John Brown's son Salmon Brown had an officer's commission in a New York infantry regiment, but his fellow officers did not accept him. He later moved to Portland, OR, and had a son, also named John Brown, who had a dental practice in Portland.
Filmed in California, since Kansas has no hills like those shown in background shots.
Raymond Massey's film career spanned more than 40 years. He not only played John Brown twice, but also played Abraham Lincoln twice.
The actual John Brown had 20 children by his first wife, who died after delivering one of the children, and his second wife, who married him at age 16.