Underground Railroad in Ohio

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Ohio played a significant role in the Underground Railroad due to its key location on the Kentucky border and the anti-slavery sentiments in the state. [1] There were many different routes within the railroads that connected and went through Ohio. Abolitionists worked with enslaved people to organize escape routes to the North. [2] The Ohio River was a central route with others, including Mechanicsburg and Ripley. [1] Many of the Underground Railroad sites in Ohio are still standing today. [3]

Contents

Background

Map of Underground Railroad Routes Undergroundrailroadsmall2.jpg
Map of Underground Railroad Routes

The organization of enslaved people seeking freedom began decades before the term" Underground Railroad emerged. In the 1830s, the system became more organized and widespread. [4] Slavery was outlawed in the North with the 1787 Northwest Ordinance, creating a divide between slaveholding and free territory. [4] After the Ordinance was established, the support system for freedom seekers was local and informal. It was not until the 1830s that the Underground Railroad became more organized nationwide. Communication about the Underground Railroad required secret methods, such as coded signals, nighttime travel, and the use of the North Star for navigation, to keep escape efforts hidden. [5] Conductors and guides (often free Black people or white abolitionists) used signals such as lamps in windows and provided safe houses and directions to help those escaping reach freedom safely. [6] During the 1840’s many interconnected local networks helped individuals reach freedom rather than one mainstream operation. The Underground Railroad reached its peak during the 1850s before it ended after the abolition of slavery in 1865. [4]

Fugitive Slave laws

The Federal Fugitive Slave Laws of the U.S. Constitution became a major source of conflict in Ohio and the broader United States, leading up to the Civil War. The conflicts led to the creation of the Federal Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850, which required the capture and return of freedom seekers. [7] These laws intensified the struggle faced by the Underground Railroad, therefore, creating tension in the Northern states as the abolitionists faced greater punishment under the law for helping free slaves. [7]

State laws

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 banned slavery in the Northwestern territories, including the land which would become the state of Ohio in 1803. [8] Many loopholes existed within the Ordinance Act, stating that “voluntary” slavery was allowed. [8] However, the majority of the slaves in Ohio weren’t voluntary, and the Ohio government tended to side with slavery. [8] The Federal Fugitive Slave Law did little to protect fugitives, as slave catchers usually received more support in court. [8]

The Ohio River was an important physical boundary on the Underground Railroad, symbolizing the separation of slavery and freedom. [8] Towns such as Ripley, Oberlin, and Salem turned into sanctuaries for those who were seeking freedom. However, the Black Laws of 1804 and 1807 made it challenging for the Underground Railroad to operate. [8] Conductors had to adapt and become more careful as they continued their work. [8]

Ohio routes

Ohio had around 3000 miles of routes running through the state. [9] Despite Ohio's free status established in 1803 (ending slavery in Ohio), runaways still faced significant risks due to the Ohio Fugitive Slave Law of 1823, which accounted for many arrests and kidnappings of fugitives. [2]

Ohio river

Skiff Scammel's Cyclopedia * Skiff * p801.tif
Skiff

One major entry route to Ohio involved boating down the Ohio River. This river was a major border between free and slave states as individuals used either a skiff, a steamboat, or a borrowed canoe. Escape journeys were often taken at night to ensure secrecy and safety. From the riverside, there were at least 23 safe points of entry to the state, 13 of them entering from the Kentucky shore. [2] Coshocton Ohio was a significant safe point because it was an intersection point for 3 major routes and was located along the river. [10] Prior Foster, was a main conductor from this area who like many others guided individuals to freedom. Although the river could be traveled through, freedom seekers were more likely to be guided by allies on foot through the harsh terrain. [11]

Major counties

Ohio and Its Counties Ohio Counties Labeled White.svg
Ohio and Its Counties

The Ohio routes ran in zig-zag lines generally approaching the Northwest and often linking with departure points on Lake Erie, such as Cleveland, Toledo, Sandusky, Fairport Harbor, and Ashtabula. [2] The lake provided a major escape route toward Canada once slaves crossed the state of Ohio. Routes ran thickly all over the state [2] so it is difficult to pin them all down but, some of the major counties with active stations included Richland, Putnam, Trumbull, Huron, Belmont, Ashtabula, Jefferson, Lorain, and Mahoning. [2] They contributed a significant amount to the Underground Railroad Trails. Below are their trail distances.

Additionally there were also multiple cross state connections from Indian and Pennsylvanian to the East and West. [2]

While traveling through the State, people escaping bondage often received help from Quaker settlements, Wesleyan Methodists, or free Presbyterian churches. Due to their grounded Christian sentiments, many held abolitionist beliefs. [12]

In addition to routes, when groups of self-emancipated people came upon unpopulated land in Ohio, it was not uncommon for them to establish small free communities or safe havens. These societies often welcomed escaped runaways. [8]

Due to a lack of records and the intense secrecy of these operations, it is uncertain how many people achieved freedom through Ohio; however, the number is estimated to be between 40,000 and 80,000 people. [13]

Town of Ripley and John P. Parker

The town of Ripley was a key area for runaway slaves. [1] Thousands of slaves used Ripley as an important haven on the Underground Railroad due to its prime location downstream from the town of Maysville, Kentucky. [2] Although slavery was deemed illegal as a result of Ohio's state constitution, when the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850, tensions around slavery became increasingly high in the town, causing deep divides among the townspeople. [14]

John P. Parker House (Located in Ripley) Parker house.JPG
John P. Parker House (Located in Ripley)

In the town of Ripley, John P. Parker played a key role. Before living in Ripley, John P. Parker was a former slave until he later earned his freedom through purchase. [1] As an inventor, entrepreneur, and ex-slave, John Parker is held in high esteem when it comes to the anti-slavery journey. In 1845, after obtaining residence in Ripley, Parker used his knowledge as a skilled laborer working in a foundry casting iron. [1] With his bold actions in the rescuing of runaway slaves, Parker's courage caused him to grow in popularity. [1] Well-known names such as John Rankin and Levi Coffin also assisted Parker in his actions. [1]

David Putnam Jr.

Historical Marker Honoring David Putnam Jr and His Contribution David Putnam Jr Underground Railroad Site Marker side 1.jpg
Historical Marker Honoring David Putnam Jr and His Contribution

David Putnam Jr. helped runaway slaves cross the Ohio River between Gallipolis and Marietta. [14] Helping runaway slaves often came with great cost. Local slave catchers learned what Putnam was doing and set up a trap for him. They surrounded Putnam’s residence while he was helping a runaway slave. People started gathering around the residence when the commotion started, allowing Putnam and the runaway slave to escape. [14] Even though Putnam was able to flee, many others in the same place didn’t. The Underground Railroad offered great sanctuary stops, but traveling from one to another was risky. [14]

John Rankin (Mechanicsburg Resident and Committed Abolitionist) John Rankin (American abolitionist).jpg
John Rankin (Mechanicsburg Resident and Committed Abolitionist)

Mechanicsburg

The state of Ohio had several notable routes for escapees. Urbana and Springfield, Ohio, were the most well-known, which made them heavily monitored. Gradually, Mechanicsburg became one of the most noted spots on the Underground Railroad. [6] Three main routes passed through this location, but each conductor and guide knew little about the others' roles to maintain secrecy. [6] The most common way of travel included Ripley, William Miners Station, then a station near Russellville (exact location is unknown), then either Hillsboro and Wilmington to Xenia or Washington court house.

In Mechanicsburg, Reverend John Rankin was a conductor on the Ohio River. [6] He would light a lantern in his attic window and try to help runaway slaves cross the river safely. [6] Many other conductors would follow his example, guiding freedom seekers using similar signals. [6]

Legacy

After the abolition of slavery, many Ohio towns worked to preserve historical sites associated with the Underground Railroad. [3] In Cincinnati, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, and the Ohio Freedom Path are sites used to commemorate the efforts of abolitionists and conductors. The Freedom Center’s goal is to highlight abolitionists who contributed to the movement during the 19th century. [12] The author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe has a house available for public viewing located in Walnut Hills., Ohio [11] The Ohio Freedom Pathway starts in Cincinnati and is an audio-guided walking tour that can be accessed through a mobile app. [3] In Ripley, Ohio, there is the John Parker House,and the Underground Railroad walking tour. [3] The John Parker House is associated with John Parker ,who was a conductor on the Underground Railroad. [15] The Underground Railroad walking tour is a self -uided tour that highlights specific sites connected to the history of the Underground Railroad in Ohio. [16] These landmarks, resources, and houses are preserved so they can educate the next generation of visitors about the efforts of those who were involved in the Underground Railroad. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vivian, Daniel (2011). "Interpreting the History of the Underground Railroad in Southwest Ohio: The John P. Parker House". Ohio Valley History. 11 (3): 65–77. ISSN   2377-0600.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Henry, Wilber (1993). The Underground Railroad in Ohio. A.W. McGraw.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail". ohio.org. Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  4. 1 2 3 "Exploring A Common Past: Researching and Interpreting the Underground Railroad". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  5. ↑ Griffler, Keith (2018). Front Line of Freedom: African Americans and the Forging of the Underground Railroad in the Ohio Valley. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press. ISBN   0-8131-2298-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "CONTENTdm". ohiomemory.org. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  7. 1 2 Robert, H. Baker (14 November 2012). "The Fugitive Slave Clause and the Antebellum Constitution".
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Slavery in Ohio". blackwallstreet.org. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  9. ↑ "Exploring A Common Past: Researching and Interpreting the Underground Railroad". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  10. ↑ "CONTENTdm". ohiomemory.org. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  11. 1 2 "Discover the History". HARRIET BEECHER STOWE HOUSE. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  12. 1 2 "National Underground Railroad Freedom Center". freedomcenter.org. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  13. ↑ "Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail". ohio.org. Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "The Underground Railroad in the Ohio River Valley by Robert H. Churchill – Underground Railroad Online Handbook" . Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  15. ↑ "John Parker House". John Parker House. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  16. ↑ "Historic Walking Tour | Ripley Heritage, Inc". ripleyohio.net. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
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