Underground Railroad

"The Underground Railroad" was the title given by southerns to the secret dispatching of escaped slaves through the north to Canada and safe northern points. Few citizens knew that for years there was a systematic transportation of fugitive slaves through Clarion County. There were no fewer than 4 stations here and the conductors were some of the most respected and substantial citizens of the county.

The harboring and aiding of fugitive slaves was illegal (penalty by act of Congress 1850, fine not exceeding $1,000 and imprisonment not exceeding six months, also civil damages.) The greatest care was exercised to conceal the operations of the movement. The conveyance of the slaves was necessarily done by night.

The slaves who passed through western Pennsylvania were all from Virginia and of the male sex. In escaping from their masters, they would start soon after nightfall, provided with horses whenever possible.

The first assisted Fugitives (6 in number) arrived in Clarion County, June 1847, and from thence to 1855 they came from time to time in groups of 2 to 7. Rev. John Hindman was an Associated (Seceder) minister-resident near Dayton. He received and forwarded the negroes to William Blair, a farmer of Porter Township. His property joined the Simpson farm in the area known as Long Point. He was the great-grandfather of Maxine (Blair) Barlett, Maxwell Craig, and Dwight Blair, all now living in Porter Township.

Mr. Blair sent the slaves on to Rev. John McAuley, a Seceder clergyman of Rimersburg. Mr. McAuley kept them in his barn and during the night, through by-paths, he or his eldest son brought them to the house of James Fulton, who lived a little north of Rimersburg. Mr. Fulton fed and cared for the fugitives and then conveyed them by wagon to Benjamin Gardner, Sr., of Licking Township, two or three miles north of Callensburg. A few times Mr. Fulton was bold enough to move them in daytime.

The next station was Elihu Chadwick of Venango County, sixteen miles away. Mr. Chadwick had several rooms in his barn fitted specially for their reception. He and his father concealed them in one compartment until dark and then escorted them by the underground train to the next station at Franklin.

Stories have been told down through recent generations that they sometimes were kept in a cave on what is now the Alvin Whitling farm.

One of the slaves said that if the Lord spared him to get through, he would return and steal his wife. When asked if this would be a great risk, he said that he would gladly risk his life that they might enjoy freedom together.