Zanesville in Muskingum County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

1814

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 2, 2025

1. 1814 Marker

Inscription. Suspected fugitive slave attempts to escape Zanesville's log jail by burning off a lock. He burns down the jail and old frame courthouse. Pro-slavery men threaten to throw him into the flames but sympathizers help him to escape.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.

Location. 39° 55.904′ N, 82° 0.406′ W. Marker is in Zanesville, Ohio, in Muskingum County. It can be reached from Putnam Avenue north of Jefferson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 456 Putnam Ave, Zanesville OH 43701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

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: 1817 (here, next to this marker); 1808 (here, next to this marker); 1807 (here, next to this marker); 1822 (here, next to this marker); 1802 (here, next to this marker); 1831 (here, next to this marker); 1833 (here, next to this marker); 1801 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Zanesville.

Also see . . . My Hometown, Zanesville.

An interesting story in both content and timing is that of a fugitive slave who accidentally burned down the Zanesville Courthouse and Jail. This was a result of him trying to burn the lock of his cell off and accidentally burning
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the entire building down. He was rescued from the flames but once he was identified as the cause he was going to be the target of harsh reprimands if not death. To his aid came some men belonging to what would become the Free Soil Party, so either a Whig or Democrat at the time, who aided the man in escaping. This was one of the earliest records I could find regarding helping a slave to escape to freedom in Zanesville. This event occurred in April 3rd, 1814.

(Submitted on August 5, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Putnam Underground Railroad Interpretive Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 2, 2025

2. Putnam Underground Railroad Interpretive Center

This marker is part of a timeline of events leading from the founding of Zanesville through Emancipation.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 47 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.