LOCAL HISTORY: STOREY, Henry Wilson. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY PA. Vol. 1
The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907.

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Humenik.

There is an HTML version of this book, with page images, 
on the county web site: http://www.camgenpa.com/books/Storey/v1/ 


Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
_______________________________________________ 

                              CHAPTER IX.

    ANTI-SLAVERY SENTIMENT--THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD-"ABRAHAM"
         AND "PATRICK" SHOT BY A SLAVE HUNTER--ARREST OF
         HENRY WILLIS AND OTHERS FOR AIDING THE SLAVES.

     The particular cause for producing abolitionists was the provision of the 
federal constitution and the laws thereunder, declaring that a slave escaping 
from one state to another should be reclaimed and delivered to the owner, and 
that the United States marshal could call upon and force any citizen to assist 
him in his duty.
     When the clause as it was finally adopted in the constitution was agreed 
upon, it was the concensus of opinion that slavery would become extinct by 1808, 
inasmuch as it was not profitable; but Whitney's invention of the cotton-gin 
changed this situation and property in human beings became valuable, hence the 
Civil war. It was this clause which prevented Mr. Lincoln from being an 
Abolitionist; however, he was intensely antislavery, and sought to prevent its 
spread and confine it to the southern states. It was the same cause which made 
William Lloyd Garrison the leading Abolitionist. He believed and averred that it 
was unrighteous for one race of people for their personal profit to make slaves 
of another class. This sentiment arose prior to the Missouri Compromise, and 
only ended at Appomattox in 1865.
     During this period there was much contention over slaves escaping north of 
the Ohio river and Mason and Dixon's line. Much litigation occurred in the 
northern states, and many physical combats took place in reclaiming these 
runaway slaves. This conflict produced a class of citizens who would not assist 
in preventing but who would not go as far as Garrison. They absolutely declined 
to interfere in their capture, and quietly aided in their escape. This was done 
through the mythical "underground railroad" system in the border states.
     One of the favored routes from Maryland and Virginia was through Bedford, 
Pennsylvania, thence over the mountains by way of Geistown to Johnstown, thence 
to Cherry Tree, or Ebensburg, where other agents helped the fugitive to reach


187     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Canada, or located him in some secluded place. Another favorite route was from 
Bedford to Hollidaysburg, thence to Ebensburg over the mountain. It is not 
difficult to understand why aid was given them, as it would be done today under 
the same circumstances. Few persons of the present generation fully appreciate 
the evils of slavery as it existed in our country; therefore we will recall a 
few cases which show its extent and tragic results.
     It is probable that the most tragic case is the one known as the Garner 
case, which occurred in 1856. Simon Garner, his wife and son Robert, were the 
slaves of Mr. Marshall, of Kentucky. Margaret Garner was the wife of Robert 
Garner, and she and her four children belonged to a Mr. Graves of that state, 
thus the husband and family were separated. They escaped across the Ohio and 
took refuge in Cincinnati. The slave hunter followed and secured warrants for 
their arrest. When the deputy marshal endeavored to serve it, he found the house 
barricaded wherein they had taken refuge. A desperate fight followed, but the 
fugitives were overpowered and taken. Margaret, however, had determined that 
neither she nor her children should ever again be in slavery if she could 
prevent it. During the conflict she realized that they were going to be 
captured, and, retiring to where her children were, she killed one of them, cut 
the throats of two others, and severely bruised the baby in her endeavor to save 
them from slavery.
     Many ardent Abolitionists resided in Cincinnati, but, as in other places, 
there were some who would not go as far in assisting the slaves as others. In 
the Garner case this class thought it would save the fugitives if they should be 
arrested in Cincinnati and tried for homicide; therefore, Margaret was indicted 
for murder, and her husband Robert and her father-in-law Simon were charged with 
being accessories to the awful deed, Their friends weakened and allowed the 
slaves to be taken by the owners. With the intent of seeking death on the voyage 
down the Ohio, Margaret jumped overboard with her babe clasped in her arms. Sad 
to relate, she was rescued, and when informed that the child had been drowned, 
she expressed gratification that her baby would never be a slave.
     In contradistinction to the former case is the Christiana affair which 
occurred in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1851. Edward Gorsuch of Maryland, and 
his son, with a deputy marshal and a number of friends, attempted to capture a 
fugitive slave


188     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

who had taken refuge in a house in the village of Christiana. Two shots fired at 
the house aroused the neighbors and some colored men, who appeared with arms. 
Among those assembled were two Quakers, Castner Hanway and Elijah Lewis, who 
tried to persuade both parties to disperse, but to this plea the deputy marshal 
ordered them to join and assist him as provided by the law; they declined and 
urged him to leave. Gorsuch and his son then fired on the colored men, who 
returned the attack and killed both, all the others seeking safety in flight. 
Hanway and Lewis were indicted for treason, and tried before Judge Grier, in 
Lancaster, and Thaddeus Stevens was of counsel for the defendants. The 
accusation and proof were considered preposterous by Judge Grier, who charged 
the jury to acquit them. Thus ended the Christiana affair. Judge Grier 
subsequently became an honored justice of the supreme court of the United 
States.
     It was under these conditions that the "underground railroad" prospered. 
The leading citizens of our county who gave their assistance in this war were: 
John Cushon, Henry Willis, William Barnett, John Myers, Wallace Fortune, Isaac 
Weatherington, Frederick Kaylor and Mr. and Mrs. James Heslop, of Johnstown; 
William Slick, Sr., who resided on a farm near Geistown; A. A. Barker, of 
Ebensburg; Dr. George Gamble of Cherry Tree; and George Atchison, who lived near 
Burnside, on the Susquehanna river.
     A citizen of Indiana county who took a prominent part in the emancipation 
of the slaves, was Albert Hazlett, a lieutenant of the little band which 
attacked the arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, under the leadership of John 
Brown, the martyr, on the night of October 16, 1859. In the diary kept by John 
Brown, beginning March 10, 1859, he has this entry: "March 16th. Wrote A. 
Hazlett, Indiana P. 0., Indiana county, Pa."
     In a letter from Brown to John Henry Kagi, his adjutant, mailed at 
Chambersburg about July 12, 1859, he says: "Write Carpenter and Hazlett that we 
are all well, right, and ready as soon as we can get our boarding house fixed, 
when we will write them to come on and by what route. I will pay Hazlett the 
money he advanced to Anderson for expenses traveling."
     Colonel Lee captured Hazlett and Anderson, who were the last men in the 
arsenal, all the others having been killed or captured.
     Many escapes were made through our county, but the most


189     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

prominent was that of the shooting of "Abraham" and "Patrick" near Geistown, on 
the 10th of February, 1837. These slaves were young men with no other names than 
are here given, and were the personal property of Colonel and Dr. John Sheard, 
of Morgan county, Virginia. The colored boys had reached a point not far from 
Geistown when the hunters, coming in sight of the runaways, shot Abraham in the 
knee and Patrick in the right shoulder. Of course they were captured, and taken 
to the farm house of William Slick, Sr., who was an agent of the Underground 
Railroad, where medical aid and such kindness were extended as could only come 
from a family which was in sympathy with the slave. William Slick, Jr., born 
August 28, 1823, a son of the former, and now an esteemed resident of Johnstown, 
recalls the affair and his youthful efforts to give assistance to the wounded 
slaves.
     Abraham and Patrick were brought to Johnstown under arrest in charge of 
Samuel J. Smith, constable. The warrant was issued by Christian Horner, a 
justice of the peace residing near Geistown, in Conemaugh township, and charged 
the defendants with being fugitive slaves. The warrant was issued February 10, 
1837, as follows:
     "Whereas, it appears by the oaths of John Compston and Edward Maxwell that 
"Abraham" & "Patrick," two colored boys, was held to labor service to Col. John 
Sheard of Morgan county, in the State of Virginia, and that the said Abraham & 
Patrick, two colored boys, hath escaped from the labor & service of the said 
Colonel John Sheard. YOU are therefore commanded to assist and seize the bodies 
of the said Abraham & Patrick, it they be found in your county and bring them 
forthwith before a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of your proper county, so 
that the truth of the matter may be inquired into and the said Abraham & Patrick 
may be dealt with as the Constitution of the United States and the laws of this 
Commonwealth directs."
     Not long after their arrival in Johnstown the local agents of the 
Underground Railroad became interested, as the boys' gunshot wounds were 
serious, and procured for them the best medical attention and lodging which they 
could. The officers desired to take them away at once, but the agents insisted 
that such haste would be inhuman, as careful nursing was necessary for their 
recovery. Under this plea the fugitives were kept for several days in a building 
on Clinton street, and, in the mean-time arrangements were being made to take 
them farther north.


190     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

They were supposed to be carefully guarded, but one night they disappeared. No 
one knew how, nor where they were, at least the officers did not know.
     Maxwell and Compston made diligent search, and for some reason Maxwell 
appeared before Samuel Douglass, a justice of the peace, in Johnstown, on 
February 13th, and charged two citizens with the shooting thus: "doth say that 
on Friday, the 10th day of February, * * a certain * * * acknowledged 
that be did shoot a Blackman by the name of Abraham, in the knee & and from all 
information that this deponent hath received he has just reason to believe that 
a certain * * * did shoot one other Black man by the name of Patrick, in the 
back, both being mortally wounded, "being slaves of Dr. John Sheard of the State 
of Virginia, and that a * * * was also concerned in aiding and assisting in 
the same, etc."
     One of these defendants was arrested, and an indictment presented to the 
grand jury of Cambria county, charging him with shooting Patrick in the back, 
with a rifle, with the intent to kill. The witnesses before the grand jury were 
Edward Maxwell, C. Horner, Esq., William Sleek or Slick, Justice Varner, and 
Amelia Heltzel. The foreman of the jury, M. Leavey, returned "not a true bill."
     On the 27th of February, Mr. Smith, the constable, made an information 
before Samuel Douglass, Esq., as follows: "That he held under arrest two black 
men as slaves belonging to John Sheard of the State of Virginia for eight or ten 
days past, and the said Black men made their escape from the custody of the said 
S. J. Smith, constable, on Friday night, the 24th day of February, instant, and 
that he doth suspect Henry Willis, Esq., William Barnett, John Myers, Esq., 
Wallace Fortune, Isaac Weatherington, John Cushon, and Frederick Kaylor of 
aiding and assisting the said Black men away from his custody."
     The defendants were brought before Justice Douglass, and a hearing was held 
on March 3d, when he entered this judgment: "No ground for prosecution, Suit 
dismissed." The truth was, that as soon as the wounded boys were able to travel, 
their friends had filled the bed of a wagon with hay, on which they were laid 
and covered with the same light material, and the driver started north through 
Hinekston's run road. Under these terrible conditions was the freedom for the 
fugitives acquired.
     After the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, which was


191     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

substantially done in the famous compromise of 1850, an incident occurred in 
Johnstown which discloses strong conviction and decision of character, with a 
beautiful sentiment expressed by Mrs. James Heslop, who as well as her husband 
was an Abolitionist. An escaping slave had reached this town and had been 
secreted in Cushon's coal bank, under Green Hill, by John Cushon and other 
agents of the Underground Railroad. Soon thereafter, while Mr. and Mrs. Heslop 
were sitting in their room on the second floor, a knock was heard at the front 
door. It was about dusk, and Mr. Heslop, going to the door, became engaged in 
conversation with the visitor, which continued for some time. Mrs. Heslop, being 
acquainted with the escape, divined the matter to which the conversation 
related. Going to the top of the stairs she heard the visitor pleading with her 
husband to tell him where the fugitive was, and offering him twenty-five dollars 
for the information. Still Mr. Heslop denied any knowledge of the affair. 
Hearing the offer increased to seventy dollars, she descended the stairway, 
quietly walked to the door and closed it. In referring to it to a friend she 
mildly said: "I was afraid James might be tempted."
     As late as the winter of 1859-60, A. A. Barker, of Ebensburg, assisted a 
slave to escape who had been brought to him from Bedford via Hollidaysburg. He 
was kept in the house over night, and before daylight had his "pung" or sled 
with one seat ready to take him to George Atkinson's, in Clearfield county. The 
slave was concealed under a buffalo robe. A few miles beyond Ebensburg, Mr. 
Barker met one of his own teamsters, who inquired what he had under the robe, 
and being a friend, he told him a "colored man." The driver replied "I will take 
a look at him," and pulled the robe, which so alarmed the slave that he jumped 
into the underbrush and disappeared. The snow was very deep, and they soon 
tracked him and convinced him he was among friends, when he returned. He was 
again bundled in the robes and was safely delivered to Mr. Atkinson, who helped 
him to Canada.
     On another occasion, much earlier, Mr. Barker assisted a family of colored 
persons to escape, and some time after he received a very grateful letter from 
one of the girls, who sent him her picture, which he always cherished, and 
before his death he gave it to his son, Judge Barker.
     About 1852 a number of boys were fishing in the Conemaugh river near the 
mouth of Laurel run. This party was


192     HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

large; some of them were James M. Duncan, John W. Douglass, David R. Bryan, 
Walter Magill and James Glass. While they were so engaged they observed William 
McLain (to them "Mose" McLain) and "Pade" Carns riding down the towpath as 
rapidly as their horses could go in company with four colored men, each on 
horseback. Mr. McLain was the director of the squad, and stopped to inquire the 
shortest way to Dick Bacon's cabin, a negro who lived on the mountain above 
where the Laurel run dam is now located. After being informed, Mose said there 
would likely be some one after them very soon, and wanted to gain time, and 
advised the boys to hold the "slave hunter" as long as possible, so he could get 
into the woods. In a few minutes thereafter the hunters appeared, also on 
horseback, and the crowd of boys began to stone them, when they turned and went 
back to Johnstown. The men living in the vicinity of Cambria Furnace were 
intensely against the fugitive slave law, and with the story told by Mr. McLain 
they got their guns and every weapon within their reach, and prepared to stop 
the slave hunters at their place. The latter did not return after the stoning, 
and Mose got his friends to Bacon's, where they were maintained for some time, 
and then sent on north.