Madison, Indiana
Founded in 1808 and incorporated in 1824, Madison was quickly
a town with opportunity, as Jenny Lind sang there in 1851.
Because Madison is on the Ohio, fugitives might arrive by ferry
from Kentucky [ferries sometimes did not check papers] or
might walk the frozen Ohio [it was smaller and froze in cold
winters]. Free Blacks and other residents [often Quakers] aided
fugitives:
•
Georgetown, a free black community in Madison, hid
many fugitives. Rev. Chapman Harris, who moved to
Madison from Virginia in 1839, was active in the
Underground Railroad, as were Elijah Anderson and
George DeBastista.
•
Elijah Anderson was public in his aid and had a $1000
bounty put on his head. Thus, he moved on to
Lawrenceburg, was captured in Carrollton, Ky, and did
prison time. It is said that Anderson helped over 800
fugitives on their way.
•
Lyman Hoyt, Samuel Tibbetts, and James Nelson--three
of the trustees of Eleutharian College--were named as
participants in the UGRR. Nelson was arrested under the
Fugitive Slave Act in 1851 for “encouraging Negroes to
come to the state” and released by Judge Stephen
Stevens (an abolitionist).
Relevant Narratives
Life and Narrative of William J. Anderson, Twenty-four Years a
Slave tells in this excerpt of his work with fugitive slaves while
connected with the A.M.E. church in Madison.
http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/andersonw/andersonw.html
I took up my little bundle of clothing and traveled on. In the State of
Indiana , I felt light and comfortable; the small obstacles I had to
encounter, I did not fear.
I arrived in Madison City, Indiana, on the 15th of July, 1836,
weary in mind and body, but joying in my escape from tyranny and
persecution. My funds in pocket amounted to one dollar, which I
advanced for my board. I sought employment immediately, and soon
engaged to work for Messrs. F. Thompson and E. D. Luck, carrying the
hod for a dollar a day. This, of course, was new and rather severe labor
for me at this time; but, it was far better than toiling in the cotton or
corn field, for a reward of a scanty meal of corn and the lash. My freed
spirit could now sing a new song, where there were no wailings nor
cries of anguish. I could go and come as I chose. Blessing my Maker for
this dear gift of liberty and release from cruel torture, I began the
laborious occupation of lifting mortar and brick. [pp. 35-6]
. . . My two wagons, and carriage, and five horses were always at the
command of the liberty-seeking fugitive. Many times have my teams
conveyed loads of fugitive slaves away, while the hunters were close
upon their track. I have carried them away in broad daylight, and in the
grim shades of night. I have scouted through the woods with the
fleeing slave, while the barbarous hunters pursued as if chasing wolves,
panthers or bears. [p 39]
…I could mention many instances of narrow risks of life and limb which
I have run, with names of persons and places, but I know I should not
be deemed a forgiving creature.
. . . With much praying and faithfulness, I continued the allotted time
to discharge my duty to the best of my ability, at the Walnut street
church. My successor was Rev. B. Mark Smith.[ p. 40]
Points of Interest
:
•
Structures in the Georgetown district:
o Elijah Anderson home: Elijah Anderson 624
Walnut Street [private]
o African Methodist Episcopal Church: 309 5th
Street [owned by city; want to make museum]
o Colored Methodist Episcopal Church: 711 Walnut
Street [private]
•
Eleutharian College State Route 250 east of Lancaster
[too far to bike] first college in Indiana to admit blacks
and women; had 3 trustees, who worked the UGRR