George Washington Brown (1820-1915) was a native of Conneautville, Pennsylvania. In 1855, he was lured by Eli Thayer to take a paper which he owned to Kansas. There, he was to publish it in the interest of the New England Emigrant Aid Company. The "Herald of Freedom" first issued a paper dated at Wakarusa, Kansas Territory, Oct. 22, 1854, but it was really printed in Pennsylvania. The second issue was dated Lawrence, June 6, 1855.

On May 21, 1856, a pro-slavery force of about 700 men, led by Sheriff Jones, Senator Atchison, General Richardson, and Col. H. T. Titus appeared in Lawrence to assist the United States Marshall in arresting certain free state leaders whom a grand jury had indicted for treason. This purpose was accomplished without resistance. The men were G. W. Deitzler, Gains Jenkins, and George W. Smith. Reeder, G. W. Brown and Robinson had also been indicted. These men were held as prisoners under false charges for four months, guarded by a regiment of United States troops.

On May 21, 1856, the offices of the "Herald of Freedom" and the "Kansas Free State", owned by Miller and Elliott were destroyed by the notorious Sheriff Jones and his posse. The type was scattered through the street and thrown in the river. Publication of the Herald ceased altogether. Afterwards, Dr. G. W. Brown moved to Rockford, Ill.

Details of Mr. Brown’s life have been hard to find, although he was a prominent man in the early days of Lawrence. The Kansas Historical Society has a life portrait of Dr. Brown. He published two volumes: “Gov. Walker with the Rescue of Kansas from Slavery” and “False Claims Corrected.”