Lanier Township near Gratis in Preble County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Gabriel "Old Gabe" Smith

1803 - unknown

— Hall of Honor —

Gabriel "Old Gabe" Smith Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

1. Gabriel "Old Gabe" Smith Marker

Inscription. Gabriel "Old Gabe" Smith was born enslaved in Maryland in 1803. He was emancipated by his masters and found his way to Preble County. Gabe became a renowned traveling musician, music teacher, and even a conductor on the Underground Railroad at the Bunker Hill Tavern, where he lived with the Evanses - two previous Hall of Honor inductees and guided at least 50 slaves to their freedom.

Gabe has earned the moniker of "The Harriet Tubman of Preble County" by his nominator.

Inducted into the Hall of Honor September 15, 2024

As recorders of Preble County history, PCHS and The Register-Herald are natural partners in co-sponsoring the Hall of Honor

Erected 2024 by Preble County Historical Society - The Register-Herald. (Marker Number 55.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. A significant historical date for this entry is September 15, 2024.

Location. 39° 39.507′ N, 84° 32.85′ W. Marker is near Gratis, Ohio, in Preble County. It is in Lanier Township. It is at the intersection of Swartsel Road and Ohio Route 122, on the right when traveling south on Swartsel Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9693 Swartsel Road, Eaton OH 45320, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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

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are within walking distance of this marker: Myron Edgar "Scottie" Scott (here, next to this marker); Mr. Hiram Evans (1808-1876) & Mrs. Elanor Humphrey Evans (1805-1850) (here, next to this marker); Henry Horn (here, next to this marker); James I. Nisbet (here, next to this marker); Harry Raymond McPherson (here, next to this marker); Dr. Charles Floyd Hildebolt II, D.D.S., Ph.D. (here, next to this marker); Kenneth J. Garber (a few steps from this marker); Paul E. (1914-2007) & Ruth Phelps Fitzwater (1916-2004) (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gratis.

Preble County Historical Society & Nature Reserve - Hall of Honor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

2. Preble County Historical Society & Nature Reserve - Hall of Honor

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.