The+UGRR+in+Galesburg

**The Underground Railroad in Galesburg** Original Author: David Powell, ENG206 SP10 Revision Author:  The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret passageways and safe houses used by 19th century Black slaves in the United States to help in escaping to the Free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists.  The Underground Railroad was a big operation in Galesburg, in 1837 and it hits close to home because we are fortunate to have many Underground Railroad communities here in Western Illinois. Anti-slavery organizations and Underground Railroad activities were the first integrated social movements in American history (Knox College). Galesburg is Midwestern, rural to the core. Galesburg is also the county seat of Knox County. A heavy concentration of Underground Railroad activity was located in the Galesburg and Knox county areas. “Historians have called Galesburg “probably the principal underground station in Illinois” and a place where “a runaway slave was safe on the streets,” (Carlson).  Galesburg was not the only community that was designed to help aid in the escape of 19th Century slaves. Moline, Quincy, Geneseo, and Princeton were all Underground Railroad communities in Western Illinois, but Galesburg was the main stop for most slaves while they were on their way to Canada. “Galesburg and Knox College were recognized from the very beginning as one of the most important stops, if not the primary stop, on the Illinois Underground Railroad” (Carlson). The reason Galesburg was a main stop for slaves is because Galesburg was in the middle of the “Quincy Line,” which followed a path from the Mississippi River at Quincy to Princeton in Bureau County. (Carlson). “Coming into Galesburg from the southwest, runaway slaves seeking freedom were then piloted to Stark County, generally following one of three pathways out of Knox County toward Princeton. (Carlson). Galesburg seemed to be the main place where slaves would to get somewhere. There were many different routes that a slave could take to get out of Galesburg. “The slave were either transported northeast out of Galesburg and Knoxville toward Stark County, north to Ontario Township and on to Henry County or directly east to Stark County” (Carlson). Since Galesburg is sort of in a central area, it was easy for traveling slaves to get where they needed to be, by traveling through Galesburg.  When slaves would arrive in Galesburg, where would these slaves go? Where would their hideouts be? There were roughly 39 locations within Galesburg that housed slaves, all over the city. But, there are some important locations that housed the slaves. One place was the Old First Church. “There are numerous accounts that the belfry of the church was used as a hideout for fugitive slaves” (Carlson). The Knox Academy building was also used to house slaves. Susan Richard was an escaped slave, who used her house as an aid to escaped slaves. Of course there were other places/homes within Galesburg where slave hid, but these are the most widely known areas that slaves used as hideouts. There were also hideouts in various locations around Knox County, and some hideouts within Knoxville (Carlson). The Hitchcock Station, three miles north of Galesburg, was a farm that was operated by Samuel Hitchcock. This farm is said to have harbored the highest volume of fugitive in Knox County. It was a prominent station for over 10 years. The Spoon River in Fulton County, Illinois was just like the Mississippi River, in that it was a natural escape route used by fugitive slaves heading north. The spoon river is not that large, but it proved as a good escape route. (Carlson).  “Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, has been designated a "Freedom Station" by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.” “Knox [College] joins a nationwide network of more than 60 stations, with Underground Railroad heritage, that [is] affiliated with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.” “The national center is developing a network of sites in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, devoted to research and education about the Underground Railroad and anti-slavery movements” (Knox College). So, Knox College has created monuments on the history of the Underground Railroad, in the local area, and is also trying to preserve documents on the Underground Railroad. There are some exhibits at the old Knox County Jail, and those exhibits include: A map detailing the Underground Railroad routes in Western, IL, information about the Underground Railroad activities that were local and regional, and also a slave block exhibit. Abolitionists were It is interesting because “Galesburg and Knox College, which are located in west Central Illinois, were [both] founded in 1837 by anti-slavery advocates who came to Knox County from upstate New York.” Anti-slavery advocates were abolitionists from 1833 to 1870. “[Galesburg] and [Knox] College, from their inception, were perceived as most likely the leading down-state center of abolitionism and Underground Railroad activity in Illinois.” “Though other down-state communities could lay claim to significant anti-slavery and Underground Railroad involvement, what made Galesburg unique was the fact that the overwhelming majority of its citizens, for the first 20 years of its existence, were opposed to the institution of slavery.” “The anti-slavery influence and Underground Railroad involvement of many Galesburg citizens gradually affected numerous people and communities in a wide circle surrounding the college town” (Knox College). They were trying to do away with slavery, but it wasn’t working at the time. When the invention of the cotton gin came about, one would think that it would decrease slavery, but instead it increased slavery. “One, because landowners could plant more, thus they would have more land to clear, and more cotton that needed to be cleaned” (Review Atlas).  Those that were willing to help with the Underground Railroad were also willing to put their lives in danger by helping slaves escape from slavery. Most were escaping to Canada for freedom. “Because most slaves traveled at night, they had two ways of knowing if they were going in the right direction. One was to follow the north star, and the other was to go against the current of the rivers. Because Galesburg is between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, it was at an excellent location for an Underground Railroad route” (Muelder). Also, another interesting note is that the prairie grass would get up to seven feet tall, so that would help in the aid to hide the slaves (Muelder). Muelder then went on to say that there were four basic routes through Illinois, most of the routes running south to north of Western Illinois. “That is why the abolitionists were considered to be such troublemakers, Muelder said — they were toying with the country's source of wealth” (Muelder).  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">There is an interesting side-note about the Phelps barn."The Phelps Barn still bears a cross-shaped cut-out at its peak that, when illuminated at night, was a signal that it was safe to bring fugitive slaves through the area.” “And the engraving illustrates the risks taken by both fugitive slaves and Underground Railroad operators in the cause of freedom” (Muelder). The Phelps barn is located near Elmwood, IL in Peoria County. This is an example of how the slaves knew that they were able to move onto the next point in their journey. Another way that slaves would know if it was safe to move on was some households would put quilts outside their homes to let slaves know to move or not. Some of the quilts would have a special pattern on them, and that’s how they knew if it was safe or not safe. The Underground Railroad was not underground either. It is a term that was used for a network of homes that were connected on the same route, and slave would go to each house at a certain time, preferably at night. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Chicago was also a hub for Underground Railroad activity. Workers helped to provide lodging, food, and transportation, and were sometimes called upon in rescue efforts. It was the effort of everyone who was involved with the Underground Railroad to do their part in helping escaped slaves to freedom. This wasn’t an easy task, and many got killed for trying to help slaves escape. “The Underground Railroad was not run by one group or organization, but it was run by many individuals” (PBS). “It effectively moved 100’s of slaves each year to freedom” (PBS). According to one estimate, the South lost 100,000 slaves between 1810 and 1850 (PBS). “In 1786 George Washington complained about how one of his runaway slaves was helped by a "society of Quakers, formed for such purposes." “The system grew, and around 1831 it was dubbed "The Underground Railroad," after the then emerging steam railroads.” “The system even used terms used in railroading: the homes and businesses where fugitives would rest and eat were called "stations" and "depots" and were run by "stationmasters," those who contributed money or goods were "stockholders," and the "conductor" was responsible for moving fugitives from one station to the next (PBS). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Return to UGRR <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Return to Home <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">