Ohio Friends of Freedom Underground Railroad Sites Historical Markers
The Friends of Freedom Society was organized in 1996 to preserve historic locations of the Underground Railroad across Ohio and honor those who participated.
George Gammon (1803? 1904) and his wife, Sarah Bradley (1808- 1902) built this house c.1850 on land purchased from her parents. The gammon and Bradley families were among the many free black Springfield citizens who actively operated the . . . — — Map (db m157027) HM
On South Sandusky Street (Ohio Route 4), on the right when traveling north.
Side A Runaway slaves used a web of routes through Crawford County, most going through the city of Bucyrus. Present-day State Route 98 to State Route 4, laid out in 1822 from Norton in northern Delaware County through Bucyrus to Sandusky in . . . — — Map (db m107079) HM
On Church Avenue at West 26th Street, on the right when traveling west on Church Avenue.
Side A
Called “Station Hope” by many freedom seekers on the
Underground Railroad, St. Johns was one of their final stops.
Though aiding freedom seekers was a crime and often could
not be described in public documents, Sheila T. . . . — — Map (db m140134) HM
On Adelbert Road at Euclid Avenue (U.S. 20), on the right when traveling north on Adelbert Road.
Side A
The home of Horatio Cyrus and Martha Cozad Ford
stood near this corner. According to interviews
conducted in the 1890s, it was a stop on the
Underground Railroad. Of New England background,
Horatio brought a set of ideals that made . . . — — Map (db m140135) HM
On William Street at Columbus Pike (U.S. 23), on the right when traveling west on William Street.
Delaware County: Anti-Slavery Stronghold
A unique combintation of strong-principled religous communities, free black settlements, and tightly knit extended families fostered a wide-spread attitude of willful defiance that made Delaware one of . . . — — Map (db m12829) HM
On Harriott Road (County Route 131) at Springdale Drive (County Route 1054), on the right when traveling east on Harriott Road.
Side A No one was more fiercely committed to the Underground Rail Road
than former slaves.They knew first-hand the darkness and despair
of bondage. Such was Abraham Depp (1791- 1858), known as Abram,
born a slave on a tobacco plantation . . . — — Map (db m108067) HM
On East Shoreline Drive, on the left when traveling east.
Marker Front: The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, disguised, and . . . — — Map (db m241233) HM
On Main Street (Ohio Route 41) at Cross Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street.
Side A
Recognized by many as “one of the most active communities in Southwestern Ohio, the Bloomingburg area was a significant link in the Underground Railroad. As many as twelve to sixteen escaped slaves were said to have been passed . . . — — Map (db m121781) HM
On East Town Street east of South Washington Avenue, on the left when traveling east.
When Fernando Cortez and Sophia Stone Kelton built this house in 1852, it was the last residence on East Town Street and was surrounded by pastureland. Ardent abolitionists, the Keltons were members of the local antislavery society. Family . . . — — Map (db m42170) HM
Second Baptist Church - Columbus' Oldest Black Baptist Church, 1836. Second Baptist Church cordially received its independence as a mission church from the First Baptist Church on January 7, 1836. Rev. Ezekiel Fields was chosen as pastor . . . — — Map (db m17174) HM
Alum Creek & The Underground Railroad
The fifty-eight miles of Alum Creek run north to south originating in Morrow County and continues through Delaware County into Franklin County, where it empties into the Big Walnut Creek, draining into . . . — — Map (db m103301) HM
Dr. Wilbur Henry Siebert (1866-1961) organized one of the most extensive historical collections on the Underground Railroad in the United States. Siebert served as a professor of history at the Ohio State University, 1893-1935. His collection on . . . — — Map (db m17416) HM
On 3rd Street south of Broad Street (U.S. 40), on the right when traveling south.
The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a
railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens
where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery
were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, disguised,
and instructed . . . — — Map (db m10251) HM
Bishop William Hanby, (1807-1880) courageous and of strong convictions, publicly voiced his scorn at a law that made it a felony to give food to a hungry slave, or shelter to a friendless man. From pulpit, platform, and workbench he condemned the . . . — — Map (db m13118) HM
On Pine Street (Ohio Route 160), on the right when traveling north.
Side A:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1818 as the Bethel Church. In 1868 its present name, John Gee, was adopted when the church was erected and rededicated at this present site on land donated by Gee. Founders of . . . — — Map (db m30582) HM
Near Ohio Route 4 0.3 miles south of Route 113, on the right when traveling south.
The Underground Railroad In Lyme Township, Huron County
Historic Lyme Village is helping to preserve some of the local history related to the Underground Railroad. The Seymour House, which is now located in this recreated village, was one . . . — — Map (db m204760) HM
On Union Street (Ohio Route 647) at Concord Street, on the right when traveling east on Union Street.
By 1816, Mount Pleasant had earned a reputation among fugitive slaves as a town where they would be welcomed in their quest for freedom. The Quakers who lived in the village helped Mount Pleasant become a center of antislavery activity. Many . . . — — Map (db m288742) HM
On County Road 28, on the right when traveling south.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 increased the punishment for
abolitionists and rewards to those whom facilitated their capture
and return to owners.
This led to the routes to the East and West being more difficult to
navigate from Columbus to . . . — — Map (db m140252) HM
On East Lorain Street (Ohio Route 511) at North Main Street ( Route 58), on the right when traveling west on East Lorain Street.
A key junction on the Underground Railroad in Oberlin, Ohio connected at least five routes that led from slavery to freedom. No fugitive in Oberlin was ever returned to bondage. Freedom seekers lived openly in the town, and were supported by its . . . — — Map (db m144166) HM
On U.S. 23 at milepost 6 at Newmans-Cardington Rd (County Route 123), on the right when traveling north on U.S. 23.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a
railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens
where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery
were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, . . . — — Map (db m92076) HM
On North Main Street (Ohio Route 423) at Center Street ( Route 309), on the right when traveling north on North Main Street.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, . . . — — Map (db m94909) HM
On Tipp Pike (Ohio Route 571), on the right when traveling east.
In the year 1798, several prospectors traveled north from their North Carolina homes in search of new lands for themselves and their friends. Four of these known Quaker prospectors were John Mast, Jr., Martin Davenport and David Hoover from North . . . — — Map (db m19749) HM
On Marengo- Norton Road (Ohio Route 229), on the right when traveling west.
History of Alum Creek Friends Settlement. The first settler was Cyrus Benedict, his wife, three children, and Adam Vanduser in 1809. He built a cabin near South Woodbury in 1811. Meetings were held in a house from 1813 1815. The first . . . — — Map (db m85263) HM
On West Main Street (U.S. 40) west of Oakland Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
Nelson T. Gant as one of Zanesvilles most prominent African American citizens. Born into slavery on the Woodburn Estate of John Nixon of Loudoun County, Virginia on May 10, 1821, Nelson was given is freedom by the provisions of his masters will in . . . — — Map (db m43961) HM
On Muskingum Avenue west of Putnam Avenue ( Route 93), on the right when traveling west.
(Front): A tale of two cities. During the time of the Underground Railroad, Zanesville and Putnam were two communities separated by the Muskingum River with two distinct moral views. The people in Zanesville were proslavery, in Putnam . . . — — Map (db m5624) HM
On Ohio Route 595, on the right when traveling south.
Side 1 Payne Cemetery (1852-1945) is the only remnant of a freed African American community known as Paynes Crossing. Research indicates that the area was involved in the Underground Railroad Movement, and may have been established expressly . . . — — Map (db m86103) HM
On Court Street at Mound Street, on the left when traveling south on Court Street.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, . . . — — Map (db m21994) HM
On East Main Street at Market Street, on the right when traveling north on East Main Street.
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 . . . — — Map (db m59368) HM
On Ohio Turnpike (Interstate 80 at milepost 197), 3 miles east of Painesville Ravenna Road ( Route 44), on the right when traveling west.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, . . . — — Map (db m189183) HM
On Franklin Avenue south of West Main Street, on the right when traveling south.
The town of Franklin Mills, now Kent, was active in the Underground Railroad. Many residents aided fugitive slaves in their flight north toward Canada. In 1825 at their tavern on Mantua Street, Joshua and Rebecca Woodard gave shelter to a group . . . — — Map (db m292789) HM
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, . . . — — Map (db m207605) HM
On Ohio Route 23 at Stoney Creek R0ad ( Route 372), on the right when traveling north on Ohio Route 23.
The first known attempt to assist a runaway slave in Ross County
was recorded in 1815, when local residents assisted a slave to
safety in Franklin County. Quakers, the Presbyterians and African
Americans were the principal participants who . . . — — Map (db m146892) HM
On Main Street (U.S. 50), on the right when traveling west.
[Marker Front]:
Methodism was known in Chillicothe as early as 1796. During the early years, 1803-1821, both African American and white Methodists worshipped together in a small brick church, located on the north side of Second Street . . . — — Map (db m14665) HM
On West 4th Street east of South Walnut Street, on the right when traveling west.
In July 1824, David Nickens assisted by the Rev. Nathan Cory and Rev. William White brought together a group of people in his home for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. The new church selected the name of the First Regular African . . . — — Map (db m202515) HM
On West Fourth Street at South Walnut Street, on the left when traveling west on West Fourth Street.
Many heroic men and women joined forces with others in a vast network that helped fugitive slaves secure freedom. Three groups of people were most active in the Underground Railroad movement in Ross County. They were the Presbyterians, the Quakers . . . — — Map (db m118737) HM
On Ohio Turnpike (Interstate 80/90 at milepost 100), 10.5 miles west of Hayes Avenue ( Route 4), on the right when traveling west.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, . . . — — Map (db m189182) HM
On Chillicothe Street at 2nd Street (U.S. 23), on the right when traveling north on Chillicothe Street.
The Crossing at Scioto County (front)
The Ohio River was a formidable obstacle for escaping slaves. Many runaways from Kentucky were aided by James Poindexter, an African-American barber and local resident, who picked up fugitives in . . . — — Map (db m59411) HM
On Columbus-Sandusky Pike (Ohio Route 4) at Scottwood Road (County Route 9), on the right when traveling south on Columbus-Sandusky Pike.
The Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, . . . — — Map (db m221322) HM
On North Main Street (Ohio Route 183) at Canal Street, on the left when traveling south on North Main Street.
On this site was the home of Richard Elson, co-founder of the village of Magnolia. As a young man he built flat boats, loaded them with merchandise to sell and traveled down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He did this seven times and walked the . . . — — Map (db m159661) HM
On North Main Street (Ohio Route 91) just south of Aurora Street, on the right when traveling north.
Hudson had a long tradition of being an anti-slavery town. By 1826, records show that the town's founder, David Hudson, was hiding runaway slaves at his home. Early settler Owen Brown and his family helped organize the Underground Railroad in . . . — — Map (db m189296) HM
On Mahoning Avenue 0.1 miles north of High Street NW, on the right when traveling south.
Leicester King
Born in Connecticut in 1789, Judge Leicester King and his wife Julia Ann Huntington King, moved to Warren in 1817 from Westfield, Massachusetts. He was one of the principle promoters of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, which . . . — — Map (db m65445) HM
On Main Street (Ohio Route 741) at North Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street.
A predominantly Quaker community in its early days, Springboro served as a hospitable thoroughfare for many runaway slaves on their way north to freedom. Between 1815 and 1864, Springboro was host to numerous safe-houses and many agents and . . . — — Map (db m227946) HM
