McDonough County, Illinois - Chapter 23: Underground Railroad, 1878

Very likely all of our readers have heard ot the famous Underground Railroad, but very few know anything of its system of work. Happily the corporation does not now exist, the necessity for the enterprise not being apparent at tlie present time, as the class of freight or passengers transported over the line are not now produced.

The question of slavery has always been a mixed one, from the time the first slave was imported into our country until, by the emancipation proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, all men were made free and equal in the eyes of the law. A strong anti-slavery party has long existed in the country. The framers of our constitution upon the organization of the governmenthad to deal with the question of slavery; the successive administrations from Washington to Lincoln had to grapple with it; various compromises were adopted, which it was thought would quiet its spirit, but, like Banquo's gh.ost it would not down at the bidding of any man or party. The death of Lovejoy at Alton, in 1837, a martyr to the anti-slavery cause, gave an impetus to the agitation of the question which never ceased until the final act was consummated which broke in pieces the shackles that bound the slave.

Growing out of the agitation of this question, and the formation of a party of those in sympathy with the slaves, Avas the organization ot the so-called Underground Railroad, for the purpose of aiding fugitives to escape to a laud of freedom. The secrecy of its workings justified its name. Notwithstanding the system was an organized one, those engaged in it had no signs nor passwords by which they might be known, save now and then a preconcerted rap at the door when a cargo of freight was to be delivered. Each relied upon the honor of the other, and as the work was an extra- hazardous one, few cowards ever engaged in it. Pro-slavery men | complained bitterly of the violation of the law by their abolition neighbors, and persecuted them as much as they dared, and this was not a little. But the friends of the slave were not to be deterred by persecution. " The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church," and persecution only made them more determined than ever to carry out their just convictions of right and duty. No class of people ever made better neighbors than the Abolitionists, or better conductors on a railroad.

A very singular circumstance in connection with this road was I the fact that, although people well knew who were engaged in it, and where the depot was located, freight could seldom be found, search as carefully as they might. A consignment would be forwarded over the line, notice of which would reach the ears of slave hunters, and whei^ ready to place their hands upon the fugitives, like the Irishman's flea, they wouldn't be there. Only one case is reported on the line through tliis county of the recapture of a slave, an account of which will be found further on in this chapter, while hundreds were forwarded over it during the twenty-five years of its running time. AVe may here remark there were various branches of this road having a starting point at different places. The line running through McDonough began in Quincy, and ran nearly parallel with the present C, B. & Q, R. R. The business for a number of years was quite extensive, but to-day all the employes of the road are discharged, and strange to relate, none are sorry, but all rejoice in the fact. As illustrating the peculiarities of this line, we append several incidents that principally occurred in this county.

^^ What Am If - Charley was a likely "boy," the property of a man living near Hannibal, Mo. He had been well treated in every respect and allowed many liberties not enjoyed by the race in general. The thought of his being a slave had never entered his mind and probably never would had not a little circumstance occurred that presented it in a very forcible manner. Quite a number of slaves had escaped from Missouri, and the matter was being generally discussed by all classes in the State, and at a gathering where Charley and his master were both present the subject was again discussed, when the master said :

"If any of my slaves should escape I should never rest until I got them back. Now, Charley, here, if he should escape, I would not take a drink of whisky or a chew of tobacco until I had him safe."

111 narrating the circumstances afterward, Charley said : " The thought suddenly flashed through my mind, What am I? Am I, or I am I not, a human being, with power to feel, and think, and act? Have I a soul, or am I a machine to be set in motion and act in accordance with the will of one made in the same manner as I am, save of different color ? Such thoughts never entered my mind before. I had plenty to eat and drink, and was well clothed, had a fair education, had been in company with men of talent, but, of course, without power to express my own thoughts had I the desire to do so. I thought that I would give my master an opportunity to put his threat into execution, and I did so."

Having many liberties, as we have before remarked, with power to come and go as he thought best, a few days after, as evening approached, Charley gave out to his fellow slaves that he was going to Ha\inibal to attend a colored dance. Mounting a horse, he rode oft" in that direction, but, changing his course, he went north until nearly opposite Quincy, when, leaving his horse, he searched the river bank, and finding an old skiff", he crossed over, and landed at the general depot of the Underground Railroad. Here he secured passage for the colored people's canaan, Canada. Coming from Quincy by way of Round Prairie, he made Blazer's Station, this county, early one morning, where he laid by to enjoy a little rest and secure the services of another conductor. Mr. Blazer took him in charge, keeping him that day, learning his story, and after dark took him to the next station on his journey. Thus he continued until he reached the terminus of the route.

A few months afterward Mr. Blazer was somewhat surprised t© see Charley back, and learned he was returning to secure, if possible, his wife and two children. Bidding him God-speed, he sent him on his way. When he arrived at Quincy he secured an excellent skiff' from the general agent of the road at that point, and for some days endeavored to secure an opportunity of getting his family away. But all his eft"orts were without avail, and he was compelled to return without his dear wife and children, though he managed to run off several slaves from the neighborhood.

A few months passed away and Charley again returned and made another attempt to get his wife and children, but again failed. A third attemi)t was made, this time with partial success, ending in failure. It was suspected by his master he would return for this purpose, and he kept a strict watch over the wife and chil- dren of his rnuaway slave, compelling them to sleep in a room above the one occupied by himself and wife, and through which one was compelled to pass to reach the other. Charley learned the true state of affairs, but in some way unknown to us, got them out without alarming any one. The distance to the river where they could cross, was too great to make in one night, so they were compelled to lay out in the woods until another nightfall. When night came they traveled on until they reached the river; when, getting in the skiff, they crossed over, landing some distance above Quincy, and on a little island a short distance from the main land. As the skiff reached the shore, two men stepped out, with guns in their hands, and ordered them to surrender. Charley suddenly drew his revolver, and pointing it at the men threatened to shoot if they attempted to harm him. He then began to parley with them, while at the same time, consulting with his wife as to what should be done. She urged him to save himself, stating it would be death or worse for him to be captured, but as to her, they would do nothing save placing a more strict Avatch over her person. Seizing the opportunity when the attention of the two men was diverted, Charley jumped into the river and swam to the main land, and thus escaped without being liurt by the shots fired at him. This time he returned without wife, children or friends; but he was not to be daunted or discourao:ed. In a fcAV months he ao;ain returned onlv to find that his wife had been sold and taken down the river. Learning that she was living near St. Louis, he determined there to seek her, which he did, and this time met with better success, as he escaped with both wife and children, and succeeded in reaching Canada in safety. When Charley came through the third time, and reported his adventure with the slave-catchers, he was advised to abandon the attempt to get his wife and little ones, and the sug- ^ gestion made that he marry some French Canadian woman. "Xo," said he, "that I will never do; I love my wife and children as much as any man, if I am black, and I intend to have them or die in the attempt I"

This same Charley, as previously remarked, was instrumental in running off many others. AVe copy the following incident of him from Young's History of Round Prairie and Plymouth :

A Lively Load and Lively Time. - Mr. T. called at the house of Mr. W. on his way home from a three days' trip to Quincy, and found that a company of six negroes had just arrived, that were to be sent on their way to freedom. There was a man aud his wife, with two children andayoun<)^ man, all under the leadership of a negro called Charlej', who had been over the line half a dozen times or more. He had become well known to the regular agents of the route. His various trips to and from Missouri had been made for the purpose of getting his wife away, failing in which he would gather up such friends as he could and pilot them to freedom.

I six were stowed as well as possible at full length on the bottom of the wagon, and covered closely with sacks of straw. These were so light that they showed a decided tendenc}' to jolt out of place, and thus perhaps to make unwelcome revelations on the road. To remedy this a rope was drawn down tightly over the sacks and fastened at the ends of tlie wagon. This kept things in place, aud all went well until near the end of the journey. Here Mr. T. becoming doubtful as to the proper road to take, took the wrong one, and passed three young men getting out logs in a piece of woods' through which his way led him. He did not dare to stop and inquire the way of them for fear they might pry into the nature of his load too closely. As he drove on he thought there was a striking family likeness in the young man, to the man he was looking for. He went on, however, until he came to a cabin a little ort" the road where he thought it safer to inquire. As he went in he confronted a man that he recognized too well as one he cared little to meet on such a mission. But it was a cold, snowy day, and his face was so concealed by his wrappings that he was not recognized by the occupant of the cabin, who gave him the information sought. Mr. T. found that he had gone too far, and had to retrace his way to the woods aud then turn off. Here again he came uj)on the young men who had been delayed with their load by getting "stalled' in a deep rut. Better satisfied now asto their identity, he inquired the way of them. Guessing his mission readily, they made free inquiries about his load, which were answered as freely. Finding Charley was in the comi)any, cue of the young men determined to frighten him, or at least have a joke rat his expense. Calling his name in stern tones, he told him that he knew he had passed over the lines several times in safety, "but,-' said he, "I have caught you at last ; you are now my pris- oner." Charley, still in concealment with the others under the sacks, recognized the voice of an old acquaintance, did not turn white with fear but enjoyed the pleasantry.

hands" gathered in the parlor, where for a time there was a free intermingling of story, song and mirth ; after which an old violin was produced and "operated" upon by some OLe of the company, w^hile the negroes "let themselves out" into a regular old-fashioned plantation "hoe down," which lasted until all were ready to retire with aching sides from excess of fun. This evening's entertainment is noted as a particularly bright spot in U. G. R. R. experience - brightened loith genuine negro polish.

Belrayat of the Negro Preacher. - In Virginia lived a rich farmer having a number of slaves, among others a man and wife, with their children. This man was a preacher among his colored brethren. The old farmer dying, on the division of the estate this colored preacher and his wife fell to a daughter, who had lately married a young physician ; the children were given to other parties. This physician and his wife had determined to remove to Missouri, and to reconcile his slaves with the idea of leaving their children, promised them it they would go peaceably and work for him a term of years, he would give them their freedom. To be free was a boon greatly desired, and they joyfully consented to go. The physician settled at Hannibal, Missouri, and time passed, his negroes faithfully performing all the duties required of them. A few months before the time had elapsed when he promised to give the couple their freedom, he called the man to him one day and asked, "C*sar, I suppose you are looking forward to the time when you will soon be free, are you not?" "Yes, Massa." "Well, before receiving your papers, wouldn't you like to make a trip down the river to see how they work things on the plantations of the south?" "Well, yes, Massa, I would; I hearn tell a good deal about de way da do de work down dare, and I would like to see it for myself." "If you so desire it, I will make arrangements to have you taken down." "All right, Massa."

A day or two after, Cirsar's master announced to him he had arranged with the Captain of a steamer to take him down as a deck hand, he, in that way, working his passage. The boat was then lying at the wharf, and he could go on board at once, proceeding down the river and back in time to secure his papers of freedom.

C»sar at once went aboard the boat, pleased with the idea of a trip down the Mississippi, visiting the wonders and learning something ot plantation lite of the South. As the boat proceeded down the river, he observed that he was watched by a gentleman, and wondered what it meant. When a little way above St. Louis, the strange man got an opportunity to speak to him, there being no one near him at the time. Said he :

"Yes, it is. Now, my advice to you is that it the opportunity offers, you try and make your escape. Death is to be preferred to life on a southern plantation. You may escape and make your way north where you will find friends. We will soon land to take on wood, and you there may get away."

The thought of being betrayed by his master had never entered the mind of poor C?esar who supposed he was going on a pleasure trip to the South, and the thought that he should be retained there was almost overpowering. What could he do? ]tscape ? Well, he would try. As his friend remarked, death was preferable to a life on a southern plantation.

When the boat landed, Csesar was sent with other deck hands to load it with wood. He moved off as if with the intention of doing the work, and when out of sight of his companions, he started off on a run. His presence at first was not missed, and when the fact was discovered, the boat could not be delayed that his capture might be effected. Steering directly north, Cjesar in due time found himself in the vicinity of Upper Alton. While passing along the road he heard behind him a couple of horsemen in full gallop, and supposing they were after him, it was his first thought to run, but fearing this would excite their apprehension, if they were not in search of him, he quietly stepped one side, and began plucking the plums from a tree by the roadside. Luckily the horsemen paid no attention to him, even if they observed him. He continued on his way, and soon another horse-

"Well, then get on this horse and travel until you come to a certain house [describing it] there hitch your horse, go in, and you will be cared for."

Although he did not know whether he was a friend or foe, Csrsar concluded to trust liim and take his advice. Mounting the horse he proceeded on the way until he reached the designated place where he stopped, and on going in, without a Mord being spoken, he was shown a large upper room and told to remain there until called for. Food was provided him, and when night came he was conducted on his way. He was now on the line of the famous Underground railway, and in due time passed through this county on his way to Canada.

Some months after, he returned over the line to secure, if possible, his wife. Arriving in the vicinity of Hannibal he learned that she had been sold and removed to some unknown place, and all efforts to learn of her whereabouts were unavailing, and he never saw or heard from her. But, then, according to high judicial authority, negroes have no rights which white men are bound to respect. Oh, shame !

Train Captured. - During the series of years in which the Underground Railroad was in operation, but one accident occurred in this count3^ The agent at Round Prairie, with a consignment of five negroes, started one night to deliver them to the agent here; but in the darkness, lost his wav. and found himself in the hollow near the residence of David Chrisman, a well known proslavery character in this county. Leaving his wagon, he took the negroes across lots to the station, where, leaving them, he returned to his wagon. As it happened, this Chrisman with some boon companions, had been out until a late hour that night, and in returning home, discovered the wagon in the road. Calling out and receiving no answer, they searched and ibund it empty. Surmising the object for which it had been used, they determined on waiting the return of the owner, and endeavor to extort from liim a confession. After a lapse of an hour or two, the agent and owner of wagon returned, and was confronted by half a dozen men, who by threats endeavored to secure a confession of his acts, demanding that be make a "clean breast'' of it, and tell them tbe number ot negroes, and the time they were expected to start on the next stage of their journey, for said they, "We mean to have them any how." They found the man very ignorant as to facts, and very uncommunicative. Hoping to frighten him into a revelation of such facts as they desire<I to know, they told him he was their prisoner, and that they should take him to Macomb and put him in jail. Knowing they could have no warrant for his arrest, he took the matter very coolly, and parleyed with them until they were satisfied they could get no information from him, when they left. Thinking it would not do for him to return and warn the agent of his danger, he returned home and started a neighbor back to give the necessary warning. All the next day the agent's house was closely watched and guarded by these negro catchers, and about dusk, the agent thinking to throw them oft' their guard, arranged a covered wagon in Avhich he threw some chaft" and started his brother oft' Avith it as if in a hurry to get away. He then took negroes across lots, hoping that he would be unol)served. The ruse was suspected by the other party, who failed to follow the wagon, and as the agent and his freight were emerging from a field, they were confronted and ordered to surrender. The negroes all broke and run, all escaping but one, who was captured and taken to Macomb and placed in jail to await the call of his master, who would claim him as his slave. When the master of the slave called to prove big property, Chrisman claimed a reward and was told by the man that he might go to the region ot the unredeemed, that when he hired him to catch his negroes, he would pay him, and not before. The agent of tlie IT. G. R. was in considerable dread of being arrestl'd for a violation of the fugitive slave law, but luckily it was never done. If taken, he knew his fine would be paid by frien-.ls, but the three years in the penitentiary he would have to serve alone.

A White Ncfjro. - Xot every fugitive that escaped was black ; one that came through a few years before the war was as white as any pure Cauc-asian that ever lived. He had light hair, light, sandy whiskers, and eyes and nose that showed no signs of the negro blood. Our informant says he could not believe there was a drop of such blood in him, but that he was a white man who had in childhood been captured and enslaved. When he arrived at the McDonough county station he was armed with a re- volver and bowie knife, and expressed a determination never to be taken back alive. His back was lacerated in a terrible manner, there being great scars upon it that could never be effaced, made by the scourgings he had received. When being taken to the Fulton county station, on his way north, he was advised to lay down in the wagon, but this he would not do, stating that he was as white as any man. and w^ould exercise a white man's privilege. He succeeded in reaching the "promised land."

'-^Gwine to Jine the Yankee Church.'' - Tom was a likely negro boy about nineteen years of age, inclined to be a little wild and to give more or less trouble. Still he probably meant well. He had been severely whipped on several occasions for various misdemeanors, and large welts were made upon his back, and scars that remained there for years. For some offense he was again promised a whipping. His master tied his hands behind him, and leaving him in the kitchen went out to procure a suitable withe with which to administer the ffogging. With no idea of making a final escape, but with the thought of escaping a severe castigation, Tom ran out and away, and while running worked his arms so as to loosen the rope and allow one hand to get tree. It was thus an easy matter to free the other which he soon did, but retained possession of the rope. His master, returning to the kitchen, and finding him gone, called his blood-hounds and set them on his track. As it happened, Tom had the care of these hounds from their birth, and with cunning slirewdness had trained them so as to make them afraid of him. From time to time, as the opportunity offered, he would take them out where their yelping would not be heard, and severely whip them, thus teaching them he was their master. This he did as he afterward averred from the fact that he did not know but some day they might be used against him. And it was well for liim that such was the case. As the dogs came bounding on, Tom called them, and with the rope with which he had been tied, gave them a severe whipping and sent them back. The efforts of his master were unavailing after this to make the dogs continue on his track; the consequence was that Tom escaped, and getting on the main line of the celebrated U. G. R. R., he was soon in the "land of the free."' While stopping at Mr. John Blazer's, Tom related his experience and gave a short dissertation on religion. He said his master was a Presbyterian, and he despised the Presbyterians, and would never join that church. "Ko," said he, "when I get up norf Pse gwine to jine de Yankee church; Presbyterians are perfec' debbils, an' I'll nebber jine de Presbyterians." Mr. Blazer was a Presbyterian at that time, and it amused him not a little to know he "was a perfec'debbil."

Presence of 311)1(1. - As illustrating the presence ofmind of even the little children of the conductors on this road, we give the following :

A little son of Mr. Dobbins, about eight or nine years old, near Ipava, Fulton county, while a number of negroes were hid in his father's barn, was sent regalarly to carry them their food. On one occasion his mother had prepared the negroes' dinner, and placing it upon a tray, started her little boy with it to the barn. As he opened the dour on the porch he observed three or four neighboring women. To either go forward or return would excite their suspicions, and quick as thought he began whistling for the dogs. His mother hearing him, and divining his reason, called out to him, " Don't throw that out to the dogs, bring it back here ; that's good." The boy quickly returned, and the unwelcome visitors never suspected anything wrong.

A negro had escaped across the river at Quincy, and while quietly pursuing his way along the road to the old mill, was pursued by a couple of men on horseback. A little boy observing the situation, as the negro was at the forks of a road, called out to him, " Here, crawl under this pile of rails." The negro at once obeyed. When the men rode up they asked, "Boy did you see a black man pass along this road a little while ago ?" '- Yes," said the boy, " and he went right down that road as hard as he could go, and if you hurry you can catch him." Putting spurs to their horses, the men hurried on, and the bo}', calling on the negro to come out quickly, hurried him on to the old mill, where he was safe from arrest, and soon on hisjourney to the "Land of Canaan." Whether the boy was justified in telling a lie to save the negro^ we will leave to moralists to decide.

hay iu the bottom of the wagon, upon which he had the negro lie down at full length, and then piling the bogus sacks of grain upon him, he started about noon for Macomb, leaving any curious observers to infer - if they chose to make inferences - that they were bound for market with a load of grain on a trading expedition. All went well until they got a little beyond Crooked creek, which they crossed at Lamoine bridge. Jlere they met three men on horseback. Just as they were nearing each other, Mr. W. looked around to see it his load appeared all right. To his dismay, he found that the negro, weary of his constrained position, had drawn up one foot so that his knee protruded between the sacks. At a quick nudge the knee disappeared, leaving a fair surface again, but the movement had evidently attracted the attention of the horsemen. The load was scanned as the}' passed; they stopped their horses, turned around, watched sharply awhile, but failing to see any more suspicious movements among the sacks, and not comprehending what they had seen, they resumed their course and rode on.

The negro got a sharp repoof for the danger incurred by his exposure, as Mr. AV. drove on in a state of mind considerably excited by the narrow escape. As expected, night overtook them before reaching their destination. In the darkness they came upon a piece of road that had been lately changed. Mr. W. was at a loss which way to go, took the wrong road, and got hopelessly lost. There was no remedy but to inquire the way the first opportunity, and this was about the last thing he wanted to do, as the man he was looking for was well known as a prominent Underground Railroad man, and inquiries for him might lead to suspicions and revelations that would be verv undesirable. Somethino- mast be done, however, so he went to the first house he saw, and roused seemed interested, came out in the yard to point out the way, and went toward the wagon just as he had got out of bed. Hoping to check his curiosity, Mr. AV. told him that his wife was in the wagon; but the man went on to the gate, gave the necessary directions, and then retired.

The consignment was safel}' delivered at its destination, notwithstanding the real and supposed narrow escapes of the trip. Ft turned out that the curiosity and interest of the man that Mr. W. called up for information as to the way was not of a dangerous kind, as he was a son of the man for whom Mr. AV. souirhr, and

On the morning of the thirty-first of December, 1862, two negro men were taken from the Eastern bound train of the C. B. & i}. R. R., at the depot in Macomb, by a citizen of this county, who claimed they were runaway slaves, and who felt it liis duty or privilege to take them back and deliver them over to the gentle and fatherly care of their " master." Whether this man had ever heard of the emancipation proclamation of President Lincoln or not we cannot say, but presume not, or if he had he regarded it as " unconstitutional," and therefore invalid. By returning them to their owner or owners he thought he would receive enough money to keep him in whisky and tobacco for some time. Atthis time the Eastern and Western bound trains connected at this point, and it was the design of this zealous fugitive slave law man to hurry the negroes on board the Western bound^ train and take them back. Luckily this train was a few minutes late. John Q, Jjane was at that time the City Marshal, and happened to be at the depot, and the negroes made known to him their condition, stating they were traveling on a pass from their master, and that it had been taken from them by this advocate of the law. Mr Lane told them to get in the omnibus, and he would take care of them. By oaths and threats this was sought to be prevented, but the Marshal " didn't scare worth a cent." He took the negroes to the Randolph Hotel, where they were kept under guard that day and night. The party capturing them, inflamed by liquor, went to the hotel and demanded them of the landlord, the Hon. William H. Randolph, who then occupied that position. Mr. R., not liking the style of the gentleman, ordered him from the house, and accelerated his speed by a not very gentle kick. The ma)i left, swearing vengeance. The negroes were held by friends until 12 o'clock at night, when they were informed that, agreeable to the proclamation of the President of the LTnited States, they were free men, and could come and go as they pleased, being beholden to no man.