The Friends of Freedom Society 
Ohio Underground Railroad Association

Home Contact Us Search

Up
Siebert Index
Slavery Map
Booklist

 

Negro Underground Railroad Workers

bulletBackground
bulletReferences to people
bulletReferences to persons, groups or communities without names of individuals

Background

Wilbur Siebert was an Associate Professor of European History at the Ohio State University.  He gathered and published a great deal of information about Underground Railroad activities in Ohio at a time when some conductors were still alive.  In addition to his published books, the Ohio Historical Society has boxes of original notes and correspondence in their library. 

Siebert was unable to document all sites in Ohio and  it is likely that African-Americans are under-represented in his work. None-the-less, included in Siebert's work is a glimpse of the importance of African-Americans to the Underground Railroad.   

Alvin C. Adams has indexed and compiled the following list of Negro underground railroad workers identified in Wilbur Henry Siebert's "The Mysteries of Ohio's Underground Railroads" (Long's College Book Company, Columbus, Ohio, 1951) .  This index is an extraordinary resource.  We would like to thank Alvin Adams for allowing us to provide his work as well as Henry Burke for finding and recommending this resource.

Don't forget that you can use the "find" option of your browser to look for a name or location on this page.  Siebert's books are available at the Ohio Historical Society as well as at many local libraries.

If you are interested in doing your own Underground Railroad research, you might find our research page interesting.

References to people (in name order)

  1. _____, "Old Aunt Jinny," a slave, at Parkersburg; pages 120-121.
  2. Adams, David, at Findlay in Hancock County; page 242 (picture).
  3. Alexander family, at the "Randolph" settlement, Darke County, (ex-slaves freed by Virginia plantation owner ------ Randolph), page 134, paragraph 2.
  4. Alexander, Shepherd, at Columbus; page 160, paragraph 2.
  5. Anderson, Elijah, at Sandusky; pages 253-254; and at Cleveland; page 272, paragraph 3.
  6. Armis, Mrs. ______, at Cincinnati, page 30, paragraph 1.
  7. Barber, Joseph (and Mrs. Amy Clark), Cincinnati; page 43, paragraph 2.
  8. Barret family (and others), Pee Pee; page 92, paragraph 2.
  9. Bell, John, "colored barber on Seneca Street," Cleveland; page 274, paragraph 2.
  10. Binga, Anthony, at Ft. Malden (Amherstburg), Ontario, Canada; page 251, paragraph 2.
  11. Bingy (Binga), Anthony, Cincinnati area, 1836; page 29, last paragraph.
  12. Black, Madison (race not certain), at Ironton; page 99, paragraph 1.
  13. Bookel, John, at Columbus, about 1842?; page 163, paragraph 3.
  14. Boston, Thomas Holland, "noted Negro preacher, in Berlin township near Sandusky; page 248, paragraph 2; Rev. Thomas Holland Boston, Perkins township near Sandusky; picture, page 252.
  15. Boston, Mrs. (Thomas)--unnamed brothers, Sandusky area; page 252, paragraph 2.
  16. Boyd, ______, at Cincinnati; page 30, paragraph 2.
  17. Brooks, Noah, at Berlin Cross Roads; page 103.
  18. Brown, James, "a mulatto" barber, at Wooster; page 224, paragraph 3.
  19. Brown, Nathan, Israel township, Cincinnati area; page 50, paragraph 4.
  20. Burgess family, on Longworth Street, Cincinnati; page 32, paragraph 3.
  21. Byrd, Peter, "a prosperous colored man," at Urbana; page 143, paragraph 2 (picture on page 144).
  22. Casey, William, of Zion Baptist Church, Cincinnati; page 31, paragraph 3.
  23. Chancellor, Richard, at Chillicothe; page 161, paragraph 2.
  24. Chancellor, Robert, son of Richard, at Chillicothe; page 161, paragraph 2.
  25. Chavis, John, at Morgan township, north Gallia County; page 104, paragraph 1
  26. Chavis, William, Lawrence County, Washington township; page 98, paragraph 2.
  27. Clark, Mrs. Amy, at Cincinnati; page 43, paragraph 2.
  28. Clark, "Old Man", 3 miles north of Worthington; page 171, paragraph 2.
  29. Claws, Jacob, near Rio Grande; page 102, paragraph 1.
  30. Clemons family, at the "Randolph" settlement, Darke County, (ex-slaves freed by Virginia plantation owner ------ Randolph), page 134, paragraph 2.
  31. Coker, Peter and Mrs. and 5 sons, at Poke Patch; page 103.
  32. Coppock, Edwin (race not identified), a native of Salem, Ohio, in John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry; page 299, paragraph 3.
  33. Cratoff, "old man," beyond Olive Furnace, Lawrence County?; page 96, paragraph 2.
  34. Cummings, _______ and his spouse, Catherine, at Ironton; page 99, paragraph 1.
  35. Dicher, James, the "red fox of the underground," at Ironton, after 1840; page 95, paragraph 2.
  36. Dorum, Thomas and Jane "Kitty", at Cincinnati; page 32, paragraph 3.
  37. Dunker, John, "the Negro hostler in the stable of Marsh's tavern, at corner of Water and Wayne Streets," Sandusky; page 245, paragraph 4.
  38. Elliot, Ebenezer, of the "colored community" in Israel township, near Cincinnati; page 50, paragraph 4.
  39. Ellison, William P., at Morgan township, north Gallia County; page 104, paragraph 1.
  40. Ferguson, William B., at Columbus, about 1842?; page 163, paragraph 3.
  41. Fiddler, Jesse, at Chillicothe; page 161, paragraph 2.
  42. Fiddler, John, at Chillicothe; page 161, paragraph 2.
  43. Foster, Prior, "a colored station agent...," at Harbaugh Corner, Coshocton; page 219, paragraph 1.
  44. Freeland, Jeremiah, at Columbus, about 1842?; page 163, paragraph 3.
  45. Gaskins, ____, "an African" living 4 miles northeast of Massilon; page 236, paragraph 2.
  46. Gould, Betsy (race unknown), "keeper of a boarding house for Negroes" at Cleveland, pre-1853?; page 272, paragraph 3.
  47. Gould, Mr. & Mrs. Orrin, Wheelersburgh; page 93, paragraph 1.
  48. Grant, Charles, at Massilon; page 236, paragraph 2.
  49. Harper, Sandy, at Barnesville; page 131, paragraph 3.
  50. Hatfield, Deacon John, of Zion Baptist Church, Cincinnati; page 31, paragraph 3.
  51. Hall family, on Macallister Street, Cincinnati; page 32, paragraph 3.
  52. Hawkins, James, at Columbus, about 1842?; page 163, paragraph 3.
  53. Henson, Josiah, at Maysville, Ky.; page 41, paragraph 2.
  54. Hocks, Gilliam, near Porter; page 105, paragraph 2.
  55. Holly, Benjamin, at Poke Patch; page 103.
  56. Howe, Mr. and Mrs. Eber D., (race not known) at "Nigger Hollow," north east of Painsville; page 281, paragraph 3.
  57. Hudson, John W., at Sardinia (?); page 79, paragraph 2.
  58. Hunt, Nynum, at Cleveland; page 272, paragraph 2.
  59. James, Caliph, Gallia County, Morgan township, @ 1854?; page 104, paragraph 1.
  60. James, Howell and Martha, at Gallia County, Morgan township, @ 1854?; page 104, paragraph 1.
  61. Jarrett, Gabriel, 2 miles west of Porter; page 105, paragraph 2.
  62. Jenkins, David, at Columbus, about 1842?; page 163, paragraph 3.
  63. Johnson, Gabe, a "Negro scout," at Ironton; page 95, paragraph 2 and p. 96, 1.
  64. Langstnen, Charles H., (and a few [other] Negroes), at Chillicothe; page 87, paragraph 3.
  65. Lewis, Lloyd (and his wife), at Cincinnati?; page 32, paragraph 3.
  66. Love, Joseph, 6 miles up from Portsmouth; page 93, paragraph 1.
  67. Lucas, Dan, on Chillicothe pike; page 93, paragraph 1.
  68. Lucas, George W. S., mulatto, starting in 1850 "the most alert and enterprising conductor out of Salem; page 295, paragraph 2; picture on page 297.
  69. Mallo, J. J., at Massilon; page 236, paragraph 2.
  70. Marvin, John, at Cleveland; page 276, paragraph 1.
  71. Mason, Joseph, "natural son of Governor Mason of Virginia by a slave mother," at Painsville; page 281, paragraph 4.
  72. Mayo, "Old Uncle Joe", "a colored well-digger," at Marysville area, about 1848; page 159, paragraph 2.
  73. Parker, John (and others), at Ripley; page 77, paragraph 3.
  74. Poindexter, James, at Columbus, about 1828; page 160, paragraph 1.
  75. Pointer, Thomas, on Glens Run, Martin's Ferry; page 129, paragraph 1.
  76. Redmond, Andrew, at Chillicothe; page 161, paragraph 2.
  77. Reynolds , George J., on Madison Avenue, Sandusky, 1859-1860?; page 21, paragraph 4; and George J. Reynolds, "a man of mixed Negro and Indian blood" and a skilled blacksmith; at Sandusky; page 253,
    paragraph 3.
  78. Selby, Joseph, 'fugitive," (re: song Darling Nellie Gray), at Circleville; pages 190-1.
  79. Simpson, Dr. John McCarty, at Zanesville; page 214, paragraph 1.
  80. Sims, Mark, "a mulatto," at New Richmond; page 63, paragraph 1.
  81. Smith, Gabe, at Fairhaven; page 50, paragraph 4.
  82. Stewart, Isaac, at Poke Patch; page 103.
  83. Stewart, Jacob, at Poke Patch; page 104, paragraph 1.
  84. Stewart, James C. (race uncertain), at Poke Patch; page 95, paragraph 3.
  85. Stewart, John J. (and others), at Pike Patch colored settlement; page 94, paragraph 2; p. 95, 3; p. 98, 2; wife and four brothers, at Poke Patch, page 103.
  86. Stewart, Parson William, at Burlington and Macedonia; page 98, paragraph 2.
  87. Thomas, Priestly, at Selma; page 141, paragraph 2.
  88. Virschon, J. B. at Pittsburgh, Pa.; page 291, paragraph 2.
  89. Ward, John T., "mulatto janitor of old City Hall," Columbus, about 1842?; page 163, paragraph 3.
  90. Washington, _____. "a fine looking member of a colored settlement," at Dublin; page 158, paragraph 2.
  91. Washington, Lewis, at Columbus; page 160, paragraph 2.
  92. Washington, Thomas, son of Lewis, at Columbus; page 160, paragraph 2.
  93. Washington, William, at Columbus, about 1842?; page 163, paragraph 3.
  94. Williams, James, Cincinnati, 1836; page 30, paragraph 1.
  95. Wilson, _____. "a mulatto," at Camp Case, about 1845?; page 156, paragraph 2.
  96. Wilson, Philip, at Burlington; page 95, paragraph 2.
  97. Wilson, William, near Sandusky; page 245, paragraph 4.

References to persons, groups or communities without names of individuals (in chronological order)

  1. At Felicity; page 16, paragraph 2.
  2. Zion Baptist Church, Cincinnati; page 31, paragraph 3.
  3. At Rising Sun, Ind., 1846; page 36, paragraph 1.
  4. Cook in H. N. Wilson home, Cincinnati; page 46, paragraph 1.
  5. Dunlap Negro settlement, 9 miles north of Chevoit; page 51, paragraph 1.
  6. Sexton, Negro burying ground, Avondale; page 53, paragraph 2.
  7. Colored settlement, Roxabell; page 86, paragraph 2.
  8. Negro settlement at Pee Pee (Pike County); page 92.
  9. Colored barber, Columbus, page 96, paragraph 3.
  10. Berlin Cross Roads, page 95, paragraph 3; and page 98, paragraph 3; and page 102, paragraph 1.
  11. Colored settlements at Burlington and Macedonia; page 98, paragraph 2.
  12. "Colored" workers at Gallipolis; page 100, paragraph 1.
  13. Barlow and Bartlett, pages 114, paragraph 2, 119, paragraph 2 and 121, paragraph 1.
  14. Rainbow, page 115, paragraph 4.
  15. Colored settlement of Guinea, in Belmont County; page 118, paragraph 3 and p. 126, paragraph 2.
  16. "A colored man," near Martin's Ferry; page 127, paragraph 1.
  17. Randolph settlement (ex-slaves freed by Virginia plantation owner ------ Randolph), in Darke County, west of Greenville; page 134, paragraph 2.
  18. Negro settlement at Carthagena, in south Mercer County; page 134, paragraph 3.
  19. Chillicothe blacks; page 161, paragraph 3.
  20. "Nigger Hollow," 1828, Columbus area; page 181, paragraph 2.
  21. "A colored townsman," at Putnam (South Zanesville), 1852; page 218, paragraph 1.
  22. "Colored residents" of Zanesville, 1859; page 218, paragraph 2.
  23. Negro settlement, west of Greenville; page 243, paragraph 2.
  24. Negroes of Sandusky area; page 253, paragraph 2.
  25. "Nigger Hollow," north east of Painsville; page 281, paragraph 1.

List compiled and indexed by Alvin C. Adams, 1999

SM = Service Mark of the Friends of Freedom Society, Inc.
Copyright © 2007 Friends of Freedom Society, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.