Margaret was one of the earliest African American citizens of Cleveland, Ohio. She married twice, both times to prominent barbers of the city. She and her husband John were abolitionists and sheltered refugees of American slavery before they escaped across the lake to Canada. She and John were also savvy investors and savers, and accumulated considerable resources over their lifetimes. By her first husband, Margaret had one daughter, Lucy, who completed the collegiate course at Oberlin College in 1850 and is considered the first African American woman to complete an American college degree (Oberlin did not yet award degrees, but Lucy fulfilled the requirements.) Lucy would carry on the tradition of scholarship, writing, educating, publishing, and most importantly, abolition. Margaret also had four children by her second husband, two boys and two girls. John Jr. became a barber.

Encyclopedia of Cleveland History (online, ech.case.edu, as of 2.28.2020)
"BROWN, JOHN (c. 1798- 30 Mar 1869). reputedly became Cleveland's wealthiest African American citizen during a 40-year career as the city's most notable barber. Born of free parents in Virginia, he came to Cleveland in 1828 and in barbering took up a trade nearly monopolized in the 19th century by African Americans. He married the widow of an established barber, Henry F. Stanton [sic], c. 1838..."

Margaret married first Samuel Stanton, barber (Note: The paragraph above appears to be incorrect in listing him as Henry F. Stanton. Contributor Gail Chambers (47049466) suggests that Margaret is "Margaret Grove," who married SAMUEL Stanton on 3 Dec 1829 in Cuyahoga County. This would fit the time line better, since it would be earlier than the 1838 date in the ECH text above, placing it before the marriage record below. That Margaret's first husband was named Samuel is corroborated by their daughter, Lucy Stanton's Wikipedia entry which lists her as the only child of Samuel and Margaret Stanton, and Lucy's death record where her daughter listed Lucy's mother as Margaret Graves.]

1829 Dec 3 marriage Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Samuel Stanton to Margaret Grove

1834 Nov 3 Ohio County Marriages, Cuyahoga
John Brown, intended marriage to Margaret Stanton

1837-1838 Cleveland City Directory, p. 70
Brown, John (hair dresser), 25 Superior St. r, 74 Seneca St., Cleveland, Ohio

1845 Cleveland, Oh Peet's General Business Directory, p. 41
Brown, John (Barber) 40 Seneca St.

1846 Cleveland Ohio Peet's General Business Directory, p. 58
Brown, John (Barber) 40 Seneca St. North, Cleveland, Oh

1848 Smead & Cowles General Business Directory, p. 58
Brown, John (Barber) 40 Seneca St. North, Cleveland, Oh

1850 Smead & Cowles' General Business Directory 1850, p. 76
Brown, J., (barber) Two Doors East New England Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio

1850 Census, Cleveland, Ward 2, Cuyahoga, Ohio
Brown, John, 42, b. Virginia
-, Margaret, 37, b. Penn
Stanton, Lucy A., 18, b. Ohio
Brown, John, 8., b. Ohio
-, Charles, 7, b. Ohio
-, Mary, 3, b. Ohio
-, Margaret, 2, b. Ohio

1860 Census, Cleveland, Fifth Ward, Cuyahoga, Ohio
Brown, John, 50, b. Virginia
-, Margaret, 47, b. Penn
-, John A., 19, b. Ohio
-, Chas W., 17, b. Ohio
-, Mary A., 14, b. Ohio
-, Margaret F., 12, b. Ohio

1892 Nov 25 daughter Lucy H. Stanton married William H. Day, Cuyahoga, Ohio

1900 Nov 21 Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio deaths
Margaret Brown
race C, age 89, b. 1811
cemetery Woodland