Area History:  THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN INDIANA COUNTY, Indiana Co, PA

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As recorded by Prof. J. T. Stewart in
"Indiana County, Pennsylvania - Her People, Past and Present"
Published by J. H. Beers & Co., 1913              Reformatted by E.K.
Warner, September 1998

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN INDIANA COUNTY
(By an Official)

Although the subject of human slavery had occupied the minds of the people
greatly hitherto, it was not until the year 1840 that public attention was
called to the matter in this vicinity in a way to cause careful and
considerate deliberation. About this period meetings commenced to be held
in school houses to consider the evil, and it became a matter of discussion
pro and con at public assemblages of the people. The agitation of the
question of slavery met with the most determined opposition from many good
people, and at the same time was arrayed in its favor those base elements
of society always found upholding the wrong against the right. At the
period alluded to, several meetings were held in what was known as
McMullen's schoolhouse, in Center township. Among the speakers who
addressed these meetings in opposition to slavery were Ephraim Carpenter,
William Henry, James Moorhead and Dr. Mitchell.
The seed sown by these pioneers of freedom fell upon good ground and
brought into the ranks of the "abolitionists, such well known and
well-remembered men as Hon. Joseph Campbell, John Allison, Sr., Alex.
McMullen, John Lytle, John B. Allison, James Hamilton, John Adair, A. C.
Hall, John Ewing, J. R. Smith, and many others more or less prominent at
that day in that neighborhood. Meetings in other localities rapidly
followed, and the ranks of the advocates of the oppressed were swelled by
the addition of hundreds-John Graff, John Ewing, John Ellis, John and
Alexander Sutor being among the number. The Rev. David Blair then had
congregations in Indiana, Conemaugh and West Lebanon, and his denunciations
of the sin of slavery were constant, and the influence of his preaching was
greatly felt in the accession of good men to the cause.
A paper published in Washington, D. C., entitled New Era, was circulated
extensively through the county, and its influence aided in extending the
work and increasing the ardor of the opponents of slavery.
In a few years from the commencement of the agitation there was no section
of the country where the abolitionists were not recognized as a power, and
while the members of the party challenged debate on the subject and lost no
opportunity of presenting their views, they at the same time were not slow
to avail themselves of opportunities to give, practical assistance to the
objects of their solicitude. For this latter purpose, what was then known
as the "Underground Railroad", was organized. A description of this will
doubtless be interesting to many who were in life then, and cannot be
devoid of interest to the generation which have succeeded, and to whom the
workings of this road will be entirely new.
The fugitive slave law, enacted especially for the protection of
slaveholders, imposed severe penalties upon any person known to give aid or
comfort to the fleeing slave. Men of means and property were, in many
instances, deterred by this law from openly giving aid to fugitives. Dr.
Mitchell had been convicted of harboring runaways, and been mulcted in such
heavy damages and costs as to seriously embarrass him. The United States
courts, whose jurisdiction extended over infractions of the fugitive slave
law, were extremely proslavery, and to gain favor with the Southern owners
were ready to bow to their behests, and the slave power was so far-reaching
and widespread that to oppose it was to incur social ostracism and
political death. The rulings of the courts, consequently, were often
one-sided and partial, and it was mainly through fear of not obtaining
justice that the abolitionists organized the " Underground Railroad", Many
of the slaves fleeing from bondage lived along the border counties of
Virginia, and always traveling by night, and guided by the north star,
their route led them through this county on their way to Canada. Once on
the shores of Canada the slave stood in no awe of his master; but this was
not the case within the States or Territories of the Union. In daylight the
fugitives sought concealment in the thick woods or underbrush, and at night
pursued his lonesome and toilsome journey towards the polar star, which to
him was the beacon of hope and a ray of light which meant liberty.
The town of Indiana and the surrounding hills (then nearly all thickly
wooded) was a great "depot", on the road. As soon as the presence of the
fugitive was made known to the railway officials, he was taken in charge
and piloted to the next station, and there delivered to the care of another
"conductor", and so on until safely passed to the Canadian shore. The
runaways were furnished with food, and frequently with raiment, it being
sometimes the case that they were destitute of garments. The pursuers were
often close at hand, and in some instances were in the town before the
train had started. Many hairbreadth escapes were made under such
circumstances. One instance I recall to mind will illustrate this. At one
time four or five stout negroes were discovered on Caldwell's (now
Gomfer's) hill, in sight of town. They remained there one entire day, and
at dark it was deemed desirable to have them removed to Hamilton's barn, a
mile distant. This was safely accomplished. They were given much needed
food, and after eating were secreted among the hay and straw to gain rest
and sleep. About eleven o'clock that night the writer heard a faint tap at
the door of his house, in Indiana. Upon opening the door and. peering into
the darkness, I discovered the form of old Sheriff James Taylor. Trembling
and almost breathless he rushed into the house, closing the door in haste
as though fearful of discovery. He informed me of the presence of the
slaves at Hamilton's, and said they had scarcely crossed the pike when
their pursuers-six or eight in number-came along; that the slave-hunters
were now in town, and intended making a raid on Hamilton's barn before
morning. He added that something must be done at once to save the
fugitives; that he had property that if detected in assisting in their
flight, the masters could secure, and that as I was possessed of little of
this world's goods I must get them out of danger. I aroused James M. Hart
(now of Saltsburg), and taking a direction opposite from Hamilton's, to
mislead any enemy who might be watching us, walked rapidly to the residence
of David Myers. At a gentle tap on his back window (a familiar signal to
him), he quickly arose and piloted us through the woods and brush to
"Jimmy" Hamilton's. Arousing him and informing him of the danger, we all
repaired to the barn. Here the negroes were quickly wakened, and in a few
minutes the "train" was under headway, "Conductor" Myers in charge, and
passing laboriously but steadily through ravines and over rocks, fallen
logs and other obstructions, was brought to a standstill at the house of
Conductor Jacob Myers. Here they were safely secreted for several days,
until the immediate danger was past. Then they were taken in charge by John
Jones and the Sutors, and then by John Ewing, near Georgeville. From here,
provided with food, etc., they once more set out on their journey, with the
polar star as their guide. We afterwards learned that they arrived safely
in Canada, and in all probability some of them are yet living to recount to
their children their perilous escape from slavery. The conductors, I may
add, all got home before daylight, and next morning resumed their usual
avocations, the members of their families or neighbors knowing nothing of
the work during the watches of the night. I may as well state that the
slave-hunters were informed by some sympathizer that the negroes had been
seen in the evening going in the direction of Hamilton's. At two o' clock
next morning the barn was surrounded by slavecatchers and carefully
searched, but they were about thirty minutes too late. They were satisfied
by their investigation that the negroes had been there.
They remained about the town and surrounding country for some time
thereafter, continuing their search for the fugitives. They were kindly
treated by the citizens, and appeared to be enjoying themselves very well;
expressed a good opinion of the people, but said they were the most
close-mouthed population they had ever seen-especially on the matter they
were most interested in. They offered money for information, and counted
down $200 to Samuel M. Jamison, their hotel-keeper's son, but their bribes
or money availed nothing. When they announced their departure for Virginia,
they were closely watched, and when well out of the county the managers of
the railroad so informed the conductors, and the train moved on with the
result already stated.
At another time, five fugitives were secreted in a dense woods on the banks
of Little Mahoning creek, near Georgeville. They were closely pursued, and
their masters appeared in the locality, and had with them a large
bloodhound. Ben. Warren had the runaways in charge. He became alarmed and
took Thompson Hays, of Plumville, into his confidence. Hays, accompanied by
his wife, secreted themselves in a clump of bushes, some eighty rods from
where the negroes had crossed the road. In a little while one of the
slave-hunters, with the bloodhound, came along the road. When the dog came
to the point where the negroes had crossed, he halted and gave evidence
that he had got the scent. The case was desperate, but Hays was equal to
the emergency. Bringing his rifle to his shoulder, he took careful aim, and
shot the bloodhound down in his tracks. The slave-hunter was badly
frightened, and fearing the same marksman would draw a bead on him, he put
spurs to his horse and galloped rapidly back the road he had come. The hunt
was not resumed, and the conductor got his train away safely.
These are mere recitals of hundreds of similar instances of the way the
underground railroad was run in this county, and which only ceased
operations with the removal of the cause which had brought it into
existence.
Many of those engaged in this work of assisting fellow beings in their
flight to freedom, have gone to their long reward. Others of us still
linger on the sands of time. Whatever may be the judgment of posterity, of
our action in this matter, it should be tempered with the knowledge that we
believed we were fully justified in assisting to liberty human beings, with
human instincts and immortal inspirations and to whom liberty was as great
a boon as to ourselves. We repudiated the doctrine that one man had a right
to enchain in perpetual bondage and degradation his brother, and we only
carried out our belief when we assisted to liberty and freedom the flying
fugitive.

A BRANCH OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Robert Mitchell, Jr., relates the following incident : " On a Sunday night
in February, 1856, seven colored men, came from Johnstown by the way of
Mechanicsburg, where their pursuers had preceded them two hours, to our
house at Diamondsville, to which they had. been directed by a colored
barber at Johnstown named Williams. They were nearly exhausted with their
walk and as soon as possible they were provided with supper, and about
midnight were put to bed in our store-house. I awakened them about three o
'clock in the morning and we started for Cherrytree by the back road, by
way of Hustenville and Pine Flats, reaching the village by daybreak, and
thence proceeded toward George Acheson's in Clearfield county.
"The only person who observed us on the road was David Kinports of
Cherrytree, who saw us on the hill above the village. We got within half a
mile of Acheson's by ten o'clock; so, leaving the slaves in the woods, I
went to Acheson's home and informed him of the colored men's troubles. He
at once went to the timber and took them to his house and gave them their
breakfast. They went to bed and slept till four o'clock in the afternoon.
He then started with them for a colored man's cabin, where they would be
directed to Jason Kirk's house, who lived on the Grampian hills.
" Meanwhile I started for home, and on the hill above Cherrytree I met
eleven men in hot pursuit of the slaves. I passed them, and at about a
mile's distance I met George Spalding, who had a letter for me, informing
me of the close pursuit of the colored men.
"We turned and followed the party and noticed they had stopped at Gamble's
mill and were about to put up for the night. We hastened to Acheson's,
reaching there about eleven o'clock at night, and informed him of the close
chase. Without waiting fully to dress, he, with a loaf of bread under each
arm (and minus pantaloons), started for the negroes.
"When he reached the colored man's cabin, he took the slaves away to a dark
wilderness, pine country, on Moss creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna,
from whence, after remaining a week, they reached New York State in safety.
"I subsequently received a letter informing me of their safe arrival in
Chautauqua county, N. Y.
"In the next morning, Spalding and myself apprised Gamble of how matters
stood and he detained the pursuers as long as possible."
This is one of the many incidents which transpired on this branch of the
Underground Railroad.

GEORGE ATCHESON
was the great hero of the antislavery men in this section. Born in Ireland,
he was there an Orangeman, and removed to eastern Pennsylvania, whence, at
an early date, he migrated to the Susquehanna valley, not far from the
Cherry Tree, where he was among the earliest settlers.
He was over six feet in height, of strong build, with rugged features, and
was a natural orator. For many years he was a pilot on the river, and he
became a successful lumber merchant. He was passionately fond of the
culture of fruit, and had his Orangeman's flowers, as well as the Irish
hedge, growing in his garden.
He attended all the principal antislavery meetings of his time, and could
entertain for half an hour at a time such men as Giddings, Pillsbury,
Garrison and others. He expended thousands of dollars, and being a man of
great energy and determination was regarded as the leader of the
abolitionists.
Personally he was regarded with great favor by the leaders of the
proslavery party, and he returned their courtesies, while he never abated
in his plans to hurry on to freedom all the slaves who came within his
reach.
He was at first a Protestant Methodist, but became a Wesleyan Methodist
after the agitation of the slavery question.