Gallipolis in Gallia County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Bethel AME Church of Gallipolis

— Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tour —

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 9, 2026

1. Bethel AME Church of Gallipolis Marker

Inscription. Founded circa 1818 by free African Americans as Bethel A.M.E. Church, this site served as the first stop on an Underground Railroad route from the Kanawha Valley of Virginia (now West Virginia), just across the Ohio River. Church leaders and members aided freedom seekers, turning their community into a center of resistance. On October 3, 1851, it hosted a Colored Convention where attendees—including conductors Howell and Martha James, William P. Ellison, Jacob Stewart, Benjamin Holly, and Willis Battles—resolved to defy the Federal Fugitive Slave Act. Renamed for founder John Gee in 1888, it now houses the John Gee Black Historical Center.

Convention of the Colored Citizens of Gallia County.
Gallipolis, Oct. 3, 1851.

The Convention of the colored citizens of Gallia county, pursuant to call, met in the town of Gallipolis, in the African Methodist Church, at half past six o'clock P. M. The Convention was called to order by C. A. Yancy, after which, on motion, R. Humphrey was appointed President pro tem. On motion, J. L. Ward was appointed Secretary pro tem.

Prayer having been offered by W. Troy, the Convention proceeded
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to the enrolling of the names of the delegates.

The following gentlemen were present to represent their respective locations in this county:

Gallipolis—J. L. Ward, H. Bell, L. Holmes, Jr., C. A. Yancy, L. Holmes, Sr., A. Viney, F. Spears, G. Viney, W. Battles, W. Napper, J. Grey, Sr., Daniel Webster, Sr., J. Fisher, S. Humphrey, M. C. Berry, J. Curry, J. Edwards, A. Truck, J. Truck, A. P. Ward, W. Troy, N. Humphrey, W. Browner, and S. Harmar.

Morgan Township—Howell James, W. C. James, S. Jones, B. Stalls, B. James, G. James, and W. Ellison.

Huntington Township—G. Hawks.
Racoon Creek—Daniel Viney.
Syms Creek—Jacob Stewart.

[Captions:]
The Minutes of a "Convention of the Colored Citizens of Gallia County, Ohio" were printed in Frederick Douglass' Paper (1 January 1852). They "resolved, that we will resist the execution of the Fugitive Slave Bill upon us or our children by all the means that God has given us."
Image courtesy the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative (2024).

James Madison Bell was born in Gallipolis, Ohio in 1826 and lived there until age 17 in 1843, when he moved to Cincinnati. He became a famous poet who wrote and lectured against slavery. He helped John Brown plan his raid on Harper's Ferry and was active with the Underground Railroad in Cincinnati and Chatham, Ontario, where he served on the city's Vigilance Committee, aiding freedom seekers arriving in Canada.
Image courtesy Toledo-Lucas County Public Library (1901).

View of the John Gee Chapel of the A.M.E. Church, which was built in 1866 on the original site of the Bethel A.M.E. Church, founded in 1818. Following passage of the Federal Fugitive Slave Act, the Church hosted a Convention of the Colored Citizens of Gallia County, which included many residents who are remembered today for being conductors on the Underground Railroad.
Image courtesy the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative (2024).

This site is part of the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tour, funded by an ARC POWER Grant. For more information, videos, historical images, and links to other tour sites, follow this QR code.

Erected by Appalachian

Bethel AME Church of Gallipolis image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 9, 2026

2. Bethel AME Church of Gallipolis

Regional Commission; Lawrence Economic-Development Corporation; National Underground Railroad Network To Freedom.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1852.

Location. 38° 48.824′ N, 82° 11.85′ W. Marker is in Gallipolis, Ohio, in Gallia County. It is at the intersection of Pine Street (Ohio Route 160) and Ohio River Scenic Byway ( Route 7), on the right when traveling north on Pine Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 48 Pine St, Gallipolis OH 45631, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

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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: African Methodist Episcopal Church (here, next to this marker); In Memoriam (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hon. Samuel Finley Vinton (approx. ¼ mile away); Pine Street Colored Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Charles E. Holzer, Sr., M.D. (approx. 0.4 miles away); High Water Mark (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Dunmore War 1774 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Gallipolis (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gallipolis.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.