The South region consists of Adams, Gallia, Highland,
Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties.
By: Beverly J. Gray (Ohio Underground Railroad
Association, Southern Coordinator) for the Chillicothe Gazette
Escaping from the horrors of slavery, thousands of enslaved African American made their
way north on the Underground Railroad to freedom. These fugitives were helped on their way
by many courageous men and women.
Four Underground Railroad routes or lines operated in Southern Ohio and through
Chillicothe. Two of the routes followed the Scioto River, one route on the east side
following the approximate course of old Route 23 and one on the west side following Route
104. Both of these paths were well worn by the time white settlers reached the Scioto
Valley. The routes followed trails cut through wilderness by Native Americans. A third
route originated at Ripley and the fourth trail began as fugitives crossed the Ohio River
at Gallipolis.
Quakers, African Americans and the Presbyterian Church were the three major groups
responsible for moving fugitives along the routes. African Americans and Quakers sometimes
worked together in the Underground Railroad effort in Ross and Highland Counties, while
the Presbyterian network, because of its scope tended to be more independent.
There was a Presbyterian Church in every town and village, or at least so it seemed.
Many Presbyterian ministers preached an antislavery sentiment from their pulpits and
encouraged their membership to be involved in this movement. The people of these
congregations in Brown, Adams, Highland, Fayette, Ross, Clark, Champaign and other
northern counties made up the Presbyterian network
In a letter written in 1836 to a sister church in Mississippi, the Presbyterian Church
at Chillicothe issued an amazing statement , in which they outlined reasons slavery should
be abolished and why its members should aid fugitives in their quest for freedom. Thus,
the Chillicothe Presbytery became a leader in the Abolitionist cause in southern Ohio.
The Concord Presbyterian Church at Lattaville provided a safe haven for fugitives in a
hiding place above sanctuary of the church and several ministers that served the church
were avowed abolitionist. Not far away, in South Salem, Rev. Hugh Fullerton, John Harmon.
David Pricer, James Anderson and Satterfield Scott were receiving fugitives from
Greenfield and from Lower Twin. They sent them to Col. Robert Stewart, James Jackson and
others near Frankfort. At Lyndon, the Wallace families and the members of the AME Church
hid fugitives in their homes and guided them to Circleville.
Quakers in Ross, Highland, Vinton, Pickaway, Clinton, and Green Counties formed yet
another freedom system. Quaker meetings in Highland County provided one of the strongest
Quaker lines, while the Meetings in eastern Ross County sent many runaways on to freedom
The Quakers Meeting near Londonderry in Ross County, gave eight fugitives a decent burial
in their own cemetery after the fugitives were killed trying to cross the Scioto River on
the trail to Chillicothe.
African American communities sprinkled throughout southern Ohio provided safety for
countless fugitives. Conductors in the Pee Pee settlement (Eden Baptist Church) in Pike
County not only received fugitives from Scioto County , but conducted them to Chillicothe
by way of the Robertson farm in Bourneville or to the Stillguest Settlement near
Frankfort. Such communities offered a home for others who wanted to stay in Ohio. Thomas
Woodson and his sons in Berlin Cross Roads (Jackson County) secreted fugitives to the
"Colored" settlement in Chillicothe. Richard and Robert Chancellor, Charles H.
Langston, the Hubbard family, John and Jesse Redman and Tucker Issacs in Chillicothe hid
runaways in wagons and took them to Columbus about forty-five miles north.
The difficult terrain of southern Ohio proved to be both a blessing and a barrier.
Travel over the steep hills and through the narrow valleys was difficult, but the caves
and outcroppings often offered a place of refuge to those passing through. Reaching Ross
County and Chillicothe afforded fugitives a little easier going as far a the geography was
concerned. The Renick family (Paint Hill) , Albert Douglas (Tanglewood), John R. Alston
(Carriage House). Rev. William H. Beecher, James Steel and the Steel family, and Thomas
Silvey were among those who risked their lives by providing safety for runaways as they
made their way north and eventually to Canada.
The people of Ross County were a curious political mixture, who held both radical
antislavery beliefs and conservative, but strong "Copperhead" or pro-slavery
sentiment. These two philosophies often clashed and made the operation of the Underground
Railroad extremely dangerous. It was for this reason that the "double-back"
trails were necessary. A look at Wilbert Siebert's trail map shows the spiderweb of routes
through out this part of the state. Fugitives were often sent in the opposite direction of
the necessary destination in order to throw off the slave catchers who lurked about in
Chillicothe, Frankfort, South Salem, Lattaville, Richmondale, and other towns.
Underground Railroad activity began in Ross and Chillicothe as early as 1815 and
continued until the Civil War when travel on this secret system was no longer necessary.
(Article appeared in The Chillicothe Gazette, Millennium August
28, 1999)
June 13, 2002 (Updated)
To : All individuals, area businesses, churches, and civic
organizations interested in preserving a local historic landmark
From: The Lambert Land Preservation Committee, a committee of
the Gallia County Historical Society, Second Ave., Gallipolis OH 45631
What: An urgent appeal for financial
aid to establish a “Memorial to the Lambert Land and Its History” in
Gallia County, Ohio.
The Lambert Land, located in Morgan Township, is a historic landmark of
Gallia County, and its story has almost been forgotten. Traditional
stories about this segment of our local Afro-American history have been
handed down by word -of -mouth for about six generations by members of
local families whose ancestors once inhabited the land. It is a fact,
however, that in 1843, a Frank Lambert, along with 30 freed slaves,
purchased land in Gallia County, Ohio where they could live in freedom.
This event happened 20 years before Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation
Proclamation.
When the group came to Ohio, their surnames were all listed as Lamberts
on the property deeds. Shortly after the settlement occurred, many of them
changed their Lambert names to that of their master. Traditionally
speaking, it is said that Frank Lambert had two brothers named Minnis
Lambert and Miller Lambert; consequently several Minnis families and
Miller families presently live in the Bidwell-Porter area. Within two
years, the settlers had established the Morgan Bethel Church just east of
the settlement. A cemetery is located adjacent to the church where many of
the early settlers and their descendants are buried. At the present time,
many individuals are buried there without markers. Included with the
unmarked grave sites are about 30 Black soldiers who served their country,
including the Civil War.
One of the three primary goals of the Lambert Land Preservation Society
is to place a memorial at the cemetery. The memorial will consist of three
marble monuments, one of which will contain an etching showing the first
Lambert settlers crossing the Ohio River. Glenn Miller, whose ancestors
were among the Lambert Land’s initial settlers states, “The Ohio River
was to his ancestors what the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor was to
those who sought their freedom when they came to this country.” On the
obverse side of the monument will be listed the names of the first
settlers. The other two monuments will contain the inscribed names of
about 150 individuals known to be buried there but who do not have grave
markers. The committee believes that if someone has lived and had a name,
then they need to be remembered.
Another goal of the committee is to see that government markers are
provided for those soldiers who do not have a gravestone at the present
time or who have a stone that needs to be replaced because it is no longer
readable in the cemetery. The third goal is to create a map of the Lambert
Land and to show the locations of different family homes located there.
These maps would be reproduced and given to various libraries, churches,
and historical societies.
Gallia County had more than one major route for slaves to escape from
the southern plantations in their quest for freedom. The Lambert Land was
a communal property and served as the homestead for many families.
Descendants of the Lambert Land settlers lived on the property until 1972.
By that time, many had moved to other locations, and the Lambert Land was
sold on the courthouse steps for back taxes. The Lambert Land Memorial
will not only save this history from oblivion, but it has the potential of
becoming an attraction for many visitors to visit and learn about Gallia
County’s past.
The society is seeking donations from churches, organizations,
corporations and individuals who would like to help finance this project.
Donations are tax deductible. The price tag for this memorial is estimated
to be between $15,000 and $20,000. Checks can be made out to The
Lambert Lands Society in care of the treasurer, Corliss Miller, 3680
Clark Chapel Rd., Bidwell, OH 45614. Mrs. Miller can be contacted by
calling (740) 388-8648 or by e-mailing her at glencore44@yahoo.com.
Donations are being collected at this time.
On September 14th of this year (2002), at 1:00 in the afternoon, the
Lambert Land Preservation Society plans to dedicate this historical
memorial. The dedication will be held at the Morgan Bethel Church in
Gallia County. Since the church has no mailing address, here are the
directions for those who want to attend the memorial program. From
Gallipolis, follow State Route 160 northward toward Vinton. After passing
the former North Gallia High School Building, turn right or east onto
Thompson Rd. Follow Thompson Rd. one mile to the intersection of Greenlee
Rd. Turn north again onto Greenlee Rd. and continue about 1/4 mile. The
church is located on the right-hand side of the road. Everyone is welcome.
Officers and Committee Members
