invested in properties and mines in nearby towns. As “Aunt” Clara Brown’s profits grew, she became more charitable, never turning away anyone in need. Her business and home became community hubs where she would house and care for sick and injured miners and homeless individuals.
Brown returned to Kentucky in an attempt to locate her family. Although she was not successful, she helped relocate many escaped slaves from Kansas to Colorado, by request from Governor Pitkin. She also donated her own money to help establish new Black communities.
Finally freed at 56 years old, she was legally required to leave Kentucky. She began searching for her family. Hearing that one of her daughters, Eliza Jane, may have moved West, Brown headed in that direction. She journeyed to Denver by working as a wagon train cook in exchange for transportation.
Unable to locate her daughter, Brown traveled with gold seekers to Central City, where she established the first laundry as a way to make enough money to live independently and find her family. She also worked as a midwife, cook, and nursemaid. By 1866, she had accumulated $10,000 and invested in properties and mines in nearby towns. As “Aunt” Clara Brown’s profits grew, she became more charitable, never turning away anyone in need. Her business and home became community hubs where she would house and care for sick and injured miners and homeless individuals.
Brown returned to Kentucky in an attempt to locate her family. Although she was not successful, she helped relocate many escaped slaves from Kansas to Colorado, by request from Governor Pitkin. She also donated her own money to help establish new Black communities.