Milton House Museum
Milton, Wisconsin 53563

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MORE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN WISCONSIN

In early years, slaves were brought to Wisconsin by their masters. Some slaves were freed after their arrival, others were brought to the lead mining districts of southwestern Wisconsin to work in the mines.

PLATTEVILLE

Among the immigrants to the Platteville area were James Bennet McCord and Alvin McCord Dixen. The became leaders of the abolitionist movement in that area and Platteville became known as "Abolition Hollow" (To Answer Your Questions About Wisconsin: The Underground Railroad in Wisconsin).

NEWSPAPERS

Southeastern Wisconsin also had strong abolitionist leanings. The state's first abolition society was formed in Racine County, in 1840. Newspapers such as the Aegis, published in Racine, in 1843, and the Free Democrat, published in Milwaukee, helped to spread anti-slavery feelings. Many settlers from the East brought their sentiments with them (Wisconsin Defies the Fugitive Slave Law: The Case of Sherman M. Booth, 1955).

CHURCHES

Churches have long-been associated with the abolitionists. For example, in Beloit, a meeting of the Presbyterian and Congregational church members resolved that "in view of this convention American slavery is a sin; that it is a sin of such magnitude that all who practice it or knowingly promote it should be excluded from our pulpits and the fellowship of our churches; that while we deprecate all harsh language and rash measures in the destruction of this evil, we will nevertheless avail ourselves of all suitable measures to enlighten and correct the public mind in regard to the sin of slavery (To Answer Your Questions About Wisconsin: The Underground Railroad in Wisconsin).

The passage of the Fugitive Slave law of 1850, only heightened the strong feelings of Wisconsin citizens. Wisconsin's delegations in both houses voted against passage and the law was condemned in political conventions in Waterford, Milwaukee and Waukesha (To Answer Your Questions About Wisconsin: The Underground Railroad in Wisconsin).

JANESVILLE

The first reference comes from Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Congregational Church, Janesville, Wis. February 10, 11, and 12, 1895: Reminiscences of A Pastor's Wife.
Background information: Mrs. Eliza M. Becker Foote married Reverend Hiram Foote in Utica, New York. Reverend Foote received his theological training at Oberlin, Ohio. He became pastor of the Janesville congregation in 1848. Hiram and Eliza lived in Joliet and Rockford in Illinois, in Racine, spent three years in Rock County including Milton, Mt. Zion, Emerald Grove then Brodhead and Waukesha. Reverend Foote was "outspoken upon the evils of slavery, intemperance and all other vices." (Fiftieth Ann . . .1895. page 79):

"Some of you may like to know that our little home which stood on the lot now covered by a portion of this edifice (First Congregational Church, Janesville), was one of the underground railroad stations by which the slaves of those days were helped on their way to freedom. One fugitive in whom were were especially interested, who had already fallen into good hands and had the bullet of his pursuers removed from his leg, was cared for at our home two days and a night. Three lawyers and a few others who could be trusted, came under cover of darkness for fear of pro-slavery laws, to interview our guest, and pronounced him no impostor. He was fed, clothed and provided with a satchel that he might appear more like a northern tourist than a runaway slave, and was furnished with an envelope directed to Mr. Foote, to be mailed when he should arrive in Canada. In due time the missive returned, which meant as much to us as though containing an account of the journey. We knew George was safe." (p. 85)

GREEN BAY, CHILTON, STOCKBRIDGE

The next reference comes from: Eliza Chappell Porter, a Memoir, by Mary H. Porter and Excerpts from Negro Slavery in Wisconsin, pamphlet by John Nelson Davidson, c. 1897.

Less dramatic than the Glover case, but of thrilling interest is the story of which was told me by the late Reverend Jeremiah Porter, D. D., of Beloit (at the time of the story a missionary in Green Bay). "it was secret service before the Lord," wrote his wife in regard to the hiding of some fugitives. "From what place in the South they came I do not know, nor how they escaped." It was a father who started with three children. But death was the unwelcome companion of his journey, and one of the children died in St. Louis. I wish that some one might tell the story of their journey thence to Chilton and Stockbridge. This was while Stockbridge was still, in part, an Indian settlement. At Chilton the fugitives received kindness form one of the leading Democratic politicians of the State, and from others. One of these, will yet give us an account of the fugitives' life there. At Stockbridge they were befriended by Mr. Lemuel Goodell,--no doubt by others also,--who sent his team with the fugitives to Mr. Roswell Norris' at Green Bay. Mr. Norris brought them to Mr. Porter's. "At midnight," wrote Mrs. Porter, "we were awakened by a knock at our window, and there stood the poor trembling father and his cold, hungry children. Where can we hide them? was a practical question, for the boat which would take them to Canada had been delayed. I asked God of all wisdom and truth and love to direct, and during the act of prayer a text of Scripture came to mind which suggested the church. 'Yes, that is the place,' Mr. Porter replied, 'the belfry.' There they stayed during the day, but at night they slept in the church." Mr. Porter brought them food, supplied in part from his own table. Part of our story is thus pleasantly told by a son of Deacon Alonzo Kimball, of Milwaukee, who thus wrote under date of 1897, October 5th: "My father's part (in the rescue) was in furnishing food to the fugitives, and engaging their passage by steamer to Canada."

GREEN BAY

Another family that had part in supplying the bodily needs of the fugitives was that of the parents of Mrs. Alma Robb, of Green Bay, who wrote of her father: "I know that he was active in the underground railroad work, as it was called. The family that was secreted in the church I helped to cook for, but did not know at the time why mother was having so many pies and doughnuts made, but later learned all about it."

Another whose reminiscences have aided me, especially in making it probable that 1854 was the year of the escape, is Mrs. Mary Catherine Mitchell (born Irwin) of Terra Cotta, Illinois. Her daughters, on going to the church to practice music, were frightened at unusual sounds proceeding from the belfry, and left the building.

The day following the arrival of the fugitives was Thursday, and the boat was due that afternoon. That day of anxiety passed, and Friday; and still, like Poe's ghouls, the unhappy fugitives were dwelling in the steeple. But on the last day of the week came the steamer Michigan with her abolition captain. No pursuers had appeared, and so it was safe to lead the fugitives in open daylight to the river, where Mr. Frederick Lathrop rowed the father and his two children to the steamer. When the captain put them ashore at Sarina, they fell upon the earth and kissed the land that made them free.

EMERALD GROVE (Rock Co.)

Another story of escape from slavery through Wisconsin is told by the widow of the late Deacon Russell Cheney, of Emerald Grove (Rock Co.). The year of the occurrence is a matter of doubt. A son, Rev. Russell Lea Cheney, judging from his age and childish recollection, thinks it was about 1855 or 1856; the mother would put it in 1860 or 1861. But in the latter year there was no attempt at enforcing the fugitive slave law in Wisconsin. Here is Mrs. Cheney's narrative (Janesville, October 8, 1897):

"As nearly as I can recollect, it was in the fall of '60 or '61, as we were seated at the supper table, there came to our door, near the close of a beautiful Sabbath day, a closely covered carriage, in which were seated a family of escaped slaves, consisting of a husband, wife and four children. They were brought by Mr. Leonard, a staunch anti-slavery man of Beloit who said the slave hunter was closely on their track. He wished Russell Cheney of Emerald Grove to take charge of them. He Immediately took them to Simeon Reynolds (who, if living, is in Wichita, Kansas). Starting as soon as possible, Mr. Reynolds drove rapidly to Racine, a distance of sixty miles, arriving there just in time to catch the outgoing steamer, before the arrival of the dreaded slave hunter. Soon after, Mr. R. received the glad news that they were safely landed on the soil of liberty and freedom. Have written from memory the facts as I remember them; the dates are gone entirely from memory."

Rev. R. L. Cheney writes; "I can remember the curiosity with which we went out and peeked into the carriage at the children . . . Father conducted the party to Deacon Simeon Reynolds, who lived a few miles northeast of the [Emerald] Grove. He went with them to Racine or Kenosha, I think it was Racine. Father recommended them to one of his friends, who called out, as Mr. Reynolds reported to him, 'Do you want any firearms?' But in my mind the event is present only in barest outline."

If there was any thought of firearms, it would tend to prove that the time was still one of danger to fugitive slaves and to any who might be found helping them.

KENOSHA

"There were at least four agents of the Underground Railroad in Kenosha," writes Mr. Frank H. Lyman of that city. "They were Charles Durkee (afterwards a member of Congress and United States senator), Reuben H. Deming, John B. Jilson and William H. Smith, all now dead."

BELOIT

From Beloit, Hon. S. T. Merrill, the last preceptor of Beloit Seminary, writes of three families that were helped to freedom, two of them, by the late Dr. H. P. Strong, a son-in-law of Father Clary. As the fugitives remained in Beloit, it is probable that their escape dates only from the time of the war.

Updated January 2009