Piketon in Pike County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Underground Railroad in Pike County
Historic Underground Railroad Site
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 2, 2012
1. The Underground Railroad in Pike County Marker
An Elm Grove abolitionist maintained a lonely Underground Railroad station where he provided safety for escaping enslaved persons. These fugitives were attempting to travel the unfriendly route from Houston Hollow in Scioto County to safe places in Ross where other conductors helped them on their way to Canada.
At Straight Creek, Christopher Brown, a former slave, conducted runaways to Chillicothe. The Barnett and Muntz families, at the P.P. settlement in northwest Pike County hid fugitives then took them to the next safe place and a step closer to freedom.
Oral history states that someone at the Eager Inn that was located on a post road connecting Adams and Ross Counties, received information when runaways were on their way to that vicinity. The information was then given to the Muntz or Barnett families who prepared to receive the fugitives.
Other Pike County citizens who were actively involved in assisting the runaway slaves to freedom were the conductors at the Carrs Run and East Jackson settlements.
Erected by Friends of Freedom Society, Ohio Underground Railroad
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 16, 2019
2. The Underground Railroad in Pike County Marker
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 39° 4.182′ N, 83° 0.566′ W. Marker is in Piketon, Ohio, in Pike County. Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street and Market Street, on the right when traveling north on East Main Street. It is at the old courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 715 E Main St, Piketon OH 45661, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First County Courthouse / Removal of County Seat (here, next to this marker); Piketon (approx. 0.9 miles away); Jasper (approx. 2.8 miles away); Pike County Veterans Memorial (approx. 4 miles away); Pike County Twentieth-Century War Memorial (approx. 4 miles away); Pike County Revolutionary Soldiers (approx. 4 miles away); Eagles Veterans Memorial (approx. 4 miles away); Pike County Civil War Memorial (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Piketon.
More about this marker. Marker was originally erected at 39° 3.36′ N, 83° 1.154′ W near 7040 US Hwy 23 in Piketon and was subsequently moved to this location.
Also see . . . Underground Railroad. Ohio History Central website entry (Submitted on September 10, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 2, 2012
3. Marker at its old location
Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,199 times since then and 106 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 10, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on April 19, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on September 10, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
