Please see the special East
Region web page set up by James Caccamo(deceased), the former
East Region Coordinator, for more information - including information
about each of the counties in the East Region.
The East region was home to the famous abolitionist John Brown.
The Kent Underground Railroad marker
was dedicated in memory of James Caccamo(deceased) on Saturday,
June 26th, 2004. The marker stands outside of the Kent Historical
Society/Pufferbelly restaurant at 152 Franklin Avenue in Kent,
Ohio. Prior to his death in 2002, James was the East Region
coordinator, a noted historian and archivist, and a wonderful
friend who could make history come alive.
For more information about the marker and James Caccamo(deceased),
please see the Jun. 25, 2004 Akron Beacon Journal article Marker
honors Underground Railroad, man: Deceased archivist's words adorn
post near Kent gate to freedom by Stephen Dyer. For
more information about the dedication, please see the article
Kent to dedicate abolition marker: Ceremony to be held Saturday
by Diane Smith in the online version of the Record-Courier.
Randolph, Ohio in southern Portage County was one of the Western
Reserve's hotbeds of abolitionism, with many intact identified Underground
Railroad stations. The town received an Ohio Historical Underground
Railroad Marker in September, 2002 to acknowledge its contributions to the
Underground Railroad, which include a daring rescue in 1847 which involved
the whole community, a petition in 1848 requesting that Ohio secede from the
Union over the slavery issue, and as the location of a three-day
anti-slavery rally conducted by Abby Kelly Foster and Stephen Foster.
Excerpts taken from an article printed in the Canton Repository, Sunday,
September 21, 2003 with permission from the author, Michael Miller.
He is the current Director of Administration for the City of North
Canton and has been an active researcher and advocator for public
recognition of Jacob Gaskins.
"Gaskins was an African American, born a slave in 1792 in
Winchester, VA. At some point after his birth, his "master" died
and freed all his slaves - all his slaves over the age of 21. This was no
small number, as he owned 999 slaves when he died. Jacob Gaskins, however,
continued to be a slave. His second "master" admired Gaskins for
his "industry and honesty," so Gaskins continued to work with him
after he was freed and shared in the profits.
Gaskins moved to Stark County in 1817. By the time the 1820 census was
taken, his family was one of five "free colored" families living
in Stark County, accounting for a total of 23 African Americans in Stark
County at that time. There were approximately 1,200 persons in Stark County
in 1820.
Being an African American in 1820 wasn't easy. While Ohio didn't have
slavery, it certainly did not welcome African Americans with open arms. The
initial Ohio Constitution denied them the right to vote and hold public
office. Many other laws were passed immediately after the passage of the
Ohio Constitution to further restrict African Americans. They were
prohibited from attending public schools and serving on juries. An even
bigger impediment was African Americans had to put up a $500 bond to live in
Ohio.
The thinking of the time was that the bond would ensure that African
Americans didn't become a burden on the county or state. Curiously, the
state subsequently prohibited African Americans from being admitted to state
poorhouses or other institutions, so it is hard to imagine the need for the
bond. Jacob Gaskins worked hard.
To quote Old Landmarks of Canton and Stark County Ohio, Volume I
(1904): "Without any capital except the natural endowment of
industry and economy, he accumulated a large property." It is further
stated in History of Stark County (1981): " He was a man
respected by all who knew him, for his honesty and industry." His wife
attended church in Kendall, now a part of Massillon. He was a fixture at
barn raisings. He was able to carry logs and beams it took four other men to
carry. In corn-husking contests, he was always the winner.
While acquiring and working his land under the aforementioned handicaps
imposed by the state, he also managed to be a station on the Underground
Railroad, helping escaping slaves find their freedom.
It's hard to imagine the fortitude it would take for an African American
at that time to be directly involved in transporting and harboring escaping
slaves. At the time of his death in 1873, Jacob Gaskins owned 375 acres of
land in Stark County, including his homestead and farm which became
Arrowhead (now the Fairways) Country Club." He was the first African
American to vote in Plain Township.
