revised by Jordan Wilson

The extent of Underground Railroad’s network has been a point of debate among historians since few Antebellum records (meaning those from before the Civil War) survive documenting what was considered an illegal activity, punishable by a 1,000 dollar fine and up to six months in jail for those who participated. This lack of records makes it difficult for historians when they are researching the Underground Railroad. To further complicate research, after the Civil War many abolitionists published their experiences; these memoirs tended to make white abolitionists the hero of the story, reminding the reader of the authors’ accomplishments, and highlighting the organization and success of the system. Many readers and historians became attached to this idea of a huge abolitionist network across the country, leading them to believe any “unexplained” architectural anomalies, including tunnels or cellars, were in fact built for the housing of escaping slaves. While there are records of buildings built specifically for escaping slaves, these cases are extremely rare. This has led to a mix of truth and legend being passed down through generations. Tracing these tales back to their origins has proved even more difficult because most have been transmitted through family stories. It is important to remember that while we can’t prove these stories, it doesn’t mean that they are not true or that they are not valuable. They still say something about events and our perception of the past.

Supporters of Slavery in the North

Many people pride themselves on Ohio’s involvement in the operation of the Underground Railroad, as they should, but a common misconception is that the division between abolitionists and supporters of slavery followed the dividing line between north and south. In reality, most towns in the North had supporters of both opinions, often living side by side. The slave trade was highly profitable and supplied tobacco, sugar, and cotton, among other things, to the rest of the U.S. So, what fostered these anti-slavery communities and connections?

Anti-Slavery Influence in Wayne County

It was not until the January 25, 1837 that the Anti-Slavery Society was first established in Wayne County. These men were resolved that it was impossible for liberty and slavery to stand together. On the first anniversary of the organization, the opening speaker began by quoting the Declaration of Independence: “all men are created equal”. They firmly believed that, regardless of the color of one’s skin, every man should have the same rights. 

Another anti-slavery influence came from the areas around Wayne County, such as Oberlin. Conveniently located on a direct route to Lake Erie, Oberlin was a hotbed of abolitionist sentiments. This small town is most well-known for the Wellington-Oberlin Slave rescue of 1858, when a fugitive slave living in Oberlin, John Price, was taken by force by slave hunters to the nearby town of Wellington. There he awaited a train that would transport him back to Kentucky and back to slavery. In response to this, a mob of Oberlin citizens traveled to Wellington and rescued Price by carrying him out of a window in the building where he was being kept.¹

Two Routes Through Wayne County

Like Oberlin, Wayne County also had an ideal geographical location for escaping slaves. Ohio bordered the slave states of Virginia and Kentucky which offered one of the shortest routes to freedom. Wayne County specifically had routes leading up to Cleveland and other cities bordering Lake Erie, giving escaped slaves the opportunity to cross the lake and cross into Canadian territory. There were two main trails going through the county that were used for the Underground Railroad, one to the west and the other to the east. These paths closely match the roads that go north today.

Western Route

Thomas Battles

The start of the western route through Wayne County began in Shreve, Ohio, at the home of Thomas Battles. Somewhere along the west side of modern Route 266 there was a log cabin where Battles received escaping slaves brought up from Holmes County. One story, told by Thomas Battles’ granddaughter Mrs. Blaybough of Wooster, tells of an incident when an entire family of slaves were in the cabin and two United States Marshals arrived unexpectedly. The two men had been tracking the escaped slaves, but arrived at the house to find nothing. Little did they know that over their heads, the entire family had been crammed into the loft, including a baby. Throughout the entire exchange the baby didn’t make a sound, and after the marshals left, the group was quickly transported up towards Wooster. Hidden under burlap sacks to resemble wheat, the slaves were driven in a horse and wagon by Thomas Battles’ son, William Battles. On their journey they passed the same two officers on a street corner, but they were not stopped.² 

Thomas Battles was not the only Underground Railroad operator in the area, but he oversaw the stations near Shreve and Millbrook. He was reportedly aided in his efforts by Charity Bell, Dr. Joseph Deyarmon, Absolom Swords, Elizabeth and John Kauffman, Daniel and Joseph May, Charles Oldroyd, and Samuel Seibert.  Among those that sheltered slaves seeking freedom, there were also those that helped in other ways. One example of this is Jacob A. Keister, a wealthy landowner from Millbrook. While Keister did not actively engage in the transport of slaves, he gave Battles 700 dollars to “carry on his business” helping to help pay for food, clothing, and other provisions.³ 

Robert and William Taggert

The next stop on the western path through Wayne County was Wooster. Wooster was an especially important stop because of its role as the county seat and the construction of the turnpike from Wooster to Cleveland in 1824.  The turnpike was a better manner for the city’s citizens to transport their farm goods to the larger market centers of the state. It became possible to transfer much larger loads of goods in much less time.⁴ From 1830 to 1860 there were two different homes that accepted fleeing slaves. The first belonged to Robert Taggart, who owned a farm one mile west of Wooster. Robert was aided by his brother William Taggart, affectionately referred to as Uncle William Taggart, who, to the best of our knowledge, oversaw the transportation of the slaves.⁵ Robert was the treasurer for the Anti-Slavery Society in Wayne County and a well-known abolitionist. Unfortunately, this attracted unwanted attention. According to letters written to Ohio State University Professor William Siebert, Robert Taggart’s barn was burned down in 1850 by his proslavery neighbors. This type of response was only one of the dangers faced by those who chose to help slaves attain freedom. After the enactment of the fugitive slave law, which allowed slave-hunters to seize alleged fugitive slaves without due process of law, it became legal to punish those who aided escaping slaves. Those found guilty of breaking this law were subject to a fine up to 1,000 dollars, the equivalent of around 30,000 dollars today, and six months in jail. After Robert Taggart’s house was burned down it is said, “he left for the West in disgust”.

Eugene Pardee

The man that took Robert Taggart’s place along the trail of homes was a New York native and lawyer named Eugene Pardee. According to A Biographical Sketch of Lawyers in Wayne County, “opposition of slavery was one of the biggest purposes in Pardee’s life…and he probably made more speeches against it than any man in this part of the country”. His home was located west of what is now Massaro Avenue. There was a driveway that ran from the house and to a red brick barn in the back; this is where the slaves were hidden. This barn, sometimes referred to as a carriage house, was transformed into a home and still stands on 931 Pittsburgh Avenue.

James Rose

From Wooster, slaves would be brought up to their final stop in Wayne County, at the home of James Rose, two miles south of Golden Corners (located in Canaan Township). James Rose was known throughout the area as the “Scotch Pioneer”, meaning he was most likely a Scottish immigrant or from Scottish descent. Unlike many of the other Underground Railroad operators, documents indicate that he persisted in aiding slaves openly. Letters tell of him transporting slaves in broad daylight. One of the reasons he was able to do this is because of his proximity to anti-slave centers such as Cleveland. While this courage is commendable, it is only because of his geographical location he was able to do this. Many others would have publicly and proudly helped slaves, but it would have resulted in their arrest, the recapture of their charges, and possibly worse.  From the Rose residence the fugitives made their way out of Wayne County and off towards Lodi. This marks the conclusion of the western route.

Eastern Route

Thomas Smith

The eastern route began at the farm of Thomas Smith, one mile north of Fredericksburg. He was assisted in his endeavors by Dr. James Martin who, as a trained physician, provided medical services for any escaping slaves in need of them. In a letter to Wilbur Siebert, Dr. Martin recounts an incident where he was called to treat two escaping African American girls. The two had been tracked by hunting dogs and one of the girls had a breast that had nearly been torn off. This is just one poignant example of the dangers faced by escaping slaves. Eric Foner in his book Gateway to Freedom, says, “slave patrols and armed private groups dedicated to apprehending slaves could be found throughout the South…The authorities regularly searched ships, railroad cars, and highways for fugitives…Most slaves had little knowledge of geography or how to locate sympathetic persons outside their immediate neighborhoods.” It took immense courage for these men and women to embark on such a journey.

Isaac Daniels

Next on the eastern trail of houses was the farm of Isaac Daniels. Daniels had a neighbor and good friend named Andrew Milbourn who strongly opposed the emancipation of slaves. Records say Milbourne “was just as earnest in his conviction that runaways should be apprehended and returned to their owners as Daniels was that they should be helped”. This is a perfect example of abolitionists and slavery supporters living side by side, even this far north. Milbourn suspected Daniels’ involvement in the Underground Railroad and tried to halt the operation by going over to Daniels’ farm for long hours after dinner, when he expected a group of slaves would be arriving at the house, hoping to catch the group. Despite this, Milbourn failed, and Daniels helped numerous slaves escape to freedom.

Joseph Meyers

The final stop on the eastern route in Wayne County was the home of Joseph Meyers and his twelve sons. His parents, who were Mennonite preachers, taught him the importance of freedom. The first documented public outcry against slavery came from a Quaker and the Mennonite community, who, in 1688, wrote and signed the Germantown Petition Against Slavery. Like his predecessors, Myers was a “Whig, a free-soiler and an abolitionist.”⁶ While three of his sons renounced their religious vows to not bear arms in order to fight in the Civil Car, one son, Amos, who was physically unable to enlist, remained at home and helped his father guide slaves northward.⁷ From here slaves were transported out of Wayne County and up towards Seville, Ohio.

Citations

¹ “Underground Railroad: The Wellington-Oberlin Slave Rescue of 1858.” Visit Lorain County. http://www.visitloraincounty.com/business/underground-railroad/. 
² Arick, Ola. “The Slave Traffic” The Daily Record, February 2, 1946. 
³ Hauenstien, E.H. “Prominent Citizens in Pre-Civil War Days Aided Escaping Slaves.” The Daily Record, February 9, 1952. 
⁴ History of Wayne County, Ohio. Vol. 1. Indianapolis, Indiana: B.F. Bowen, 1910.  
⁵ “Jessie E. Pocock Letters to Wilbur Siebert.” Ohio Memory, a Product of the Ohio Historical Society and the State Library of Ohio. September 21, 1948. http://www.ohiomemory.org/. 
⁶ Arick, Ola. “The Slave Traffic.” The Daily Record, February 2, 1946. 
⁷ Hauenstien, E.H. “Prominent Citizens in Pre-Civil War Days Aided Escaping Slaves.” The Daily Record, February 9, 1952. 

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