Black History In Clermont County,Ohio

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Source: Clermont County , Ohio 1990

A Collection of Historical and Genalogical Writings

Submitted by Aileen Whitt,C.G.R.S.

The Union Association for the Advancement of the Colored Men of New Richmond was formed in the summer of 1857 , which we note was several years before the Civil War.This outstanding historical accomplishment was certainly among the early ( perhaps the very first ever) association dedicated to the advancement of the colored race.

The N.A.A.C.P. (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was formed in 1910,and its forerunner , the Niagra Movement , was founded in 1905, all about 50 years after the foundation of the New Richmond movement.

The names of the founding members are listed as of August 24 , 1857 :

The following officers were elected August 24 , 1857:

Committee of Directors:

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Members in February 1864:

J. Campbell , W. Scott , A. Chambers , H. Boone , H. Fox , G. Payme , C. Johnson , J. Orritt , P. Kring , P. Fox , L. Johnson , W. Abner , M. Fox , P. Jones , G. Batis , B. Mose , J. Johnson , and Wm. Chambers.

Members in Felicity in 1864 were: Litterdon Bonniby , George Coalman , Harrison Tailor , James W. Alexander , Lewis McCurdy , Henry Miles , Joseph Beckley and Charley Vines.

Members in Ripley , Ohio in 1866: Rev. Jerree Henderson , George Hartswell , Wm. Marshall , Major Bulgier , John Hathaway , and Wm. Marshall.

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First Colored Juryman

The Clermont Sun newspaper , dated March 24 , 1880 , carried the following item extracted from an article of brief sketches on the 12 members of the Clermont Petit Jury.

"Dr. A.C.King of Ohio Township , is the first colored juryman who ever sat in our courthouse. He is an intelligent mulatto and owns a nice little farm on the waters of Twelve Mile Creek. His conduct and bearing is that of a gentleman , and is well liked by his brothers in the box. He has never been challenged off,and the bar justly esteem him as a man of singular , critical judgement , and his whole course and mien here during the term has made him many friends who regard him with considerations of respect and honor. This petit jury sat 47 days and tried more cases than any precious regular jury of 25 years , and only disagreed on one suit."

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A Colored Revoltionary War Veteran

In 1822 , Benajah Hill , a colored veteran of the REvolutionary War , living in neighboring Washington Township , came into Clermont Common Please Court and applied for the federa; pension due him under the REvoltionary War Pension Acts of 1818 and 1820. Then 58 years old,he stated in his affadavit and application that he enlisted in Springfield , Mass. , and that he was wounded in the side while on a scouting party. He named the commanding officers under whom he served in the awful conflict that gave us our freedoms. Stating that he was , by occupation , a farmer , he listed possessions of: one horse , a cow , 2 calves , 4 sheep , some hogs and a few tools , totalling 47.40 in value. These possessions and the total value were comparable to the asses declared by other Revoltionary pension applicants. Benajah Hill and his family are enumerated in 1820 census in Washington Township , Clermont COunty.

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The Anti Slavery Movement in New Richmond

Note: Also See The Underground Railroad

New Richmond was a veritable hotbed of activity in the Anti Slavery Movement. An account of the Philanthropist newspaper published in New Richmond by James G. Birney may be seen in early histories. It was the first anti-slavery newspaper published in the "west."

An item in that newspaper announced that the "New Richmond Anti-Slavery Society will meet at the Presbyterian Church in New Richmond at early candle lighting on Saturday January 2 , 1836 , and that should the weather be pleasant , an address may be expected." This 1836 date is quite early for anti slavery activity , and New Richmond should be highly commended for having enough interest to sustain such meetings. These New Richmond people were not merely "anti slavery," most people wre vaguely against slavery in principal , but these men were strong abolishionists who advocated even demanded , that all slaves be immediately freed and the slavery system be ended. Records show that during the period 1836 until the Civil War ended New Richmond was a recognized center ofabolisionist activity.

In July 1836 , the members of the Presbyterian Church in New Richmond passed a "Resolution to withhold from Communion all persons holding men , women , or children as property or those advocating the system." Seven years later in 1843 , in continued action , the same church demanded that the Cincinnati Presbyteriy take similar action and threatened to "dissolve all connections with any organizations supporting this mother of abominations(slavery.)" Many of the members of the Anti Slavery Society wre members of the Presbyterian Church and Harriet Beecher Stowe's brother , the Rev. George Beecher was preaching at that church (And also at nearby rural Nicholsville church. when the 1836 statement to the Cincinnati Presbytery was written.

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Early "Colored People" in Higher Education

The Clermont Academy (or Parker's Academy , as it was familiarly known) , located at Clermontville near New Richmond enrolled colored students in its first class in 1839 and continued to do so until it closed and the public high school system replaced it. It is said that some of these students remained in the area and contributed to New Richmond's history.

Sarah Preston Baker Parker relates the details in her writing, "A Brief History of Clermont Academy ,Together with a Few Items from the Lives of its Founder and Principal." This precious old manuscript was written in 1889 , the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the academy. Sarah Parker was the wife of James K. Parker , who was the teacher and head of the academy , a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Parker , founders of the school.In her "brief history" Mrs. Parker referred to the student register,which she evidently had at hand , and commented on each student (some were young;some were old;some were colored) who had ever attended the academy.

I have extracted the following accounts regarding black history and the colored people who attended Clermont Academy. I quote verbatim from her "brief history" , in order to pass on the exact feelings that Mrs. Parker expressed in her writing.

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November 4 , 1839: "then came Edwin Matthews (third student enrolled) , a colored young man who was working for Mr. Strickland came and made application for him.In the great conflict raging at the time , the Stricklands and the Parkers and many of the leading families had become abolisionists. Now came the test of this principal. While the family were discussing the question of his admission , Elmer Denham , an English Baptist minister , was visiting them;he said,"Do this thing and you honor God and lose patronage." They did it and the prophesy came true."

May 6 , 1844: "Sarah Jane Richmond and Elizabeth Richmond were colored girls from Memphis, Tennessee. They wre very intereting girls indeed , who learned rapidly and were very affectionate. our eldest daughter Frankie had their most devoted attention , especially the younger one "Dizzie" as she was called. Mother PArker said that they scarecely ate a meal without hearing something from "Dizzie" about "the teacher's baby."

Novemeber 4 , 1845: Fifth year of school begins: "Zachariah M. Landsdowne was a young minister , newly married to Miss Mary Hoover. He became interested in the moral questions of the day , especially in the liberation of slaves. He became a warm partisan as it was not his nature to take things by halves."(It is not stated that Landsdowne was colored;probably just interested in the slavery question because he was a sincere minister.)

Novemeber 4, 1845: Ephraim Hayden was a colored boy from New Richmond. His parents wre slaves if the noted Arthur THome of Augusta , KEntucky. When they wre emancipated they came to New Richmond , and for a long time were members of the Presbyterian Church. Ephraim is now a barber in New richmond.

November 4 , 1845 Term: Thomas Richmond , a brother of Sarah and Elizabeth Richmond , was as bright and teachable as his sisters. Before he came home he was requested not to sing any of his comic Negro melodies , and well kept his promise for a long time , but unfortunately one day some of the boys in the filed heard Tom singing and solicited him to sing. He told them no , he could not , that he had promised his folks at home not to sing;but they persisted in begging him and when he began it was difficult for him to stop. They boys were so delighted that they wanted the old folks,the teachers,and the girls to hear him. Tom did not like for his sisters to hear him , as they know that he had broken his promise. The boys succeeded some way in bringing him before the whole audience, much to the delight of all except Tom's sisters, and they did not seem to object so much when they found Tom was so well received. It certainly was equal to any collection of Negro melodies that we had ever heard.

November Tem 1846: "James W. Rariden was a very clever , ernest student. He was also from Kentucky. He became displeased because some colored students came into the school from Kentucky,and he left us rather abrubtly."

(th year of the Academy beginning in November 1847: "On the 12th of January that term Milton Taylor came from a farm back of Maysville , Kentuccky,with his three children , John J. , Phebe Ann , and Matu Jane Taylro. He was a white man , their father , and their mother was a colored slave. This question had been settled some years before , by the New Testament teaching that God was not a respector of persons neither whould we be , and the commission of Christ is "Teach all Nations." They were accepted but there was great commotion in the school when it was known they were coming, James Adams (A student) was so frank a fellow that he told his convisvctions and experiences all out. He came into our room and spoke to the writer one day in a very angry manner,saying "I could kill that man and all his children and be glad to do it."He was taught that if he cherished that kind of feeling he was a murderer and that he had better calm himself,and write a letter to his father. The great flood of December 1847 was then on hand and he could not get home,so he remained and before an answer came from his father the Taylors had gotten here through the perils of ice and snow and flood. When they came I could scarecely recount to you the excitement , the warm debates , the ernest struggle. A school is a little world of in itself , and as they were all free to speak each his mind , there were some great debates;but when the Taylor children came to school they wre comely , polite well dressed , and withal had been taught in John Rankins school. They were somewhat advanced. John Taylor was a good mathmetician and he was not in school a day until James Adams and others were asking help of him in Algebra. We should also state that there were students in school at this time of excitement that went on in the even tenor of their way and recited every day as though nothing in particular was going on. Not so with all. Several good young men of Kentucky left and bore the inconvenience of ice and snow and flood and got home. Finally old Mr. Adams letter came,and he very calmly told his boy that he had better stay where he was for he might meet the same thing in other schools in Ohio"....

"The three Taylor children - John married a respectable woman,had a large family. He has been for a long time in business on Fifth Street in Cincinnati. Phebe married an artist of celebrity , named Robert Duncanson. (Robert Duncanson's restored murals may be seen in the Taft Museum in Cincinnati today,1996. A.M. Whitt) Mary Jane married a man who deserted her,then after some years she was married to the son of a Presbyterian minister names Rodgers.

November Term 1848: "Sophia Houston was a pretty little girl familiarly called Alabama because she came from that state. Her story was a sorrowful one, There landed at New Richmond a master and his slave Emma,and her little boy , Iley , and with them this little girl , Sophia. They started from their home in Alabam in their own wagons and camped out at night. They were not a very happy company. The young woman thought she wanted to be free , yet longing for her friends that she left behind her,and being timid about going into a strange land made her sad , murmuring,fretful. She had seen the little girl literally torn from the arms of her motehr and grandmother and by force placed in the wagon amid groans,the tears,the anguish of the parents,and the wild screams of the child. This little girl mourned so continually for her home and friends that she was sick , she would not eat , and they feared she would die. At night she seemed particularly grieved and frightened,and they lulled her to sleep each night by the promise that the next day she should be taken home , but each day she was still farther away;each night the same promise came.The master came to Mr. Martin Ryan's public house,and there he told to Mr. Ryan his purposes and desires,concerning his children. Mr. Ryan became their guardian. In his hosue was born the second child of the young woman. He was called Harry Houston. The woman Emma lived in Mr Ryan's home for several years and was a good , kind woman , except at times she would say hard cutting things and they would correct her and bear with her and they would take good care of her,and her children. But one day , Emma was particularly unkind in her talk , and Mrs. Ryan thought it best to tell her that she could no and would not bear such talk any longer. Emma went across the street to Mr. Ryan's neice,waiting for a new place.We (the Parker family) needed help and went to Mr and Mrs Ryan. Tehy frankly told us of her good qualities and her faults,but commended her heartily , thinking her experience would od her good. They very kindly helped her prepare to go with us , and seemed really happy to think that she was to be established in a home again. And this history is the story of our Emma who lived with us for several years,a very useful , good woman. She will be remembered,no doubt by many of the students and with great kindness. She never forgot Mr. and Mrs. Ryan's kindness. They were friends to her as long as they lived. Emma and her childrens words and ways are mingled with many a merry time. One Christmas Mother PArker had a straw man to represent Santa Claus. Iley stepped up to him in the dimness of the early morning and addressed Santa thus,"Santa Claus where you had to?" Evidently he meant "where have you been,tell me the tory of your travels," but the students laughed so hard at Iley that he could not have heard,even if the straw man had told him. We have dwelt on this story,a slave story,long because in it we see that the best efforts of a good men could not cure the direful effects of that dreadful system. The master went home and died soon after. Little Alabama had to be taken from school. Mr Ryan , her guardina , placed her in his sisters family where she was very kindly treated and well brough up."

(In her discussion of students enrolled in the November 1849 term , Mrs. Parker difresses and tells:"In the spring of 1857 , we left our school and went to Wilberforce University,near Xenia,Ohio to care for a colored school for a time." She further realtes that , while there , they received many letters asking them to return to Parker Academy.)

May 1851 Term: David Devore came from a farm near Higginsport,Brown County. He was one those jolly,openhearted souls that everybody delights on. He was the sone of Peter DeVore who often came to our neighboring church to preach. Though we thought so much of him,we had to part with him. There was a young colored girl in the school at that time and some of the citizens of that place were unwilling that Uncle Joe Staten's children should go to school in their own district. The parents had been slaves and did not know how to read and write, so of course the children wwould have been left in ignorance if some one did not teach them. Mrs. Nancy Thompson , when she had a school in her own house , used to teach them , and they were admitted to the Academy,but this young man (DeVore) said - " I cannot go to school where the colored are admitted." He was young and did not realize the power of Christ's word upon us,as teachers. Under his great commission we re commanded to "Teach the Nations." We feel that it is just as much our duty here in our quiet little valley to follow out that injunction as though we were in Africa or Asia. As neither could yield we parted as friends,but after this his sisters , Amanda nad Mary E. DeVore came into the Academy in the winter of 1856. They were like theirbrother,very amiable and companionable in their natures."

May 1852 Term: (Here Mrs. Parker tells that Christian , Emily and Anna Donaldson , children of Thomas and Susanna DOnaldson enrolled. "The motehr in the family is the sister of the principal." She goes on to relate:" The school was founded through prayer.REligious services were held in the Academy by Rev. John Powell. Among the first meetings three of the Parker family were baptized,Mrs. Donaldson , William Tell Parker , and Charles Parker. After these were baptized,Mr. Donaldson , while witnessing the scene,became interested and desired to be obedient and asked the minister to baptize him. He and his wife joined the First Baptist Church of New Richmond and were members there for several years , and left because they thought the church was not anti slavery enough." This is just another of many references to how strong the anti slavery and abolitionist feelings were in the New Richmond area.)

May 1852 Term: "Julia Staten was the daughter of Uncle Joe Staten of Point Pleasant and was among the students quite a number of times. Some of the best families of Point Pleasant were willing that Uncle Joe's children should attend their school , but there were some opposed.Julia was a good girl and died while quite young in the Christian faith. Uncle Joe Staten and his wife Chrisie had been slaves and neither could read or write,and if theirchikdren could not have teachers,they must go ignorant. We felt they ought to be instructed and we taught them. Uncle Joe sent all his children and one of his grandchildren to the Academy."

April 1853: "John W. Winn was a colored boy from Arkansas. He had naturally a bright mind,and he had learned much by observation and work on the farm at home,but was wholly uneduacated as to books. He could read a little in the first reader. Although he was the size of a man,yet he had to take the booksof a little child. All of these he went through with remarkale rapidity and ease and exhaustiveness. He took the Gazette and read it regularly with enthusiasticinterest. When he had been two years in school he was with the best students in Grammer , Philosophy,and Mathmatices. We began to think it would be better to let boys run the farm withoutknowledge of books until they were almost grown men and then send them to school. His case was remarkable.

Same term: "Abner Williams was a colored student sent here by old Judge Esty. The Judge supplied him with all the money that was necessary for his comfort and he made commendable progress.

April 1854 Term: William and Oliver Hardin with their sisters Virginia and Almeda were brought here by their father,a wealthy slave holder of Texas. Their mother had been his slave. He was one of those tenderhearted slave holderswho could not sell his children,and who happily had wealth enough to set them free and leave them in comfort. This Major Hardin did. William , the oldest , did not learn as fast as the other children , but he was a good honest fellow. Virginia and Almeda were excellent girls. They progresses very well in their studies. The sad intelligence came to us later that Almeda had hung herself in the barn. These children were all agreeable,pleasant students,except for a time Oliver was very contrary;but he was suspended from schoool and in a little while he came to his senses and applied for restoration. We gladly gave him again the privileges of the school,and he ever after that behaved as a gentleman. The other children were always cheerfully obedient to every requistion of the school."

Novemeber 1854 Term: "Cary Campbell was a colored young man from Ripley , Ohio. He was named and , I believe,brought up by Mr. Campbell of that place. He also proved to be a good student. He is a teacher now in Clermont County , and we meet him at the Institute. He is a good useful man."

April 1855 Term: "Edinburg,Charles and Lucy A. St. John were unusually intelligent,polite,pleasant colored children whose mother brought them here from New Orleans.,Louisiana. The mother was an interesting , neat,honest andclever woman....Lucy St. John had given the baby (evidently the Parker's baby,Hassie) a very handsome gold ring. She (the baby) had poked it under the stair carpet."

October 1856 Term: "Samuel Wilkins was pious old colored man , who had been a slave and who came to learn to read the Bible , and he did learn to read it. He left us triumphantly,carrying away a great Bible that could read. I doubt if we ever had anotehr student who was more grateful than Samuel Wilkins.,"

"Andrew J. Napier was a colored student,a very handsome,modest young man,who came from a farm on Twelve Mile."

"Paulina and REbecca Lott wre colored girls from New Richmond of more than ordinary enterprise. They had an excellent mother. They were sprightly active girls, both in work and study. Soon after the girls left school their father went to Haiti and we have known nothing of them since."

"Ellen Waters was a young colored girl who was rather peculiar in being very wicked and very religious at the same time. She sighed deeply one day and on being asked what made her so sad replied that she was sorry that she was a Christian."Why are you sorry for that?"asked one."Oh", she replied "there is to be a dance at one of our neighbors and I want so bad to dance." One suggested that if that were true,very likely she was not a Christian at all. That thought stirred her deeply and wonderfully. She said," Oh, if you could only hear my Christian experience you would never say that about me. I have a most wonderful experience." We hope that she is a good woman now and that she has a true experience.(Note by A.M.W.: Evidently Mrs. Parker considered dancing to be "wicked",as did many religions of the time. I hope Ellen got to dance and keep her religions at the same time. I don't agree with Mrs. Parker that she was "rather peculiar" at all. Aileen M. Whitt)

"Aurelia Woodson was a nice little colored girl from Batavia. She did not remain with us long."

"Our blacksmith at this date was a colored man , a local M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) minister. A good man and full of charity. He took into his hosuehold a widowed sister with six children,and when his wife's sister and her husband died , leaving another set of six children,he took them in also,thus making a household of fifteen persons. They were all industrious and neat and prospered wonderfully well. They all loved the generous uncle and were all called by his name. They sent Sarah , the oldest girl of the children,to school.(Mrs. Parker does not give the name of the family;perhaps a study of the 1860 census would identify a black head of household , who was a blacksmith/minister with 15 children in the household , one of them named Sarah."

" At the close of this term we were urgently solicited to take charge of an enterprise begun by the Cincinnati COnference of the M.E. Church. They had purchased buildings of Tawa Springs in Green County near Xenia. Here they designed to establish a school for the colored,and they succeeded. TO find a man able to teach an Academic course of study,and know how to treat colored people with respect,and also having the ability to exercise the strict discipline necessary to make an orderly school was not an easy task.They solicited the teacher of our Academy.We locked up our houses with their goods in them. We took clothing,books and musical instruments with us and went for a short stay at Wilberforce University.In the summer of 1858 we returned home."

Fall 1855 Term:"Phillip Smith was an agreeable colored student from a farm near Twelve Mile."

1859: "Martha Smith was a very pleasant colored girl. She and her brothers made agreeable students."

(At this point n the "brief history" Mrs. Parker gives a heart-rending description of the effects of the Civil war on the Academy and the country,excerpts of which follow:)

"we are just at the opening of the great rebellion.Mutterings of war , thunderings,are deep,sullen and full of hate. Discussions are held at every man's fireside.We (our country) had to professed in freedom and yet we have supported the vilest style of slavery upon the earth. We did this with our eyes fully opened to all the abomination that was in it..We trembled,but aroused ourselves,and the North sprang into arms at the first sound of alarm. We see that these disturbances affect our school,for last year at the opening we had 46 young men,this year about 35. But this is a goodly number considering the tumultous times which we were passing through.

.On April 1 , 1861 , 21 young men and 16 girls came into the school. Of these 21 (men) but 7 remained to complete the term.The air was all astir with animation concerning the war. Sometimes teacher and all would go to New Richmond to see the departure of the soldiers. The first time we did this the public meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church. Oh, how the people spoke! Everybody that was an orator then had a tongue of fire. The house was crowded. As the meeting closed we were starting to to the river to see the soldiers embark.The crowd rushing out broke down the floor in the vestibule. This made great confusion;many rushed to the back door,tumbling pell-mell over each other.Someone proclaimed at the front door."Be not afraid,no one is hurt,only the floor is broken".All was in a moment calmed We were soon out on the street,moving in masses to the river,there to see the soldiers go aboard. But,oh,sorrowful the sight.Many brave women quietly wiped the tears away that afternooon;but there was one old German mother who could not restrain her tears;her piercing cries sounded far up and down the street,finding an echo in many a wonded heart. The boat was testless,whistling,puffing,soldiers were hastening on. Some of their friends were going on , as far as they could with them.")

(At this point in her writing Mrs. Parker makes note,dating it Jan 21 , 1889,"Last year , 1888,the severe illness of the Teacher (her husband James K. Parker) compelled the stoppage of this writing." She resumed her narrative comments on the students enrolled after 1860,but with briefer remarks. There is no further mention of which students enrolled were colored , and no further comment of interest to black history. We wish Mrs. Parker had continued to comment on the colored students from 1860-1889,but we are grateful that she recorded as many tid bits as she did, as her remarks greatly enhance our picture of that period in history.

These stories are just a few of the items and records of interest to the history of the black people of the New Richmond area. Further research would tell their continued involvement and participation in the history of the area to the present day.

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Good Samaritan Cemetery

Afro-American Burials

Ohio Township , New Richmond , Ohio

Good Samaritan or Samarian Cemetery *8 is a beautiful,well-kept burial ground located about one-fourth mile out of New Richmond, going North on State Route 132. It is believed to containonly burials of Afro-American families. The 1870 Clermont County Atlas labeled it "Samarians Cem." and the 1891 and 1902 Atlasesrefer to it as "Colored Cemetery." The cemetery is located on a very step hillside and contains several cedar trees and one giant elm tree,all apparently quite old. It is well fenced,has two gates,and an ample black topped parking area. The cemetery is under the supervision of the Ohio Township Trustees and is well cared for,mowed and tended by Alfred "Butch" Monson , overseer of township roads and cemeteries. The earlies legible stone is dated 1846. Almost every stone is dificult to read due to damage from fallen trees and branches,vandalism , and the regular efects of weather found in all older cemeteries. An outstanding feature of the old cemetery is the number of military tombstones it contains: 19 Civil War and one MExican War. All were professionally cleaned and restored in 1992 by Kevin P. Connell , a monument restoration specialist from Cincinnati. Today , they present a particularly beautiful scene as the bright white stones stand out on the steep hillside. Following you will find every tombstone inscription that could be read , 94 in all 20 of which were restored military stones. There were manyy additional nice stones with no inscriptions,many cornerstones , many field stones,and since it is an old cemetery,some sunken graves. No records of lot owners or burials could be found at this time;perhaps they can be located or will turn up in the future. Funeral Home recordsshow that some 230 burials were made to this location betwen 1889 and 1925 alone , signifying that many graves are today unmarked. The cemetery has a visible wide space straight up the middle of the hill , evidently a carriage way or walkway,dividing the cemetery in half. For purposes of assisting visitors in locating graves I have divided the cemetery into imaginary quarters: "A" and "B" at the roadside,and "C" and "D" to the hilltop. Reference has also been made to two books: T.P. White Funeral Home Records,1889 through 1925 by Margie Thomas,(1987)*4;and Clermont County , Ohio Deaths,1856-1908 by Aileen M. Whitt,(1988) *5. If those books contained additional information or information that differed with the tombstone inscription,it is indicated in brackets. All bracketed information was added by the compiler and is not included on the tombstone.

Section "A"

Judah A. dtr of R.L. & S Kirgan: d. 9-6-1846,age 1 y 6m 13d

Jacob Thomas*2: Co K 27th U.S.C.T.*7 [*4 d 2-2-1898 at NR age

51;*5 says Jacob H. THomas age 52]

Mary Bryan: b. 12-14-1817;d 4-22-1899;age 81y 4m 8d[*4;*5 sp

Bryant]

Oliver Moore *2: U.SNavy [*4 d. 4-14-1892 at NR age 50]

Prudence,wife of G. Moore: d. 1-29-1868 [*5 says d 1-19-1968

age 42]

Elizabeth Pollard: b 1824;d 11-11-1891 age 67y[*4 says d 10-

1-1889 age 60]

George Moore: b 5-1825;d 5-4-1891 *6[*4 Geo H. d at Detroit;bur

5-9-1889][*5 G.H. Moore d 5-4-1889 age 66][There are George

Moore cornerstones.]

Charles E. Davis: b 4-2-1861;d 2-6-1880 age 18y 10m 1 d [*5

the 1880 Mortality scedule says he died Mar 1880 age 18.]

Wm. D. Thomas: d. 10-28-1860 age 21y 6m 21d

Lucy A. Wilkins: b 10-17-1807;d 7-17-187?(Stone is broken off.)

Ila Houston*2: 1st Sdt Co. K, 27 U.S.C.I.*7 [*4 d 10-4-1900

at Cincinnati.]

Wm. B Jennings: b 4 June 1807 at Port Gilson,Miss;d 29 June

1866

Alverta Johnson: b 10-25-1865;d 2-4-1901

Clarence Johnson: b 4-30-1867;d 2-7-1899,age 31y 2m 7d[*4]

Henry R. Johnston:b 7-28-1832;d 4-27-1903[*4 d. at NR age 70][*5]

Andy Thompson:*3 Pvt 8 Ill Inf Sp AM War;b 3-10-1870,d 11-8-

1947

Henry Johnson*2: U.S. Navy,no dates(possibly and probably same

man as Henry R, Johnson , 2 lines up.)

Ernest Johnston: b 12-25-1872;d 12-25-1903 [*4 says age 24 yrs;

discrepancy)

Lizzy,wf of James A. Bond: b 2-20-1842;d 11-8-1875,age 33y 8m

12d[*5 says Eliza,d 12-8-1875 at age 32 years.]

Anna,dtr of J.A. & Lizzy Bond: b 1-13-1875;d 1-25-1875 age

12d[*5]

James A. Bond : Father 1839-1904 [*4 says4-21-1904 at Cincinnati

, age 65 years

Willis Scott (cornerstones only)[*4 says d 9-19-1892 at NR age

61]

Sarah G. wf of Wm. B. Bolton: b 12-15-1854;d 10-29-1885

Sarah Edna Bolton: b 10-12-1877;d 10-18-1877

Thomas Perry*3: US Navy[*4 says d 12-14-1896 at NR age 79][*5]

(There are 3 cedar trees with 3 or 4 buried stones at base of

cedars.)

Cassius B. Dudley,my beloved husband: 1872-1919.[*4 d 1-11-1919

at Cincinnati age 46y 10m]

Elizabeth Toney: d 9-8-1903 age 54[*4 says d 8-8-1903 at

Cincinnati age 71;same person?]This is a large 4 tier very worn

stones;says Mother.

Ida Toney:[This stone is sunken and broken;no further inscription

visible.[

Lucy,wf of J. Early: d 1-4-1891 age 57y [*4 says d at Columbus

age 65, bur 1-6-1891][*5]

Alex. Adams*2: Co K 27th U.S.C.T.*7

Section "B"

Lee Banks *2: Co I, 9 U.S. Cal.[*4 A man named Lee Banks d 6-

6-1924 at Napa Co.,Calif. age 44y 10m 14d;prob not this veteran

or error in dates?]

Peter Wilson *2: U.S. Navy [*4 d 1-11-1895 at NR age 49

Daniel Lewis: d 10-10-1886 aged 65years

Lilie Lewis: d 1871 age 95 years

Jno. Robinson *2: Sgt Co. G 6th (or 8th?) U.S. CAv *7 [No dates]

Daughter Lucille Marie Mercer *1: b 6-12-1940;8-4-1940

(Illegible;open to differing intertpretation.)

Mabel Pitcher Alexander: dtr of Geo & Bertha Alexander, d 12-

13-1884 age 5y 10m 23d [*5]

Nannie H.[Nelson]: d 2-8-1873 age 3y2m19d

Parallee [Nelson]: d 8-23-1875 age 3y 6m 24d Both daughters

of William & Kate Nelson

Mahala wf of John Finley: d 11-22-1893 aage 89 [*4 d at NR][*5

Death Record says d11-29-1893,age 75.]

Frank Dancy *2: Co.H. 5 U.S. CHA.( no dates)

Pheraby Dancy: d 7-26-1908 [*4 d at NR,age 70 years]

Daniel (Dancy?)*1 The name Daniel,with no further inscription,is

on the top of the sone which is leaning against the other Dancy

family stones.)

Willie , son of Alonzo & Sarah Jackson: b 1-5-1880;d 3-7-1881

[&5]

Fannie Dancy: d 10-5-1890,age 17y 6m 1d [*5]

Eliza J. Johnson: (Cornerstones only , Lot 180?[*4 says she

d. 10-1-1909 at Indianpolis,Ind., age 82 years

Alma Pierce Taylor: b 9-18-1886;d 7-3-1908 [*4 says d 7-3-1907

at age 21.]

The next four names,3 Haydens and a Turner , were all on one

stone.

Polly Hayden: d 7-18-1887

Louis Hayden: d 2-8-1893 [*4 says a person names Lewis V. Hayden

d 2-25-1894 , age 41y][*5 says L. Hayden d. 2-10-1894,age 40.

Are these records for the same man?]

Ephraim Hayden: d 4-6-1895 [*4 says age 58]

Janet Turner: d 11-17-1902

A.C.King:(no dates) [*5 says he d 4-5-1895 at NR age 57][*5

lists a "Dock A. King" with the same dates.]

Martha J. King: (No Dates) [*5 says she d 1-1-1908 age 70.]

Harriet (Harding) Jackson: d 7-30-1902 age 82y[*4 gives her

middle names and same month and day,but 1901][*5 also says she

d 1901.]

(Damaged stone,only legible inscription os "___Alonzo June

3,1916. I believe this would be Aonzo Jackson,who,according

to Whote's funeral home records *4,d June 4,1916 at

Madisonville,Ohio.

Dennis Anderson *2: Co C 14 U.S.C.T. (Colored Troops)(No dates.

This is possibly and probably the same man as Dennis R.

Anderson,whose funeral was handled by T.P. White 6-10-189?)

Section "C"

Annie M. Naylor: 1870-1889

Josephine Moore: 1873-1909.[*4 d. 4-11-1909 at NR age 35y 11m15d]

Richard Johnson *1[ Cornerstone Lot 85;also a moss covered fallen

stone;too difficult to read.*4 lists a Richard johnson d. 1-

30-1906 at NR,age 72,buried this cemetery.*5 lists the same

date,except age 73.]

Henry Pewitt *2: Co. H 13 Ind. CAv.[ No dates;*4 says d 9-7-

1904 Clermont Co,age 60,*5 also lists him.]

Cprpl. Richard Johnson *2: Co D 117 U.S.C.I *7 [This is probably

the same man listed two entries above.]

Anna Marie Moore: 1896-1904.[*4 says 5-6-1904 at NR age 8,also

*5]

Elizabeth Tilton *2: Co C (or G?) 16th U.S.C.T. *7[*5 lists

a Wm. Wilson,d. 10-23-1886 age 47;possibly and probably this

is the same man.]

Geo. Bond *2: Co A 33rd Ohio Inf.[*4 lists a"Geo Bond,colored,"

who d. 7-28-1890 in Clermont Co.;*5 adds his age at 45.]

Anna L. wf of Richard johnson: b. 3-4-1853;d.2-7-1893.[Death

recorded *5.]

Virginia A. Ashe: 1850-1913.[*4 says d.5-21-1913 at NR age 62y

8m 15d.]

Georgia B. Moore,"MOVV"; 8-8-1873 - 8-7-1953

John Fitzhugh: My husband;1857-1913.[*4 lists a man named John

F. D. Fitzhugh,d. 2-3-1913 at Cincinnati City Hospital,age 47y

10m 2d.]

*2 Civil War Stone: This stone has been cleaned and restored;the

Civil War Shield is evident,but no inscription is evident.

Musn. Phillip Willis *2: Co E 26 U.S.C. Inf.*7 says 1-19-1920

at NR,age 76y 4m 0d.This stone is almost in the woods at the

hilltop;there was a wild vine with a lovely purple flower

blooming the day I recorded this stone. The view at this point

is spectacular.

Mary Ann Weathers wf of Samul Rowland: b 2-28-1882;d. 12-28-

1922 *6 [Very large nice stone in woods. *4 says d. at Detroit

, age 40.]

Section "D"

Sallie Smith: b 5-13-1848;d. 3-13-1881

Fany Travis dtr of Lisa Read: d. Feb 1884 *1,age 90 years.[*5

says d. 5-22-1884,age 99 years.]

Eliza wf of Philip Read: d. 11-16-1893.[*4 says 11-15-1893 at

NR , age 71;*5 Death Recorded as Reed. Fany Travis,above , and

Eliza Read are both on one stone.*6 additional epitaph and/or

stone cutter's name,which appears to be H. Siegal (or Siebel?)

Henry Picouet)or Picquet?) *2: Co K 42nd U.S.C.T. *7.[*4 says

d. 12-13-1889 in Clermont Conty. *5 spells name as Picquet,age

65.]

Thomas , son of Lewis & Malinda Crone:

b.4-28-1872;d.11-23-1874,age 2y 5m [*5 name recorded as Crane.]

George Wornell *1 b. 3-4-_?_;d. 9-2-18??.*6[*4 lists a George

Henry Wornell,d.9-4-1897 age 16;*5 same.]

Irmina A. wornell: b 8-2-1886;d. 1-21-1890,age 3y.[*4 spells

it Warnell.]

Silas Wornell: b 9-17-1831;d 1-19-1888,age 56y 4m

Samuel Pierce: Father 1863-1907.[*4 says d 4-15-1907 at

12-Mile,age 44.

Williw Pierce:(tone is upside-down;*4 says d 1-18-1905 at NR,age

16.*5 Death is recorded as William Pierce.)

Belle,a ef of Lionel Alexander,later of Samuel rowland: 1864-

1917.[*4 says d 11-28-1917 at Detroit,age 55.]

Morris Alexander: b 12-20-1858;d 9-18-1905.[*4 says d

9-13-1905,age 46;*5 with name spelled Alexandria says d 9-13-

1905;age 49.]

Amendia Adams: d 4-17-1902,age 58y[*4 with name spelled Amanzia

Adams says d 4-18-1902 at Dayton,age 59 yrs.]

Millie Napier: d 8-27-1896 age 75 years[*4 & *5 both show the

year as 1897.]

Eliza mcGill: 1871-1896[*4 says Eliza N. McGill d 10-5-1900

at NR age 30.](Large weathered conch seashell lying at the base

of her stone.)

Essex Whitfiled: b 10-28-1805;d 3-30-1896.[*4 says d 3-30-1895

at NR age 85y 5m 25d; *5 says age 89;*6]

George R. Pierce: 1883-1917 "from Elizabeth." [*4 says d 3-9-

1917 at NR,age 34y 8m 20d.]

Edw'd Graves *2: Co E 26 U.S.C.I.*7[*4 says d 11-2-1903 at NR

age 58;*5.]

Elizabeth Hudson: b 9-25-1864;d 5-4-1927,age 62y 7m 4d? *1.

William McKemsie: 1845-1907.[*4 says d 10-4-1907 at Batavia,age

75;*5 with name spelled McKenzie says age 73. This and the next

entry are two small stones with a nice fossiled fieldstone

between the two.]

Sarah McKemsie: 1846-1903.[*4 says Sarah A. McKimzy d 8-22-1903

at NR. *5 with name spelled McKinsey lists her age as 60.]

Howell Boone; b 2-5-1818; d 12-7-1904; *6 "Thy Will Be Done."[*4

lists the name as Howel Boon,same d. date,d. at NR age 88. *5

says age 85.]

Aley Ann Boone,his wife:1837 [1839?*1] - 1914.[*4 lists her

d. as 1-29-1914 at NR age 79y 9m 12d. *5 lists her age as 85.]

Brutus Turner: 1879-1901.[*4 says he d 8-1-1901 Ohio Township,age

22; *5 same.]

Unusual Stone: There is another nice large star-topped stone

with unusual iron figures of angels and women imbedded on the

stone. There is no visible inscription on the stone.

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Citizen's Cemetery: See Link

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Moreland Cemetery:

Located on Twelve Mile Road , Moreland Cemetery is a beautiful,well kept cemetery of more recent times. It was set aside by Mr. George Moreland during the1940's & Mr. Moreland's son was the first burial there. This cemetery is also under the supervision of the Ohio Township Trustees. It contains numerous monuments dated from the 1940's to the present.

Notes & Abbreviations

*1: Illegible or difficult to interpret. Some stones are

worn;some brokern;some damaged.

*2: Civil War Tombstone

*3: Mexican-American War Tombstone.

*4:T.P. White Funeral Home Records,1889 through 1925 published

by Margie Thomas in 1987. This is an excellent reference

book,listing the name of the deceased,date and place of death,age

and cemetery.

*5:Clermont County,Ohio Deaths,1856-1908 published by Aileen

M. Whitt in 1988 lists every death that was officially recorded

prior to the requirement of death certificates,and gives the

book and page of the official death record.

*6: This gravestone contains and additional epitaph and'or the

engraver's name.

*7: Abbreviations: b=born;d=died;y.m.d. =

a,year,month,day;bur=buried;wf=wife;NR=New Richmond;CT = Colored

Troops;CI = Colored Infantry;

*8: This cemetrey was always referred to as Good Samaritan

Cemetry. In 1994 , when the Township Trustees decided to erect

a sign,williard Davis,a surveyor,researched the deed and found

it recorded as Samarian Cemetery , which the sign so indicated

today (1997).

 

 

General History of the Underground Railroad

The year was 1803 and Ohio became the first state carved out of the Northwest Territory where the ownership of slaves was not permitted. Although officially a non-slave state, Ohioans were divided on slavery and racist attitudes were not uncommon, as shown by the Ohio legislature of 1804 in the passage of laws that prohibited blacks from serving on juries and testifying against whites in court cases. It also mandated that no Negro or mulatto will be allowed to settle in the state without a certificate of freedom, and that blacks already living here must register and pay a registration fee of 12 1/2 cents. Whites were forbidden to employ a Negro unless he had a certificate of freedom.

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The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, designed to strengthen earlier laws, brought further peril to those who ran away and those who assisted them. The right to organize a posse to capture fugitives anywhere in the United States resulted in the increased abduction of blacks as far north as New England and west to Ohio, where they were taken from churches, homes and families. The criminal penalty for aiding a runaway was six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a civil liability to the owner of $1,000 for each fugitive. Another element of this law was that when an alleged runaway was taken before a magistrate, the law prescribed that a judge who found in favor of the claimant would collect double the fee he would collect if he ruled against the claimant. No impediments were to be put in the way of those seeking to reclaim their slave property. Under this law, legitimate free blacks were in fear of being claimed as runaway slaves. It was referred to as "The Kidnap Law".

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In March 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe, a 41-year-old mother of six children, published Uncle Tom's Cabin, one of the most famous novels in American history. Within a year, she had sold more than 300,000. Ten years later, President Abraham Lincoln supposedly greeted her in the White House with the famous words, "So this is the little woman who caused the Civil War!"

Uncle Tom's Cabin had such an impact because it dealt with enslaved African Americans as heroes. Uncle Tom himself transcended the brutality of slavery through Christian commitment. Others, however, tried to escape from slavery through the underground railroad. Eliza, for example, died trying to cross the Ohio River in winter. As the images of Uncle Tom and Eliza infused American minds, they rejuvenated the movement to abolish slavery in America and inspired a whole generation of Northerners to recommit themselves to freedom for all Americans, even if it took a civil war to do it.

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote about escaping from slavery through Ohio. Indeed, much underground railroad activity centered in the upper midwest. A map of underground railway routes, published in 1898 in Wilbur Siebert's The Underground Railroad, reveals a dense spiderweb of trails, looking almost like a nest of spaghetti, north of the Ohio River.

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With the growth of the abolition movement in the North, the repugnance of human enslavement, and the injustice of the Fugitive Slave Law, many whites and blacks joined together to create the Railroad. Its unique character, national in purpose, but with routes that were separate in action, embodied ideals common to all its participants. Homes along the routes were called stations, and the courageous men and women directly assisting the runaways were simply known as conductors. Advice, food, clothing and a human sensitivity to the needs of its passengers, were dispensed freely. The financial needs of the Railroad were underwritten by those who donated money, clothing, and other important goods to the enterprise. These people, with a noble commitment to the cause of freedom, became known as the Railroad's stockholders. The Railroad's gallant proponents and supporters included white and black abolitionists, enslaved African Americans, American Indians, and members of such religious groups as the Quakers, Baptists, and Methodists.

Routes were sustained to the northern states, Canada, the Caribbean (Great Britain abolished slavery in 1833), and Mexico, with the most popular routes leading to, and through, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Ohio alone had at least 23 entry points along the Ohio River.

Pursuit of the fugitives into the free states by slave catchers seeking the rewards offered by individuals and Southern legislatures was a constant source of danger to the runaways and the Railroad's participants. Due to the perils involved and the exhaustive traveling, many of the escapees were young, healthy men; returning later to seek their family's freedom. Although thousands of escaping slaves were spirited north under the guidance and expertise of railroad conductors, many individuals and groups cast aside the shackles of bondage and set out without assistance using only the North Star as their beacon of hope. With daylight travel difficult, and sometimes impossible, cloudless nights and a clearly visible star guided them on their nightmarish escape. A delayed or prolonged journey only increased the possibility of capture.

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Directory of the Names of Known  Underground Railroad Operators in Southwest Ohio

"The names of African American operators are marked with a *"

Adams County

Brown

Clermont

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Underground Railroad Timeline

1607	Jamestown, Virginia, settled by English Colonies.
1619	Twenty Africans are shipped to Jamestown, Virginia, on Dutch Ships.
1641	Massachusetts colony legalizes slavery.
1642	Virginia colony enacts law to fine those who harbor or assist runaway slaves.
1660	Virginia colony legalizes slavery.
1741	North Carolina colony enacts laws to prosecute any person caught assisting runaways.
1775	The Pennsylvania Abolition Society is established to protect fugitives and freed blacks unlawfully held in bondage.
1776	North American colonies declare independence from Great Britain.
1777	Vermont became the first U.S. territory to abolish slavery.
1777-1804	Northern states abolish slavery through state constitutions.
1780	Pennsylvania became the first state to abolish slavery
1787	Northwest Ordinance prevents slavery to exist in the new federal territories. Free African Society of Philadelphia, an abolitionists group, is organized by Richard Allen and Absolm Jones.
1793	Fugitive Slave Act becomes a federal law. Allows slaveowners, their agents or attorneys to seize fugitive slaves in free states and territories.
1794	Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is established in Philadelphia, PA.
1800	Nat Turner and John Brown are born. Gabriel Prosser stages an unsuccessful slave insurrection in Henrico County, VA.
1804	Underground Railroad is "incorporated" after slaveowner, Gen. Thomas Boudes of Columbia, PA refuses to surrender escaped slave to authorities.
1816	Seminole Wars begin in Florida as a result of many slaves taking refuge with Seminole Indians.
1818	As a response to the Fugitive Slave Act (1793), abolitionists use the "underground" to assist slaves to escape into Ohio and Canada.
1820	Missouri Compromise admits Missouri and Maine as slave and free states, respectively. The measure establishes the 36 degree, 30' parallel of latitude as a dividing line between free and slave areas of the territories.
1821	Kentucky representatives present resolution to Congress protesting Canada's reception of fugitive slaves.
1822	Former slave Denmark Vesey performs a slave uprising in Charleston, SC.
1829	Black abolitionist, David Walker issues David Walker's Appeal. Afterwards, severe slave revolts occurred throughout the South.
1830	Levi Coffin leaves North Carolina, settles in Indiana and continues abolitionist activities.
1831	William Lloyd Garrison prints first issues of this anti-slavery newspaper, The Liberator. Black entrepreneur and abolitionist Robert Forten becomes chief financial supporter of the publication. Nat Turner stages insurrection in Southampton County, VA.
1832	Louisiana presents resolution requesting Federal Government to arrange with Mexico to permit runaway slaves from Louisiana to be claimed when found on foreign soil.
1834	National Antislavery Society organizes Underground Railroad as a response to pro-slavery argument.
1838	Underground Railroad is formally organized. Black abolitionist Robert Purvis, becomes chairman of the General Vigilance Committee and "president" of the Underground Railroad.
1842	Supreme Court rules in Prigg v. Pennsylvania that state officials are not required to assist in the return of fugitive slaves.
1845	Frederick Douglass prints Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an account of his slave experience and escape to freedom.
1847	Douglass edits anti-slavery newspaper, the North Star.
1849	Harriet Tubman makes her escape from Maryland.
1850	Compromise of 1850 attempts to settle slavery issue. As part of the Compromise, a new Fugitive Slave Act is added to enforce the 1793 law and allows slaveholders to retrieve slaves in northern states and free territories.
1852	Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published as a response to the pro-slavery argument.
1857	Supreme Court declares in Scott v. Sandford that blacks are not U.S. citizens, and slaveholders have the right to take slaves in free areas of the county.
1859	John Brown's failed raid on federal arsenal and armory in Harper's Ferry, Virginia which was aimed at starting a general slave insurrection.
1860	Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States.
1861	Civil War begins.
1863	President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation which declares "all persons held as slaves within any state...be in rebellion against the United States shall be then...forever free."
1865	Civil War ends. Thirteenth Amendment is amended to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery permanently.

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Links to More Information

1. BLACK HISTORY, SLAVE STORIES & UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

2. Freedom Town

3. Conducting Underground Railroad Research

4. The Underground Railroad - National Geographic.com

5. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad for Children

6. Aboard the Underground Railroad

7. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

8. The Underground Railroad Site

9. The Underground Railroad in Rochester , New York

10. History in the National Park Service - Underground Railroad

11. Friends of Freedom Society Ohio Underground Railroad Association

12. Women of the Underground Railroad

13. Lest We Forget - the Underground Railroad

14. Underground Railroad Routes , 1860

15. The Underground Railroad in New York

16. A Bittersweet Journey on the Underground Railroad

17. Vermont Historical Society - Underground Railroad Society

18. Pennsylvania - Underground Railroad

19. Underground Railroad Museum

20. List of Sites for the Underground Railroad Travel Itinerary

21. Underground Railroad

22. On an Underground Railroad

23. UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ROUTES USED IN NIAGARA COUNTY, NY

24. Underground Railroad Sites

25. The Underground Railroad in Southern Ohio

26. Deleware's Underground Railroad

27. Exploring the Underground Railroad

28. The National Underground Railroad Museum,Maysville , Ky

29. Compton's Online - Underground Railroad

30. The Underground Railroad Slide Show

31. Underground Railroad , Columbus , Ohio History

32. North Carolina - Underground Railroad

33. Underground Railroad History in Southeastern Ohio

34. Researching and Interpreting the Underground Railroad

35. Underground Railroad Ran Both Ways in Southern Illinois

36. People and Events of the Underground Railroad

37. Underground Railroad Suggested Readings

38. The Underground Railroad in a Small Town

39. The Fugitive Slave Act and the Underground Railroad

 

 

 

Copyright © 1999 , 2000 , 2001  Tammy Collins - Altman

This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated without my permission.We welcome all suggestions , comments , ideas,and corrections.

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