Union Township near Ripley in Brown County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Underground Railroad
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2025
1. The Underground Railroad Marker
The Underground Railroad was a system of safe houses and secret routes that helped runaway slaves escape to freedom in Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere outside of the United States. Before the Civil War, abolitionists, free blacks, and other allies aided the escape of more than 100,000 slaves along the Underground Railroad. Although slavery was never legal in Ohio, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made aiding escaped slaves a crime.
Rev. Rankin, in his autobiography, stated that more than 2,000 slaves passed through their farm. This vital station along the Underground Railroad made the Rankins one of Ohio's earliest and most active "conductors" on the Underground Railroad.
"Ripley was the real terminus of the Underground Railroad." -John Parker
Erected by The Ohio History Connection.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Abolition & Underground RR. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 38° 45.052′ N, 83° 50.545′ W. Marker is near Ripley, Ohio, in Brown County. It is in Union Township. It is on Rankin Hill Road (County Route 556) 1½ miles east of North Second Street,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cincinnati and in Southern Ohio Hill Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Rankin Family (here, next to this marker); The Rankin House (here, next to this marker); Getting to Ripley, Ohio (here, next to this marker); Ripley Today (a few steps from this marker); Witness Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Reverend John Rankin House (within shouting distance of this marker); A Changing River (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Abolitionists Network
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2025
2. The Underground Railroad Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Rankin House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2025
3. The Underground Railroad Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2025
4. The Rankin House
Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 22, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
