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William Still was an African-American abolitionist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a conductor of the Underground Railroad and was responsible for aiding and assisting at least 649 slaves to freedom towards North. Still was also a businessman, writer, historian and civil rights activist. Before the American Civil War, Still was chairman of the Vigilance Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, named the Vigilant Association of Philadelphia. He directly aided fugitive slaves and also kept records of the people served in order to help families reunite.
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Thomas Bell was a Scottish-American capitalist. He was an investor, banker, and co-founder of the Bank of California. He began his career with Barron, Forbes & Company as a clerk in Tepic, Mexico, he later became partner and then owner of the house, which was renamed to Thomas Bell & Company. He took on a partner, George Staacke in 1879. Bell was the director of the California Bank by 1875. He entered into a lucrative, yet boundary crossing and entwined, relationship with Mary Ellen Pleasant that may have complicated Bell's personal life, while it also helped manage family relationships. After his death the relationship with Pleasant resulted in a years-long lawsuit filed by his wife against Pleasant.
The Chatham Vigilance Committee was formulated before the American Civil War by black abolitionists in the Chatham, Ontario area to save people from being sold into slavery. Some of the members of the group were graduates of Oberlin College in Ohio. It is most well known for its rescue of Sylvanus Demarest, but the Committee rescued other people.
References
- 1 2 3 "History of the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance of 1851", p. 193, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- 1 2 "Descendants of Walter Woodworth", p. 12, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "The Annals of San Francisco", p.287, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "Hunt's Merchant Magazine and Commercial Review", p.317, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "President's Report", San Francisco municipal reports, p. 257, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "San Francisco Genealogical Society" Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "Journal of the Senate", p. 411, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "A Colored Mosaic", California State Library Foundation, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "Retrospection, Political and Personal", p.347, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.
- ↑ "Minor Knickerbockers", p. 54, Retrieved 7 oct 2009.