The Underground Railroad in Ohio

Ohio played an important role in the Underground Railroad for many reasons. Before it became a state, proposals by Revolutionary War officers were made to Congress to have the lands north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania be slavery-free. As Ohio was forming, anti-slavery sympathizers, Quakers (and other religious groups), New Englanders and abolitionists began moving here, along with large settlements of free Black people. Ohio’s location also made it an important part of the Underground Railroad: it bordered slave states of Virginia and Kentucky and had several waterways to travel along. The Ohio River had more than a dozen crossing points where the river was narrow enough to swim across; there were more stations in Ohio than in any other state. Even so, there were many people living in Ohio that were against the abolition of slavery and some took advantage of the rewards for turning in or capturing freedom seekers. The Ohio Legislature passed laws providing for the capture and return of freedom seekers and included punishment for those aiding and actively participating in the Underground Railroad.

Nonetheless, Ohio was a center for anti-slavery activity. Benjamin Lundy of St. Clairsville formed the first anti-slavery society in 1816 and Charles Osborn began publishing the first anti-slavery newspaper The Philanthropist. By 1837, there were 1,006 anti-slavery societies in the United States with 213 located in Ohio. Oberlin College welcomed African Americans and John Rankin promoted abolitionist ideals at Ripley College, which he founded. John P. Parker and Josiah Henson, both former enslaved people, lived in Ohio and helped others escape to freedom. Several politicians in Ohio were abolitionists including Joshua R. Giddings from Ashtabula County, House member Quaker Richard Mott, Congressman Sidney Edgerton, Toledo Congressman James M. Ashley and Governor William Bebb.

Freedom Stairway

Photograph of the 100 steps that led from the Ohio River up to the Ripley, Ohio home of John Rankin, a station on the Underground Railroad. It is said he and his wife helped over 2,000 enslaved people along their journey to freedom. Rankin would place a lit lantern outside when it was safe for freedom seekers to cross the river.

Courtesy of Ohio History Connection

Oberlin Rescuers photograph

This photograph, taken at the Cuyahoga County Courthouse, shows 20 of the 37 men who were indicted for freeing John Price, a freedom seeker, from Federal marshals. In 1858, Price was living in Oberlin, Ohio, and was arrested by marshals and taken to Wellington. There, the rescuers took him by force back to Oberlin and helped him flee to Canada. Only two of the men were tried in federal court.

Courtesy of Ohio History Connection

Underground Railroad Stations

This map, from the 1943 book Pathway of Progress: a short history of Ohio by David Bowman, shows Underground Railroad routes and stations in Ohio.

Courtesy of Ohio History Connection

The state of Ohio vs. Forbes and Armitage, arrested upon the requisition of the government of Ohio, on charge of kidnapping Jerry Phinney, and tried before the Franklin Circuit Court of Kentucky, April 10, 1846

Report on the case brought against A.C. Forbes and Jacob Armitage charged with kidnapping Jerry Finney, a free man and resident of Ohio.

Courtesy of Library of Congress Digital Collection

Polly Jackson

Jackson was a conductor along the Underground Railroad. She escaped from the South settling in Africa, Ohio. It is said that at one time she fought off slave catchers with a butcher knife and a pot of boiling water.

Courtesy of Ohio History Connection

Catharine Coffin and Levi Coffin

The Coffins were Quakers and sympathized with enslaved people. Between their homes in Indiana and later outside of Cincinnati, it is said that over 2,000 freedom seekers passed through on the way to freedom. Levi was known as the President of the Underground Railroad.

Courtesy of Ohio History Connection