Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Hancock County Underground Railroad
Photographed By Craig Doda, April 20, 2024
1. Hancock County Underground Railroad Marker
The Underground Railroad ran most actively in Hancock County from 1856-1860, following Route 68 north, with the first stop on John A. Woods' property in Williamstown, just south of Arlington. From there, David Adams, a free black man and local barber, harbored the runaways in Findlay. The next stop was just north of Findlay on John King's Farm. King would conceal the fugitives in sacks and transport them north to Bowling Green in his wagon. Though other stations are rumored to have existed in Hancock County, they are difficult to confirm.
Fast Facts:
The Underground Railroad was even more vital after Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. This law required all citizens to assist in the capture and return of slaves, with fines of up to $100 or 6 months in jail if caught harboring or assisting them in any way.
In addition to the local station masters and conductors, others in Hancock County offered financial assistance, food, and clothing to runaway slaves escaping to Canada. Divided loyalties over the slave issue created a very dangerous atmosphere, both for those escaping and those aiding them on their way to freedom.
[Captions:]
1. Hancock County men who aided the slaves in the Underground Railroad. 2. Ohio Historical Marker. 3. Underground Railroad Map.
Underground
this page online
Erected by Hancock Historical Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 41° 2.246′ N, 83° 35.601′ W. Marker is in Findlay, Ohio, in Hancock County. Marker is on County Road 236, 0.2 miles north of Carey Road (State Route 568), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8884 Co Rd 236, Findlay OH 45840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hancock County & The Civil War (here, next to this marker); Fort Findlay (here, next to this marker); "Boom Town" (a few steps from this marker); The Flood Of 1913 (a few steps from this marker); The Mighty Blanchard (a few steps from this marker); How Oil Saved Findlay (a few steps from this marker); Riverside Park (a few steps from this marker); The Roaring 1920s (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Findlay.
Photographed By Craig Doda, April 20, 2024
2. Hancock County Underground Railroad Marker
Photographed By Craig Doda, April 20, 2024
3. The Underground Railroad In Hancock County
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 prompted an expansion of the "Underground Railroad." and as the state spanning the shortest distance between the Ohio River and Canada, Ohio saw heavy traffic in escaping slaves in the decades before the Civil War. Hancock County was home to many sympathetic residents who defied fugitive slave laws to help conduct slaves to freedom. "Stationmasters offered safe havens. conductors accompanied fugitives through the county, and "stockholders provided financial support and misled pursuers. Known Stations were located mainly along the Perrysburg Road, now US Highway 68.
Photographed By Craig Doda, April 20, 2024
4. Hancock County Underground Railroad Marker
Photographed By Craig Doda, April 20, 2024
5. Hancock County Underground Railroad Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 24, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
